Jim Pettis

Before founding Pettis Law Firm, Jim was a partner an international law firm.  Recognized as a “Rising Star” in 2010 and 2013 and selected for inclusion in the list of Southern California Super Lawyers for 2014 through 2023, Jim has handled all aspects of litigation in state and federal court in a broad range of cases including consumer actions, personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, toxic torts, employment discrimination, environmental contamination, breach of contract, fraud, unfair competition, lending practices, trade secrets, lease disputes, shareholder disputes, and many others.  

Outside of his litigation work, Jim acts as outside general counsel to clients, providing business counseling on best practices and regulatory compliance, corporate formation, contracts and protecting intellectual property.  Jim also provides guidance to companies responding to government investigations, including those conducted by the FAA, NTSB and OSHA.

Jim Pettis Super Lawyers

Representative Experience

  • Successfully prosecuted breach of implementation contract on behalf of software implementation company after arbitration against Fortune 500 company.

  • Successfully prosecuted breach of advertising agreement on behalf of digital media company after arbitration.

  • Successfully prosecuted breach of aviation leasing agreement on behalf of individual against aircraft leasing company after arbitration.

  • Obtained $3,000,000 class action settlement on behalf of workers based on wage and hour violations related to untimely payment of wages, failure to pay for all hours worked, and meal and rest breaks.

  • Litigated federal and state cases involving consumer title loan origination, collection, and recovery in California. Prevailed in cases alleging California’s Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Truth in Lending Act, misrepresentation, and unfair competition claims. Obtained dismissal of misrepresentation and statutory claims on motion for summary judgment and dismissal of state and federal claims on motion for terminating sanctions.

  • Represented clients in litigation arising from the Spanair Flight 5022 disaster at Madrid-Barajas Airport in Spain. Served as liaison counsel appointed by the Court in multidistrict litigation involving 150 wrongful death and injury actions brought by 204 plaintiffs in the Central District of California, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, and state courts in those districts (In Re: Air Crash at Madrid, Spain, on August 20, 2008).

  • Litigation work throughout the United States in product liability claims arising from aircraft incidents and accidents, including claims arising from Singapore Airlines SQ006 disaster at Chiang Kai Shek Airport in Taiwan.

  • Successfully negotiated settlements with Cal/OSHA after fatal industrial accidents.

  • Successfully prevailed on state court fraud and civil rights claims on behalf of national non-profit civil rights organization, and defeated subsequent appeal. -Successfully prevailed in federal age discrimination claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

  • Successfully prevailed in a multi-million dollar contract dispute after obtaining prejudgment writs of attachment.

  • Litigated federal and state cases involving consumer mortgage loan origination and wrongful foreclosure suits in California. Prevailed in numerous cases alleging Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Truth in Lending Act, Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act violations, as well as state consumer protection and unfair competition claims and common law predatory lending claims. Successfully prevailed in subsequent appeals.

Admissions

   California, 2002
   United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
   United States District Courts for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California

Education

   University of the Pacific, JD, 2002
   Washington State University, BA, cum laude, 1998

Military Experience

   United States Navy (Reserves – 2 years active duty), NAS Whidbey Island, WA
   Plane Captain, 1991 – 1999
   National Defense Service Medal for military service during Persian Gulf War

Memberships, Honors and Interests

   California State Bar
   Southern Poverty Law Center - Friends of the Center
   Southern California Super Lawyers 2014-2022; “Rising Star” 2010 and 2013
   A Place Called Home (a safe haven in South Central Los Angeles for underserved youth), volunteer
  The North Star - Founding Member
Martial arts (Jeet Kune Do, Kali, Muay Thai)

 

Jim Pettis