LOS ANGELES – The Civil Justice Program (CJP) at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles will host its 12th-Annual Tribute to the Champions of Justice dinner and award ceremony at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. This year’s honorees are attorneys Gary A. Dordick, the Law Offices of Gary A. Dordick, and Wally Yoka, Yoka & Smith, LLP.
The awards annually commend two attorneys who make significant contributions to the civil justice system. Honorees’ careers are marked by professional excellence, technical proficiency and uncompromising integrity. This year’s honorees do that and more, according to John Nockleby, Loyola Law School professor and director of the Civil Justice Program.
“Gary and Wally are as good as it gets. They are staunch advocates for their clients, and they are deeply committed to shaping and advancing the civil justice system,” said Nockleby. “They define the term ‘Champions of Justice.’”
As a plaintiffs’ attorney, Dordick handles cases involving automobile, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, as well as construction injuries, dog bites, product defect litigation and governmental claims. Some of his biggest victories have been on behalf of clients harmed by civil rights violations, wrongful termination and injuries sustained in public facilities.
“Winning this award is a tremendous honor. Loyola Law School is one of the finest law schools in the country, and it produces an exceptional number of outstanding litigators,” said Dordick. “In addition to the prestige of this award being from Loyola, it is made more special by the fact that its purpose is to raise funds for an outstanding cause. The Civil Justice Program assures equal access to justice for all people, which is essential in today’s times of civil injustice and racial inequality in the legal system.”
Yoka has defended clients on cases ranging from product liability and employment to insurance bad faith and breach of commercial leases and contracts. An advocate for expedited jury trials, he has served on the Judicial Council Blue Ribbon Panel of Experts on the Fair and Efficient Administration of Civil Cases, the Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee on Electronic Discovery and the California Rules of Court.
“It’s an incredible honor to be chosen by Loyola for this prestigious award,” Yoka said. “Knowing every person who has earned this award before me, I am in unbelievable company. The fact that I did not graduate from Loyola makes this even more meaningful to me. I will be forever in the debt of Loyola for this honor.”
The Tribute to the Champions of Justice reception will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. The Beverly Hilton hotel is located at 9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Learn more at www.lls.edu/tributedinner.
Past honorees:
- 2015 – Richard (Dick) Carroll, founding partner at Carroll, Kelly, Trotter, Franzen, McKenna & Peabody, and Amy Fisch Solomon, partner at Girardi | Keese
- 2014 – Duke DeHaas, senior trial lawyer and shareholder, La Follette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames, and William M. Shernoff, senior and founding partner of Shernoff Bidart Echeverria Bentley LLP
- 2013 – Paul R. Fine ’72, founding partner, Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, LLP, and Christine D. Spagnoli ’86, partner, Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP
- 2012 – David J. O’Keefe, Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O’Keefe & Nichols, and Gary M. Paul ’74, Waters, Kraus & Paul, LLP
- 2011 – Michael J. Bidart, Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP, and Donna Marie Melby, Paul Hastings LLP
- 2010 – Samuel A. “Skip” Keesal Jr., Keesal, Young & Logan, and Brian Panish, Panish Shea & Boyle
- 2009 – Bob Baker, Baker Keener & Nahra LLP, and Gretchen Nelson, Kreindler & Kreindler LLP
- 2008 – Raymond Boucher, Kiesel, Boucher & Larson, LLP, and John Collins, founding partner of Collins, Collins, Muir & Stewart LLP
- 2007 – Thomas Jerome Nolan, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, and Mark P. Robinson Jr., Robinson Calcagnie & Robinson, Inc.
- 2006 – Bruce A. Broillet, Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, and Edith Matthai, Robie & Matthai, A Professional Corporation
- 2005 – James J. Brosnahan Jr., Morrison & Foerster LLP, and Thomas V. Girardi ’64, Girardi | Keese
About the Civil Justice Program
The Civil Justice Program was created in 2005 to focus research and public attention on the civil justice system. The Civil Justice Program convenes periodic conferences, seminars and presentations; promotes and publishes scholarly research; and initiates cross-disciplinary projects. Its programs include the annual Journalist Law School, a four-day legal bootcamp for reporters, editors and producers that has educated about 400 journalists.
About Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Located on an award-winning Frank Gehry-designed campus in downtown Los Angeles, Loyola Law School is home to prominent faculty, dedicated students and cutting-edge programs. The Law School strives to instill in students the knowledge they need to excel on their chosen paths. It dedicates itself to preparing students for the rigors of practice with an extensive portfolio of practical-training opportunities, a 17,000-strong alumni network and a focus on social justice. Learn more at www.lls.edu.
Media contacts:
Journalists who wish to attend any part of the event should RSVP to:
Brian Costello
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Brian.Costello@lls.edu Tel. 213-736-1444