Gary A. Praglin is a partner at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP, where he handles complex personal injury cases, including mass tort actions involving environmental contamination of air, water and soil. These cases often involve thousands of injured victims at a time, like Gary’s PG&E case, which became the subject of the hit movie Erin Brockovich.
Over his career, Gary has helped recover for his clients nearly one billion dollars in jury verdicts and settlements.
Gary has also served in leadership on Steering Committees, past and present. Notable Plaintiffs’ Steering Committees have been the Yamaha Rhino Litigation and the SoCalGas Aliso Canyon Litigation, which arises out of the largest release of methane into the environment in history.
Gary also handles pro bono litigation to improve the lives of others. Notable pro bono cases have been: an adoption; re-admission of a med student into med school, allowing him to become a doctor; and helping a young couple prevail against a slumlord on a mold issue. Gary is currently representing multiple parties against online puppy traffickers who have harmed defenseless animals and devastated innocent families.
Gary received his Bachelor of Arts from UCLA. He received his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law.
Gary is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Consumer Attorneys of California, Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles and American Board of Trial Advocates.
He is an active supporter and fund raiser for the following worldwide charities: Wildlife NOW--dedicated to preserving endangered species in Africa www.wildlifeNOW.com; and Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind--dedicated to breeding, training and placing guide dogs around the world www.israelguidedog.org.
Representative Matters
Representative Verdicts and Settlements:
$333 Million / Groundwater contamination trial and settlement
$300 Million / Groundwater contamination settlement
$80 Million / Air contamination settlement
$25 Million / Groundwater contamination settlement
$25 Million / Groundwater contamination settlement
$15 Million / Groundwater contamination jury verdict
$13 Million / Groundwater contamination confidential settlement
$9 Million / Groundwater contamination settlement
$3 Million / Tobacco Wrongful Death Jury Verdict
$2 Million / Securities arbitration award
$2 Million / Product Liability/Personal injury settlement
$1.5 Million / Securities arbitration award
$1.1 Million / Trucking Accident settlement
$1 Million / Groundwater contamination confidential settlement
$900K / Burn Victim Jury Verdict
$400K / Securities arbitration award
$342K / Air Contamination confidential settlement
$250K / Medical Malpractice settlement
$250K / Medical Malpractice settlement
Numerous six figure cases settled over the past 39 years
CPM Investigating PFAS Contamination
Eaton Fire Cases (Lead Case No. 25STCV00731)
Honors & Recognitions
2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
Nominee for Trial Lawyer of the Year by Trial Lawyers for Public Justice for work on the PG&E litigation (1997)
Honored as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” 2007, 2010, 2018 and 2019
Publications
Jan 2023
The sad truth about recycling
In the News
06 Feb 2026
Massive Verdict in Carson Hydrogen Sulfide Disaster
10 Feb 2025
Local Dry Cleaner's Lawsuit Alleges Big Oil Companies’ Failure to Clean Up Contamination is Stalling Progress and Putting Walnut Creek Residents at Risk
18 Mar 2024
Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Residents of Maywood for Exposure to Cancer Causing Ethylene Oxide
08 Nov 2023
Court Rules in Favor of Victims of Online Puppy Trafficking
04 Nov 2021
Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Three Generation Family in Carson, CA Suffering from Exposure to Toxic Levels of Hydrogen Sulfide for Over a Month
12 Oct 2021
Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Impacted Commercial Fishermen in The Orange County Oil Spill Case
07 Oct 2021
Major Orange County Oil Spill Class Action Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Businesses Impacted by Oil Spill
04 Oct 2021
Huntington Beach Oil Spill Will Have Consequences for Years, Lawyers Say
27 Sep 2021
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy Announces SoCalGas Well Blowout Lawsuit has Settled for a Record $1.8 Billion
29 Jul 2021
Court Orders Fraudulent Puppy Traffickers to Stop Selling Animals
12 Jul 2021
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Healthy Spot for Animal Abuse
13 Jan 2021
Despite Court Closures, 2020 Brought Big Courthouse Wins for Plaintiffs in the Southern California Gas Leak Cases
20 May 2020
Shocking COVID Cover-up: Hollywood Nursing Home Forges Death Certificate to Hide its COVID Problem; CPM Assists Family to Sue for Accountability
16 Dec 2019
Lawsuit Filed By CPM Against Fraudulent Puppy Traffickers Who Sold Sick Dogs via Craigslist
Blog Posts
21 Jan 2025
7 Key Questions to Ask a Wildfire Attorney Before Hiring Them
07 Jan 2021
PFAS Litigation Floods Court Dockets
Civic
Invited speaker on environmental issues before the California State Legislature, LA City Schools and various continuing education programs
California Bar Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Consumer Attorneys of California
Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles
American Board of Trial Advocates
Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles Mentor
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
