Joseph M. Barrett, Of Counsel to Markevitch Law, P.C., brings more than three decades of plaintiffs’ practice to catastrophic injury, wrongful death, negligence, product liability, and civil rights cases. His experience also includes car and truck accidents, slip-and-fall injuries, insurance bad faith, sexual harassment, business disputes, mass torts, and class actions.
He represents severely injured people and bereaved families against drivers, healthcare providers, corporations and public agencies. He seeks compensation, safer roads, better medical practices and police accountability.
He handles high-profile matters involving civic leaders, celebrities, and economic or environmental disasters.
Joe’s career results include an $8 million settlement for a bridge collapse during construction on a Los Angeles freeway; a $7 million verdict for a woman injured by an LAPD vehicle; a $5.5 million settlement for a young woman paralyzed after falling from a second-story apartment bedroom window; a $5 million policy-limit settlement involving a commercial truck’s unsafe response at a crash scene and the resulting secondary collision; and a $3.6 million car-crash verdict following a $50,000 pretrial offer from State Farm. His results include six-figure recoveries as well as multimillion-dollar judgments, verdicts and settlements. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome.
Trial experience and ABOTA
Joe has 100+ jury trials and is an Advocate-level member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
“ABOTA is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges. ABOTA and its members are dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. ABOTA membership consists of more than 7,300 lawyers—equally balanced between plaintiff and defense—and judges spread among 94 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.”
Joe’s Advocate designation signifies an achievement carried by less than 3% of all ABOTA members.
Leadership and background
Joe was president of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles in 2015 and served on the Consumer Attorneys of California Board of Governors. He co-founded Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charities and led it from 2011 to 2012. His work includes lecturing, writing, guest speaking, and news commentary on negligence and safety. He has been selected to Southern California Super Lawyers annually since 2006 and is top-rated on Avvo.
Joe serves on the St. Thomas More Society of Los Angeles Executive Committee. His charity work supports people facing homelessness, disability and domestic violence.
A Boston native, Joe earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and earned his law degree at Southwestern University School of Law. He also studied at New England School of Law and Oxford University.
Attention to clients
A former client praises accepting a declined case, family attention, clear answers, updates, and results exceeding expectations.
Beyond the courtroom
Joe spends time with his wife, four children and grandson. His interests include adult baseball (since 1989), arts, cycling, ice hockey, basketball, tennis and frisbee golf.
John Lennon’s “A working class hero is something to be” informs Joe’s courtroom and negotiating work.
Joseph M. Barrett serves as Of Counsel to Markevitch Law, P.C. and maintains a separate practice. All communications regarding Markevitch Law matters should be directed to the firm.
