Douglas F. Welebir

In 1966 Mr. Welebir served as Legal Research Assistant to Justice John Kerrigan, California Court of Appeals for 4th District, Division 2. In 1967 he served as a Deputy Public Defender for the County of San Bernardino. In 1970, Mr. Welebir limited his practice exclusively to plaintiff’s personal injury law and went on to form the predecessor to this firm in 1973. From 1970 to 1974, Mr. Welebir also served as the first mayor of the City of Loma Linda, California. Most recently, Mr. Welebir has been selected by the District Court Attorney Liaison Committee of the Central District to be a Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference Lawyer Representative, 2012-2016.Douglas F. Welebir is the founder of Welebir | Tierney. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from La Sierra College in 1962 and then attended the University of Southern California School of Law where he earned his J.D. degree in 1965.

Mr. Welebir served as lead plaintiff’s counsel in the Stringfellow Acid Pits Trial case that resulted in a plaintiffs’ verdict and ultimately a $110 million settlement for the 4,300 plaintiffs. He has also successfully represented many other clients throughout the State of California with individual settlements and verdicts each in excess of $1 million.

Mr. Welebir’s current practice focuses on the representation of individuals and families of those seriously injured or killed by defective products or as a result of motor vehicle, railroad, big-rig truck, motorcycle, aviation or highway design accidents and animal attacks. He is AV^® Preeminent^™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell for 30 years from 1985-2015. He is also listed as Best Lawyers 2016.

Areas of Practice:

• Personal Injury
• Product Liability
• Wrongful Death

Bar Admissions:

• California, 1966
• District of Columbia, 1967
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 1966
• U.S. Court of Claims, 1967
• U.S. Tax Court, 1967
• U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 1967
• U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia, 1967
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1971
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, 2014
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 2008

Education:

• University of Southern California School of Law, Los Angeles, California, 1965
  • J.D.
• California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
  • Graduate Studies in Finance
• La Sierra College, Riverside, California, 1962
  • B.A.
    Honors: Cum Laude
    Major: History

Classes/Seminars Taught:

• Consumer Attorneys of California, Inland Empire – Palm Springs Seminar, 2010, 2011
• Loma Linda University, School of Allied Health Professions
• Loma Linda University, School of Public Health
• Loma Linda University, School of Medicine
• Loma Linda University, School of Nursing
• Loma Linda University, School of Pharmacy
• Pacific Union College, Department of Chemistry
• Tri-County Dental Society
• ABOTA Masters in Trial, Demonstration Seminar
• Leo Deegan Inns of Court
• Joseph Campbell Inns of Court
• San Bernardino County Bar Association Civil Practice Update
• Union Internationale Des Avocates: Geneva, Switzerland; Fez, Morocco; Salvador, Brazil; Bucharest, Romania; Seville, Spain; Istanbul, Turkey; Dresden, Germany; Florence, Italy
• Herzen University, Faculty of Management, St. Petersburg, Russia, March 2007
• American Bar Association, Environmental Law Section Amelia Island, Florida
• Loma Linda University Medical Center, Medical Staff
• Riverside County-University Medical Center, Medical Staff

Honors and Awards:

• AV^® Preeminent^™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell from 1985-2017
• Martindale-Hubbell, Top Rated Lawyer in the DC/Baltimore Area, 2013-2017.
• AV Preeminent Rated: Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys
• The Best Lawyers in America Peer Selection: 2005-2017
• The Best Lawyers in America 2013 “Lawyer of the Year” for Plaintiff’s Personal Injury
• Best Law Firms in America, U.S. News & World Report: 2010-2016
• The American Society of Legal Advocates, Top 100 Litigation Lawyers in the State Of California 2013-2017
• “Top Ten Ranking” from the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys: 2013 - 2017
• Fellow, Center for International Legal Studies
• Southern California Super Lawyers: 2007-2017
• Presidential Who’s Who Among Business and Professional Achievers
• National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Southern California, 2011 - 2017
• AVVO- Rated 10 Superb; 2014 - 2017

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• The State Bar of California
• Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• American Board of Trial Advocates
  Rank: Diplomate California: San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter, President 2003
• San Bernardino County Bar Association
• Riverside County Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
• American Association for Justice (AAJ)
• Attorneys Information Exchange Group
• Consumer Attorneys of California
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
• Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association
• Union Internationale des Advocates
• Member Governing Board
• Tort Commission, President
• Senior Counsel Member of The College of Masters Advocates and Barristers
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• American Inns of Court, Joseph Campbell Chapter
  Rank: Master
• Association of European Attorneys: Member, 2006-2013
• Trial Lawyers Care: Free Legal Assistance for September 11 Victims
• Life Member of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity