Frank M. Pitre

Frank M. Pitre, a San Francisco native, earned his B.S., cum laude, in Business Administration and his J.D. from the University of San Francisco. While at USF, Frank served a legal externship with the California Supreme Court.

Considered one of the outstanding trial lawyers in areas of personal injury/wrongful death, consumer fraud, mass torts and commercial torts, Frank has won millions of dollars for victims of injustice.

His skill as a trial lawyer has earned him recognition among his peers who have elected him a member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocates (Advocate), International Academy of Trial Lawyers, International Society of Barristers, and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. In 2018, he was honored by Consumer Watchdog with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his successful advocacy on behalf of consumers over more than three decades.

MAUI FIRE & BOEING MASS TORT CASES

Since October 2023, Frank has served as an active member of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee in the prosecution of cases on behalf of over 300 individuals, property owners and small businesses seeking justice against Hawaiian Electric, government entities, telecom companies and landowners for their role in causing the August 7 and 8 devastating wildfires on the Island of Maui. The catastrophic event resulted in 100 deaths, 2200 structures destroyed, scores injured, and numerous businesses destroyed in the Town of Lahaina. In the Matter of The Petition for The Coordination of Maui Fire Cases S.P. No. 2CSP-23-0000057.

Concurrently, Frank serves as a member of the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in the prosecution of cases against Boeing arising from the Ethiopian Airlines crash of a 737 Max 8 in Addis Ababa on March 10, 2019, which killed 149 passengers and 8 crew members. 19-cv-02170: In Re Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 Crash. Since 2019 he has been active in all phases of discovery and trial preparation of over 70 cases as co-counsel for the families of passengers aboard the flight.

PG&E CASES

Since January 2018, he has served as Co-Lead Counsel on behalf of the victims of the North Bay and Camp Fire Wild Fires to prosecute claims against PG&E for its mismanagement of electrical operations. In that respect, Mr. Pitre served as a member of the Tort Claimant’s Committee and a member of the Trust Oversight Committee. The Trustee of the Fire Victim’s Trust retained Mr. Pitre as lead counsel in a derivative case against the former officers and directors of PG&E, securing $117 million for the Fire Victim’s Trust, in addition to cash and stock valued at $13.5 billion.

Previous to that, he acted as Co-Lead Counsel, and secured one of the top 10 largest Shareholder Derivative Settlements in U.S. history against Officers and Directors of PG&E arising out of the San Bruno Fire & Explosion. Salman, et al. v. Darbee, et al., JCCP Action No. 4648.

PREVIOUS MASS TORT & CONSUMER CLASS ACTION

In 2017-2018, he was appointed as a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee (Settlement-Sub Committee) in claims on behalf of numerous victims who lost their homes and loved ones in the Thomas/Woolsey Wildfires in Southern California. JCCP Action No. 4965: In Re Southern California Fire Cases. In addition, he served as a member of The Steering Committee in the prosecution of over 1,400 clients against So. Cal Gas arising out of the Porter Ranch gas storage facility failure. In Re: Southern California Gas Leak Cases, JCCP Action No. 4861.

In January 2016, he was selected by Federal District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer as one of twenty lawyers, among 150 attorney applicants nationwide, to serve as a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee to prosecute claims on behalf of a nationwide class of consumers against Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi over their diesel emissions scandal. The cases were pending in the Northern District of California in MDL 2672: In Re Volkswagen "Clean Diesel" Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation.

Frank served as one of ten members of the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee selected by Federal District Court Judge Jesse Furman to lead litigation pending in the Southern District of New York on behalf of a nationwide class of consumers against General Motors for safety related defects in over 27 million vehicles. MDL 2543: In Re General Motors Ignition Switch Litigation.

In 2013-2015, Frank served as Plaintiffs' Liaison Counsel spearheading the coordination of dozens of cases filed on behalf of injured passengers against Asiana Airlines and Boeing, arising from the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 in San Francisco on July 6, 2013. In Re: Air Crash At San Francisco, California on July 6, 2013.

In November of 2013, Frank was honored by the Consumer Attorneys of California as Consumer Attorney of the Year for his efforts in coordinating, prosecuting and resolving over 200 claims of injury, death and property destruction against PG&E.

Earlier that same year, Frank served as Co-Lead Counsel for Economic Loss Class Plaintiffs in the Toyota Unintended Acceleration Marketing & Sales Practices Cases which successfully resulted in securing final approval of a $1.5 billion settlement on behalf of class members. In Re: Toyota Unintended Acceleration Marketing Sales Practices & Product Liability Litigation, MDL 2151JVS.

In 2009, Frank was recognized by the National Law Journal’s “Plaintiff’s Hot List” for his work as co-lead trial counsel in the In Re: Bextra and Celebrex Mktg., Sales Practices & Product Liability Litigation (MDL 1699), which culminated in Pfizer agreeing to pay $894 million to settle consolidated injury and class action cases related to its painkillers Bextra & Celebrex.

Frank served as liaison counsel and a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in the Alaska Air Flight 261 air crash. In addition, he was a member of the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee arising out of the Singapore Airlines Flight 006 air crash in Taiwan. Immediately prior to his committee appointments in Alaska Air and Singapore Airlines, he served as a member of the Plaintiffs' Management Committee in the California Diet Drug Litigation, where thousands of individuals were victimized by the diet pill combination Fen-Phen, which was condemned by the FDA for causing adverse health effects.

PREVIOUS SIGNIFICANT TRIAL VICTORIES

Frank recovered the largest individual wrongful death verdict in San Diego County history at that time, when a jury awarded $17.4 million to the wife and three children of a high ranking U.S. Naval Officer who was killed while riding his bike in a collision with an American Medical Response transport van. Mazurek, et al. v. American Medical Response, et al., San Diego Superior Court Action No. 10-83975 May 20, 2011. As a result, he was named a finalist for the 2011 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys of California.

Frank obtained one of the largest verdicts in Sutter County history when he obtained over $45 million on behalf on an elderly minority shareholder who had been frozen out of participation in a lucrative family timber harvesting business. Siller v. Siller, Sutter County Superior Court Action No. CVCS01-1083.

Frank obtained a multi-million dollar wrongful death jury verdict in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, California, against the State Department of Transportation, a highway contractor, and a trucking company. The verdict, one of the then-largest of its kind for Orange County, was affirmed on appeal, and as a result Frank was a finalist for CAOC’s Trial Lawyer of the Year award (2004).

Frank served as co-lead trial counsel for Consumers Union, obtaining a defense verdict in favor of Consumers Union in a product disparagement case where the plaintiff, Isuzu Motors of Japan, sought damages of multi- million dollars. His work in defense of Consumers Union earned him recognition as a finalist for the 2000 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award by Public Justice.

Frank won a multi-million dollar verdict for the victims of a high profile San Francisco balcony collapse. He also secured a significant verdict for compensatory and punitive damages before a San Francisco jury which found the defendant to have wrongfully deprived the plaintiff of her partnership interest in a successful business. In addition, he served as co-lead trial counsel with Joseph W. Cotchett for E. & J. Gallo, winning a landmark trade dress infringement case for the winery.

Frank's experience in mass tort cases began in 1987 with the PSA Air Crash Cases, representing numerous plaintiffs in wrongful death actions following the crash of PSA Flight 1771; he served as a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, and later as Plaintiffs' co-lead trial counsel for the six-week jury trial which established the defendants' liability. The success of the PSA Air Crash Cases led to his appointment as a member of the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in Carnahan et al. v. State of California, which successfully resolved hundreds of claims for personal injuries and damages against more than 100 defendants.

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Frank is a past president of Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), the 3,000-member group of lawyers dedicated to protecting and seeking justice for consumers. He has also served as a past president of the San Francisco Chapter of ABOTA, and Cal-ABOTA.

PUBLICATIONS

Frank is the author of numerous articles, including “Abuse of Process,” California Tort Damages, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1988; and “Tort Trends,” The Docket, San Mateo County Bar Association, 1989-1994. He is co-author of “Jury Instructions: A Practical Approach to their Use,” Civil Litigation Reporter, March, 1984; “Arguing Punitive Damages,” Civil Litigation Reporter, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1991; “Effective Opening Statements,” California Litigation, Journal of The Litigation Section, California State Bar, 1991; “Jury Trial Tips: Witnesses,” California Litigation, Journal of The Litigation Section, California State Bar, 1991; and “Winning Through a More Effective Direct Examination,” California Litigation, Journal of the Litigation Section, California State Bar, 1991. Since 1998, he has served as the author of “California Personal Injury Proof,” published by the California Continuing Education of the Bar, which is updated annually to reflect legal changes affecting the essential tools of marshalling proof at trial.

TEACHING

Frank has served on the faculty of the Hastings College of Advocacy and the University of San Francisco Trial Advocacy Program. He also has served as the Co-Chair and presenter at several Masters In Trial programs sponsored by the ABOTA Foundation.

Representative Matters

CPM Investigates PG&E's Involvement in Wine Country Fires

Eaton Fire Cases (Lead Case No. 25STCV00731)

CPM Investigates California High Speed Rail Project Property Valuations

Honors & Recognitions

Recognized by Los Angeles/San Francisco Daily Journal as One of California’s Top 100 Lawyers

Selected by Los Angeles/San Francisco Daily Journal as One of California's Top 25 Plaintiff Lawyers

Don E. Bailey Civility & Professionalism Award Recipient, 2026

Inducted into the California Lawyers Association Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame, 2026

Daily Journal California Lawyer Attorney of the Year, 2026

Ranked No. 1 Attorney in Northern California by Super Lawyers, 2026

Selected as One of the Top 5 Personal Injury: Plaintiff Attorneys by Super Lawyers, 2026

2014-2026 Selected as One of Northern California's Top 10 Lawyers by Super Lawyers

Selected by Best Lawyers as Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year for the San Francisco Bay Area

Selected to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, 2026

Selected to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2026

Order of Justitia, 100 or more jury and/or bench trials and/or arbitrations to verdict and/or decision

2014 Finalist Public Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year

2013 Consumer Attorney of the Year Award Recipient

Honored by the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association as Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2006

Recognized as a Finalist for Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2000, 2004 and 2011

Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America each year since 2006

Ranked among the top 500 litigators in America by Lawdragon Magazine

Recipient of Edward I. Pollock Award for his dedicated efforts on behalf of consumers (2010)

Publications

California Personal Injury Proof, California Continuing Education of the Bar

Assault Weapons: The Case Against The TEC-9

In the News

30 Jun 2026

Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Homeowner Injured by Tracy Warehouse Fire

16 Jun 2025

What Maui fire victims need to know to file for settlement money

12 Jun 2024

CPM Attorneys Recognized as 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers

03 Oct 2023

Wells Fargo Shareholder Sues Bank’s Executives for Sham Interview and Hiring Practices to Increase Workforce Diversity

08 Sep 2023

Top Maui Law Firm Files Series of Lawsuits on Behalf of Lahaina Fire Victims

23 Mar 2023

Tesla Buyers Ask Calif. Judge To Shut Down 'Full Self Driving'

12 Dec 2022

Tesla: Our ‘failure’ to make actual self-driving cars ‘is not fraud’

08 Dec 2022

Tesla says its self-driving technology may be a ‘failure’ — but not fraud

04 Oct 2022

Lawsuit Filed Against Roseburg Forest Products Co. Over the Start of the Mill Fire

29 Sep 2022

Former PG&E executives to pay $117 million to settle claims over California wildfires

29 Sep 2022

Former PG&E executives agree to $117-million settlement over California wildfires

15 Sep 2022

Tesla Buyers Say Elon Musk Overhyped 'Self-Driving' Tech

14 Sep 2022

Lawsuit Filed Against Tesla for Allegedly Misleading the Public Regarding its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Technology

05 Jul 2022

CPM Attorneys Selected to 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List

27 Sep 2021

Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy Announces SoCalGas Well Blowout Lawsuit has Settled for a Record $1.8 Billion

07 Jul 2021

17 CPM Attorneys Honored as Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

17 Mar 2021

Congratulations to Frank Pitre and Niall McCarthy for Winning the 2021 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year Award

24 Feb 2021

Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Justice John Trotter (Ret.), Trustee of the PG&E Fire Victim Trust, Against Certain PG&E Officers and Directors

13 Jan 2021

Despite Court Closures, 2020 Brought Big Courthouse Wins for Plaintiffs in the Southern California Gas Leak Cases

20 Nov 2020

Parents of Slain Saugus High School Student Sue School District on the Anniversary of 15-Year-Old Gracie Muehlberger's Tragic Death

10 Jun 2020

CPM Partners Joe Cotchett and Frank Pitre Named to Distinguished List of Daily Journal’s ‘Top Plaintiff Lawyers’ in California for 2020

19 Jun 2019

CPM Partners Selected to the Daily Journal’s Top Plaintiff Lawyers

15 May 2019

As CPM Fights for Fire Victims, California Says PG&E Power Lines Caused Camp Fire That Killed 85

2019

CPM Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit and FAA Claim on Behalf of Young American Woman Killed in Boeing 737 MAX 8 Crash in Ethiopia

04 Mar 2019

CPM Clients Wildfire Victims Accuse PG&E of Resisting Oversight

01 Mar 2019

Attorneys (including CPM): PG&E has long failed to handle wildfire risk

PG&E bankruptcy will be an expensive process

10 Dec 2018

CPM Files Series of Lawsuits on Behalf of Camp Fire Victims

19 Sep 2018

Four CPM Partners Named Daily Journal's Top 100 Lawyers in California

11 Jun 2018

PG&E Sees ‘Significant Liability’ in California Wildfire Report

08 Jun 2018

Cal Fire Releases Cause of a Dozen More October Fires: Nearly All Tied to PG&E

02 Jun 2018

CPM Partner Frank Pitre Receives the 2018 Lifetime Legal Achievement Award for Advocacy Regarding California Wildfires

SIX-TIME FELON PG&E WANTS A FREE PASS – DON'T LET THEM HAVE IT

14 Nov 2017

CPM client former SF mayor among plaintiffs in seven new lawsuits against PG&E over North Bay fires

14 Nov 2017

CPM Among Five Top Law Firms to Announce Series of Lawsuits against PG&E on behalf of Fire Victims

14 Nov 2017

CPM Sues Pacific Gas and Electric Company for Rash of Deadly Northern California Wildfires

31 Oct 2017

New PG&E reports show widespread problems during Wine Country fires

12 Oct 2017

California fire mystery: PG&E lines fell in winds that weren’t ‘hurricane strength’

12 Oct 2017

Dispatch calls link PG&E power lines to North Bay wild fires, cause still under investigation

CPM Wildfire Litigation Experts Leading Charge of Investigation on North Bay Fires

03 Aug 2017

CPM Files Lawsuit Against Immigration and Customs Enforcement for Family of Fallen Oakland Muralist, Tony Ramos

PG&E DERIVATIVE LITIGATION NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT

21 Apr 2017

CPM Secures $90 Million Settlement in PG&E San Bruno Explosion Case

10 Feb 2017

CPM Helps First Major Wave of Millennium Tower Individual Owners File Suit

As CPM Fights for Justice to Be Served, Government Disclaims Responsibility for Kate Steinle’s Death

19 Oct 2016

CPM Partner: Exploding Samsung 7 Phones Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg

26 Sep 2016

California police officers required to lock up guns after bill signed into law

09 Aug 2016

Federal Jury Finds PG&E Guilty of Obstructing Investigators

19 Jul 2016

Multiple CPM Litigators Recognized as Northern California Super Lawyers 2016

17 Jun 2016

Lost in the Debate: The Threat to Judicial Independence

02 Jun 2016

CPM Files Federal Claim Against ICE for Family of Slain Oakland Muralist, Tony Ramos

27 May 2016

CPM Client Kate Steinle's Family Sues Federal Agencies After Alleged Murder By Undocumented Immigrant

