Commercial Litigation Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Craig R. McClellan
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1993 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Craig R. McClellan is the first and only San Diego personal injury attorney selected for admission to the Inner Circle of Advocates, a prestigious invitation-only group of top plaintiff's attorneys, limited to 100 members nationwide.
Mr. McClellan has obtained more than 130 verdicts and settlements in excess of one million dollars, and is a three-time recipient of the "Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award" from the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego for cases in which million and multi-million dollar verdicts were obtained. One of his final arguments is featured in Million Dollar Arguments. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and former President of the San Diego Chapter, a Master of the American Inns of Court, and a former Member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Chapter of the American Business Trial Lawyers. He was a recipient of the Daniel T. Broderick III Award for Civility, Integrity and Professionalism. He has appeared on public radio and television programs, including 60 Minutes, 20/20, and the McNeil-Lehrer Report. One of his cases is featured in No Contest by Ralph Nader and Wesley J. Smith.
Mr. McClellan has focused his career on complex, high stakes litigation. His cases include complex personal injury litigation such as brain injury, wrongful death, pedestrian accident, car accident, motorcycle accident and truck accident cases, as well as defective product and product liability cases. As a business litigator, he represents businesses whose owners or shareholders have been harmed.
Overview
- California Western School of Law, J.D., graduated 1976
- University of Oregon, B.S., graduated 1969
- California, The State Bar of California
- American Inns of Court, Enright Chapter - Master
- Consumer Attorneys of San Diego - Member, former Officer and Board Member
- Consumer Attorneys of California - Member, former Board Member
- American Association of Justice - Sustaining Member
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers - Member, Board of Directors, 2005-06
- American Board of Trial Advocates - President, San Diego Chapter, 2010
- American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
- Inner Circle of Advocates - Member
- California, The State Bar of California
- American Inns of Court, Enright Chapter - Master
- Consumer Attorneys of San Diego - Member, former Officer and Board Member
- Consumer Attorneys of California - Member, former Board Member
- American Association of Justice - Sustaining Member
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers - Member, Board of Directors, 2005-06
- American Board of Trial Advocates - President, San Diego Chapter, 2010
- American College of Trial Lawyers - Fellow
- Inner Circle of Advocates - Member
- California Western School of Law, J.D., graduated 1976
- University of Oregon, B.S., graduated 1969
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs, San Diego (2025)
- Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs, San Diego (2019)
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, San Diego (2014)
- Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs, San Diego (2014)
- Product Liability Litigation, San Diego (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Commercial Litigation
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Personal Injury Litigation
- Product Liability Litigation
Special Focus:
- Automobile Collision
- Brain Injury
- Catastrophic Injury
- Civil Litigation
- Insurance
- Liability Litigation
- Product Liability
- Public Liability
- Wrongful Death
Awards:
- Named one of the Best Attorneys in the Los Angeles Area by the Los Angeles Times
- Recipient of the Daniel T. Broderick III Award for Civility, Integrity and Professionalism
- Recognized by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubble as an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated Lawyer, 2014
- 10/10 "Superb" Avvo Rating
- Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs, San Diego, 2014
- Three-Time Recipient of the Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award Winner, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
- Selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America
- Selected as one of Lawdragon's Top 500 Plaintiff's Lawyers in the Country
- 2019 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer
- Named to Southern California Super Lawyers, Number on Attorney in San Diego 2019
- Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation- Plaintiffs San Diego, 2010, 2014 & 2019
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- Pacific Landmark Hotels, Ltd. vs. The San Diego Unified Port District
This case charged a public entity (the San Diego Port District)with liability for the delay in a public project (the San Diego Convention Center) resulting in loss of revenues from room and food sales at an adjacent hotel (Marriott). The 13,200,880 settlement was the first of its kind.
- Rudl vs. California Speedway
This case resulted in a $4,500,000 settlement for the death of a participant in a track event at the Speedway. A Release of Liability had been signed, but the case presented a roadmap for litigating cases involving Releases, by garnering evidence of gross negligence. Shortly after the case concluded, the California Supreme Court concluded that Releases of Liability do not cover gross negligence.
- Garrison vs. Porsche
This case was the first in U.S. history to find a vehicle (the Porsche Turbo 930) defective because its power and handling characteristics made it too dangerous for the average consumer. The $2,500,000 verdict was upheld on appeal.
- Cusimano vs. Honda, Molitor vs. Honda
The evidence presented in these cases is credited by the Department of Justice with helping ban three wheel All Terrain Vehicles (ATV''s) from the U.S. market, resulting in the saving of many lives and many catastrophic injuries.
- Miller vs. Ford
One of the first cases allegeing that vehicles were defective if they incorporated a lap-only belt in the rear seat. In addition to the $6,000,000 settlement, the case resulted in the installation of rear seat shoulder harnesses,legislation requiring warnings on used cars, and in anti-secrecy laws. The case was featured in "No Contest" by Ralph Nader and Wesley Smith.
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