Christine Diane Spagnoli

Christine D. Spagnoli is a prominent partner at Greene, Broillet & Wheeler, based in El Segundo, with a focus on representing plaintiffs in product liability, personal injury, and legal malpractice cases. Her exceptional legal acumen and dedication have resulted in numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts, making her a formidable force in the legal community.

One of Ms. Spagnoli's most notable accomplishments was her role as co-counsel in the landmark 1999 General Motors case. In this matter, a defective fuel tank caused severe burn injuries to two adults and four children. The jury delivered a groundbreaking verdict of $4.9 billion, setting a precedent for product liability cases. She was also part of the team that secured the largest personal injury verdict in California, amounting to $58 million, for a man who suffered severe burns due to a defective O-ring.

Ms. Spagnoli's dedication to consumer safety is evident in her spearheading of litigation to protect consumers from injuries and deaths related to 15 passenger vans. Noteworthy cases include securing a $25.9 million jury verdict in 2018 for the family of a church volunteer who died in a Ford 15 passenger van rollover after the left rear tire tread separated. In 2011, she obtained a $73 million verdict, including $50 million in punitive damages, for the family of another church volunteer who died in a similar rollover crash. The jury found that Ford's defective design led to the loss of control and that the company failed to warn consumers about recalled tires prone to separation.

Throughout her career, Ms. Spagnoli has demonstrated her expertise in personal injury and product liability cases. She served as the Plaintiffs' Co-Lead Counsel in the Federal Express Vehicle Collision Cases, resulting from a tragic crash involving a FedEx tractor-trailer and a charter bus filled with high school students. Her contributions were instrumental in reaching a settlement in 2017, just before trial.

Her impressive track record includes co-lead trial counsel in the 2001 negligence case against Southern California Edison, resulting in a $21 million verdict for an electrocuted avocado picker. Other significant cases include securing $8.8 million in a brain/motor vehicle injury case, $6.4 million in a personal injury matter, and $25 million for an electrocuted construction worker.

Ms. Spagnoli's achievements have garnered her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Harry M. Philo Award from the American Association of Justice in 2017. She was recognized as the Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles in 2012, marking the first time a woman received this honor. Her exceptional service and contributions to the legal profession and society have led to inductions into various halls of fame and received the Rage for Justice Lifetime Legal Achievement Award from Consumer Watchdog in 2017.

Ms. Spagnoli's reputation as one of California's top plaintiff attorneys is well-deserved, as evidenced by her inclusion in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers Guide and the Daily Journal's list of Top 30 Plaintiff Lawyers. She has also been ranked among the Top 100 Most Influential Attorneys in California and the Top 50 Women Litigators since 2004.

As a sought-after lecturer and author, Ms. Spagnoli generously shares her expertise on trial techniques and various legal topics. Her contributions have enriched the knowledge of legal professionals and advocacy groups nationwide.

Published Works:

Christina has been published in several magazines, including the Daily Journal in 2023 and 2014, as well as Advocate Magazine in 2000 and 2010. She was Editor-in-Chief of "Advocate" in 1994 and Editor-in-Chief of "Forum" in 1995. She also co-authored the Amicus Brief in Soule v. General Motors in 1994

She has taught classes and seminars on several subject matters, including demonstrative evidence, direct and cross-examination methods and discovery and demonstrating head trauma injury in children.

Throughout her career, she has earned several honors and awards, including 2022 membership in the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame, recognition as one of Lawdragon's top 500 Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers from 2020-2023, one of America's Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, California Recorder's Trailblazer in 2019, and she has been listed as a Southern California Super Lawyer since 2004. She was named one of the "10 Best Female Attorneys" for California, recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Personal Injury Litigation and Products Liability Litigation. The Daily Journal has named her in their Top Verdicts of 2011, Mauro v. Ford Motor Company and recognized her as one of the Top Women Lawyers, as well as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Attorneys in California. Other awards and recognitions include:

• Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles Hall of Fame Inductee, 2018

• CAOC Edward I. Pollock Award Recipient 2021

• California Super Lawyers Peer-Nominated Listings, Top 50 Women Southern California Lawyers, 2004–2020

• 2012 Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles Trial Lawyer of the Year

• California Super Lawyers peer-nominated listings, Top 100 Southern California Lawyers, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011–2013, 2015–2021

• Most Outstanding Young Trial Lawyer of 2001, F. Scott Baldwin Award, American Association for Justice, New Lawyers Division, 2001 Community Involvement:

Christine has been president of several associations, including Consumer Attorneys in 2009, President of Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles in 2002 and President of the Attorneys Information Exchange Group from 2011-2013. She was on the Board of Overseers for the Rand Institute of Civil Justice and the Loyola School of LA. She has also served as Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court to the Civil Jury Instructions Committee since 1997.

Christine's pro bono activities include being the first Vice President of the Affiliated Trial Lawyers Associations, serving as its President in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010, serving as a Trustee with the AAJ PAC Board of Trustees from 2008-2010, an Audit Committee Member from 2010-2011, a Bar Liaison Committee Member from 2016-2020, co-chair of the Communications, Computers & Law Office Technology Committee from 1998-1999.

She has been a member, a newsletter editor, secretary/treasurer, chair-elect, first vice chair, and a member of the Products Liability Section Officers between the years 1999 and 2005. Additionally, she is currently a Women Trial Lawyers Caucus Member and has served as a National Finance Council Member from 2008-2014 and again from 2016-2019. Other pro bono activites she engages in include:

• Coord. Comm. on State Relations Member, 8/1/1998-7/31/2000

• Election Committee Member, 8/1/1998-7/31/2005

• Justice List Committee Member, 8/1/2001-7/31/2004

• Membership Oversight Committee Member, 8/1/2005-7/31/2008

• Publications Committee Member, 8/1/1998-7/31/2001

• State Affairs Liaison Comm. Member, 8/1/2000-7/31/2001

• State Delegates Secretary, 8/1/1997-7/31/1998

• State Delegates State Delegate, 8/1/1996-7/31/2006

Professional Associations & Memberships:

• American Association for Justice, Board Member, and Past Chair Product Liability Section

• American Board of Trial Advocates (inducted in 2004)

• Attorneys Information Exchange Group, (AIEG) President, 2010-2011

• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), President, 2002

• Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), President, 2009

• International Association of Trial Lawyers (IATL) Board Member

• International Society of Barristers (ISOB) Board Member

• Judicial Council of California Committee on Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) (1997 – present) (Appointed by the Chief Justice)