ROGER BOOTH FOLLOWS IN FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS

Since graduating from Boalt Hall School of Law(UC Berkeley) in 1991, Roger Booth has handled numerous large, complex cases throughout California. As a partner in the Torrance firm, Booth & Koiskoff, he has acquired extensive jury trial experience and has developed particular expertise in products liability, construction accidents and insurance bad faith.  If you visit the firm’s web site, you will read, “For over 40 years, they have represented people who have suffered catastrophic physical and emotional injuries as a result of unsafe products, unsafe working conditions and other negligent and wrongful conduct.”

LAWRENCE BOOTH

The name Booth in the firm’s title only half belongs to Roger, and he can only lay claim to about one quarter of their four decades of success.  But he’s not complaining. 

The other half of the name Booth in the firm’s title along with the remaining three decades of successful legal representation, belong to Roger’s father, Lawrence Booth.  Larry Booth has had a stellar reputation as one of Southern California’s premier trial lawyer’s over the past 40 years.  As a member of CAALA, not only is he a former president of the association, he was named Trial Lawyer of the Year in 1997 (along with colleague Richard Koskoff).

At the rate he is going, Larry’s son, Roger, is well on his way to matching the accomplishments of his father.  Roger joined his dad’s firm in 1997, and one year later, he (with partner Koskoff) obtained a $1.6 million verdict in a products liability case in Orange County involving a machine operator whose hand was crushed.

FIRESTONE CASES

Roger Booth has since obtained many other successful results.  Among these are six cases arising out of the Firestone tire recall, all of which settled in 2001.

In 2004, he obtained settlements of $2,395.000 and $1,180,000 on behalf of two billboard workers who suffered electrical burns after coming into contact with power lines.

In addition, Roger has frequently written for legal publications, including many installments of Booth & Koskoff’s monthly “Tort Tactics” column in the South Bay Bar Associations Barrister’s Bulletin. He also contributed the lead article on construction accident cases for the June 2006 edition of the Advocate magazine, CAALA’s monthly publication.

Journalistic skills must be part of the Booth family heritage. Roger’s father has been a prolific author for numerous legal publications; and in 1974 became the first permanent Editor-in-Chief of the Advocate.

CAALA INVOLVEMENT

Although Roger joined CAALA in 1997, he did not become involved until last year.

In 2005, when California’s trial lawyers faced the threat of a fee-cap initiative, Booth attended a CAALA Town Hall meeting hosted by then-CAALA President Ray Boucher.

After they were introduced following the meeting, Boucher asked Roger if he was related to Larry Booth.  Once Roger answered that Larry was indeed his father, Boucher invited the younger Booth to get more involved with the association.

CAALA NETWORK LEADER

Roger volunteered to be an Area Leader for the South Bay in CAALA’s membership network and organized his area by soliciting volunteers to participate in the network.  He went further than most CAALA members by organizing a meeting for network members and educating them about the goals of the network.

“Roger made a significant commitment of time and was responsible for an important step in the network organization efforts,” said CAALA member, James Kristy, one of the leader’s of the network program.  In the past few months, CAALA called upon members to assist with phone banks and field operations for progressive Democrats running in key California Senate and Assembly races. One of the most important races was between Jenny Oropeza and George Nakano for the state Senate seat in the South Bay.  Nakano was backed by business interests and was viewed as a serious threat to the interests of consumers.  Roger stepped up and participated in this important race by participating in phone banks and other efforts to help Oropeza defeat Nakano in the June 6 primary.

While certainly inspired by the accomplishments of his father, Roger Booth is earning his own reputation as a prominent trial lawyer committed to ensuring that his clients receive fair and just compensation.  He also is following in his father’s footsteps as a member of CAALA.

When CAALA’s leadership first decided to recognize a member of the month, the purpose was described as “recognizing one of our association’s unsung heroes.”

Then-First Vice President John Torjesen said “We are looking to honor members who represent the best attributes of CAALA in both their professional and personal lives.”

Lawrence Booth was previously honored by CAALA.  Now it’s Roger’s turn.

For his accomplishments as a consumer attorney and in recognition of his contributions as a member of CAALA, Roger Booth has been selected Member of the Month for July.