Meet Our Personal Injury Attorneys - Serving Indio, Palm Springs, Riverside

Thomas Anderson

Thomas Anderson is one of the top 10 trial lawyers in the United States, according to the National Law Journal. Since 1989, Mr. Anderson has been a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, which limits membership to the top 500 trial attorneys in the world. He has also been a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, which is limited to the top 100 personal injury attorneys in the United States, since 1985.

Mr. Anderson received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon before going on to study law at the University of Willamette in Salem, Oregon, and the University of San Francisco. In addition, Mr. Anderson was a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force and served as an agent in the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) from 1951 through 1953.

Thomas Anderson is a founder and past president of the California Trial Lawyers Association, now known as the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC). The CAOC is the largest and most influential plaintiff attorney group in California. Mr. Anderson is also a fellow in the International Society of Barristers and is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Additionally, he is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a former member of the Judicial Council of the State of California.

Mr. Anderson has been selected by his peers to be included in The Best Trial Lawyers in America for the last 12 years. He received the Marvin E. Lewis Award from the Consumer Trial Lawyer Association for his many years of service as a trial attorney whose work reflects the most admirable characteristics of his profession. In addition, he has held an AV Rating in Martindale-Hubbell, a national listing of attorneys, for many years. An AV Rating shows that an attorney has reached the height of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. Mr. Anderson has also authored and co-authored numerous writings relating to the practice of law, including the Association of Trial Lawyers of America Basic Advocacy Manual.

Thomas Anderson takes great pride in serving people in other ways as well. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the Desert Springs Church in Palm Desert, California, a trustee for Ariel Ministries, and a board member of the Christian School of the Desert. He has taught bible classes for many years and authored an 86-page monograph entitled “And The Truth Will Set You Free” that sets forth biblical and non-biblical evidence of the deity of Christ as seen by a trial attorney.

Learn more about Mr. Thomas Anderson or contact our personal injury firm in Indio. The Law Offices of Thomas T. Anderson consists of personal injury attorneys representing victims from areas including, but not limited to, Palm Springs, Indio, and Riverside.

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David M. Chapman

DAVID M. CHAPMAN, is a California Trial Lawyer with over 30 years experience devoting his current practice to the areas of personal injury; products liability; consumer fraud; and insurance bad faith litigation.  He received his Bachelor’s of Science Degree from the Arizona State University, and in 1977 his Law Degree from the University of San Fernando Valley.  He was a member of the Delta Pheta Phi legal fraternity and Managing Editor of the San Fernando Valley Law Review from 1976 to 1977.  He has served as former trustee, officer and past-President of the Desert Bar Association, and a Founder of the Warren E. Slaughter Chapter of American Inn of Court.  He is a member of the Riverside County Bar Association; State Bar of California; Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles; Consumer Attorneys of California; and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.  He is admitted to practice law before all the courts in the State of California, the United States Federal Court, and the United States District Court, Central District of California, December 21, 1977; United States District Court, Southern District of California, March 15, 1983; United States District Court, Northern District of California, February 3, 2003; and the United States Federal Court, Northern District of Texas, February 28, 1983.

Upon graduation from law school in 1977, Mr. Chapman became an associate with the law firm of Ritter & Ritter located in Los Angeles, California, a firm specializing in the representation of clients in the area of medical malpractice.  Thereafter, Mr. Chapman became a Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney where he prosecuted many criminal cases on behalf of the People of the State of California.  In 1981, he relocated and continued his representation on behalf of the People of the State of California as a Riverside County Deputy District Attorney.  While a Deputy District Attorney on behalf of Riverside County, he was the deputy in charge of the Palm Springs, California office and continued to prosecute and try high-grade felony matters. 

In 1983, Mr. Chapman re-entered private practice and joined the Law Offices of Thomas T. Anderson, A P.C., handling cases on behalf of consumers and injured persons.  He has successfully prosecuted civil actions in the area of product liability, wrongful death, medical malpractice, insurance bad faith, and actions on behalf of his clients who have sustained catastrophic injuries.

Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory is a national publication that evaluates the skill levels and ethics of attorneys.  The rating published by Martindale-Hubbell is based upon research obtained from other practitioners in the field as well as judges who have evaluated the attorney.  The highest possible rating is an AV rating and Mr. Chapman has held that rating for many years.  Also, Mr. Chapman is listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

The following are some of the cases Mr. Chapman has successfully handled which have resulted in substantial recoveries for his clients:

1. Mr. Chapman represented a client in a dispute with a major insurance carrier who had refused to defend his client in a toxic contamination case.  This matter was successfully resolved on behalf of the client for the gross amount of $8,250,000.00.
2. Mr. Chapman litigated the case of Jacobi vs Harris involving a product liability claim arising as a result of a five-year-old child being severely burned because of a firecracker being thrown at her feet.  The child’s dress became engulfed in flames resulting in severe burns.  This matter was successfully resolved for a gross amount of $4,200,000.00.
3. In the case of Smith vs I-10 Toyota, et al., Mr. Chapman recovered $5,495,000.00 on behalf of his client.  This case arose as a result of an automobile collision in which the plaintiff sustained orthopedic injuries and brain damage.  Through the investment in a structured settlement on behalf of Ms. Smith, she will receive a recovery in an amount of $20,235,000.00 payable throughout her life expectancy.
4. In the matter of Carmona Trucking Litigation, Mr. Chapman recovered $5,300,000.00 on behalf of the surviving wife and three children.  This wrongful death case arose as a result of a tractor-trailer operator’s negligent operation of his big rig 18 wheeler.
5. Mr. Chapman represented a child in a product liability case arising as a result of an alleged defect in the design and manufacture of a baby walker.  As a result of the defect in the design and the manufacture, the child fell from the baby walker and struck his head, resulting in a closed head injury and brain damage.  This matter was successfully resolved for $3,000,000.00.
6. In the matter of Buchanan vs Banovich, Mr. Chapman represented the surviving wife and child in a wrongful death action, which resulted in a gross judgment of $2,036,000.00.  The decedent, Mr. Buchanan, was changing a flat tire on the shoulder of a freeway and was struck by a passing tractor/trailer rig.  The defendants contended that the decedent stood up after changing the tire and backed into the truck’s lane of travel.  Although this defense is supported by the findings in the California Highway Patrol Traffic Collision Report, Mr. Chapman was able to prove at the time of trial that the witnesses’ testimony and conclusions of the California Highway Patrol were inaccurate.  The court attributed 50% comparative fault to the decedent.
7. In the case of Ron Brown vs Tri-Counties Sandblasting Co., Mr. Chapman was able to recover $1,250,000.00 on behalf of his client.  This case arose as a result of an auto versus auto collision in which the plaintiff sustained a closed head injury, which adversely affected his ability to continue to operate his pizza business.
8. In the matter of Muehl vs KLLM Transportation Services, G. W. Transport, Inc., et al., Mr. Chapman was able to successfully make a recovery on behalf of his clients in the gross sum of $920,000.00.  This action involved the death of a 68-year-old man involved in a collision with a tractor/trailer rig.  The trucking company contended that the driver of the tractor/trailer rig was carrying an unauthorized load and, therefore, the trucking company was not responsible for the damages.
9. In the matter of Davis vs USA, Mr. Chapman was trial counsel in the Federal District Court case against the United States Government and Border Patrol agents.  This case arose as a result of Border Patrol agents chasing a vehicle occupied by illegal immigrants, which crashed into a civilian vehicle resulting in the death of Mr. Davis and his son.  The court attributed 75% of the fault to the uninsured illegal immigrants and 25% to the United States government as a result of their continuing to engage in a high-speed pursuit through a residential area.  This matter resulted in a recovery on behalf of the clients in excess of $1,000,000.00.
10. In the matter of Gomez vs Palo Verde Hospital, Mr. Chapman recovered  $2,600,000.00 on behalf of his client.  This was a medical malpractice case in which it was alleged that the nursing staff at the hospital failed to properly monitor the pregnancy and delivery of the newborn, which resulted in the child being deprived of oxygen.
11. In the case of Czako vs Higareda, et al., Mr. Chapman recovered $1,250,000.00 on behalf of his clients.  This case arose as a result of a tractor/trailer truck colliding with the plaintiff’s vehicle.
12. In the case of Hollicky vs Associated Ready Mixed, et al., Mr. Chapman recovered policy limits of One Million Dollars on behalf of the family of John Hollicky.  Mr. Hollicky stepped up onto the running board of a cement mixer in order to speak with the driver of the truck.  Mr. Hollicky wanted to inform the driver that he was trespassing and that the cement trucks should not be utilizing Mr. Hollicky’s property as a shortcut to return to the cement plant.  According to the defense, an argument ensued and the driver of the truck moved the vehicle out of fear for his safety.  As the truck was moving, Mr. Hollicky fell from the running board, striking his head on the asphalt covered ground.

For over 15 years Mr. Chapman has served as Judge Pro Tem on behalf of the Riverside County Superior Court administrating settlement conferences involving the area of personal injury, construction defect, employment disputes, business and contract litigation, as well as claims of professional negligence involving legal and accounting services.  Mr. Chapman has over 20 years experience as a private mediator.

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