Advocate Craig McClellan

Craig McClellan is one of the few attorneys who can say that he has made a difference in this country's safety standards, resulting in many lives being saved and many injuries avoided. A pioneer in modern product liability litigation, Craig’s trials and settlements are credited by the Department of Justice with helping ban three wheel All Terrain Vehicles from the U.S. market. One of his cases is cited as bringing about the installation of 3-point shoulder harnesses in automobile rear seats. Another case generated laws barring secrecy agreements.

The persevering and tenacious litigation Craig has pursued has landed his cases on 60 Minutes, 20-20, the McNeil-Lehrer Report, CBS Evening News, and countless other programs because of their ground breaking precedent. Not surprising for someone who has always been a leader – as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, as Editor-in-Chief of his schools’ Law Review, and as the first and only San Diego attorney selected for admission into the Inner Circle of Advocates, the prestigious invitation-only group that limits its membership to 100 of the top plaintiffs’ attorneys in the country. Moreover, with over 150 verdicts and settlements in excess of one million dollars each, he leads all San Diego lawyers in the number of large recoveries.

Craig used to race cars, and still participates in driving events. Because of his racing background, he has had an interest in high speed, exotic car crashes. One of his first multi-million dollar verdicts was against Porsche, when the jury found the death of a passenger in its 930 Turbo Porsche was because the vehicle was “too dangerous for the average driver.” That case made international headlines, as did another case against Porsche last year for defects in the Porsche Carrera GT, which led to the death of two at the California Speedway.

The San Diego based McClellan Law Firm practices around the country and has had cases arising from as far away as Argentina. From exploding gas tanks to massive landslides, not only does the firm take on the biggest industry and governmental entities, but it does so with the latest litigation techniques and technology. Craig tried the first paperless trial in the country in Indiana in 2003.

As one would expect, he is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Master of the American Inns of Court, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and past President of its San Diego Chapter. He is a former Board member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (where he also served as an Officer,) and the San Diego Chapter of the American Business Trial Lawyers. He is in the San Diego Trial Lawyers and Lawdragon Halls of Fame.