2016

CPM Partner Frank Pitre Chosen as One of Two of State’s Top Consumer Lawyers Among Dream Team to Lead Nationwide Class Action Cases Against Volkswagen

16 Nov 2015

Unaccounted For: Hundreds of Guns Lost or Stolen From Bay Area Police Agencies Since 2010

25 Sep 2015

CPM Files Lawsuit Against Volkswagen on Behalf of Stanford Professors for Allegedly Using Software to Circumvent Emissions Testing

01 Sep 2015

CPM Client Steinle Family Files Claims to Hold SF Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, ICE and the Bureau of Land Management Responsible for Daughter's Death

28 Aug 2015

Court Orders PG&E Directors to Answer, Allowing CPM Client Shareholders' Suit to Proceed

16 Jul 2015

Multiple Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy Lawyers Honored as Super Lawyers For Northern California

15 Jul 2015

CPM Partners Cotchett, Pitre and Murphy Selected to List of Daily Journal's Top 25 Plaintiff Lawyers

18 Jun 2015

Experts say balcony collapse that killed 6 likely due to dry rot

09 Mar 2015

Public Radio Airs Story on CPM’s Counterfeit Screws Litigation

CPM Partner Pitre Selected by “Best Lawyer” as 2015 Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year

CPM Represents City of Richmond Regarding Chevron Refinery Fire

In Defective Airbags Product Liability Case, CPM Represents Numerous Owners of Honda and BMW Cars with Defective Takata Airbags

CPM Fights Against Oil Pollution of Farm Lands in Kern County

CPM's Consolidated Shareholder Derivative Lawsuit Moves Ahead Against PG&E Officers and Directors

03 Nov 2014

Center for Investigative Reporting Covers CPM's Spinal Screw Case

05 Aug 2014

Blast lawsuit seeking money from PG&E execs gets go-ahead

27 Jul 2014

CPM Attorneys Win National Trial Lawyer of the Year

09 Jul 2014

CPM Partners Cotchett, Pitre, McCarthy and Jabagchourian Named to 2014 Top 100 Northern California Super Lawyers List

17 Nov 2013

CPM Name Partner Frank Pitre is Consumer Attorneys of California's 2013 Consumer Attorney of the Year

2013

CPM Files Consolidated Shareholder Derivative Lawsuit Against PG&E Officers And Directors

23 Sep 2013

CPM Files Complaint on Behalf of PG&E Against Its Officers and Directors for Breach of Their Fiduciary Duties

09 Aug 2013

CPM Helps SFO Plane Crash Survivors File Lawsuit Against Asiana, Boeing

02 Aug 2013

CPM client Northern California city sues Chevron over refinery fire

24 Jul 2013

Multiple CPM Lawyers Named to Super Lawyers Annual List for Northern California

15 Jul 2013

Courts Will Treat Asiana Passengers Differently

26 Dec 2012

CPM Achieves $1.3 Billion Settlement in Toyota Acceleration Class Action

30 Oct 2012

Judge Rules Jury Can Set Punitive Damages in PG&E Pipeline Blast

CPM Named as Super Lawyers 2012

20 May 2011

CPM Client Receives Largest Verdict Awarded in Individual Wrongful Death Suit in San Diego County

Frank Pitre Receives Edward I. Pollock Award

CPM Selected as Co-Lead Counsel for Toyota Class Action

CPM Facilitates $894 Million Pfizer Settlement

CPM Participates in National Rebuilding Day (formerly Christmas in April)

Apr 2007

CPM Partner Pitre Inducted Into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Blog Posts

09 Mar 2015

Public Radio Airs Story on CPM’s Counterfeit Screws Litigation

12 May 2014

Introduction to Personal Injury Law

American College of Trial Lawyers (2010-); American Board of Trial Advocates (Advocate, 2000-); International Academy of Trial Lawyers (2006-); National Board of Trial Advocates, Certified Trial Advocate (1996-); International Society of Barristers (2011-).

Civil Trial Advocacy & Civil Pretrial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy