Lawyer Profile

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Eric V. Traut

Traut Firm
  • Recognized Since:
    2015
  • Recognized in:
    Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Law School:
    Western State University College of Law
  • Website:
    http://www.trautfirm.com
  • Languages:
    English
  • Location:
    Griffin Towers, Suite 700
    Five Hutton Centre Drive
    Santa Ana, CA 92707

Eric Traut distinguished himself early as one of the top trial attorneys in Southern California when he was recognized as the youngest winner of the prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year award in the history of the Orange County Trial Lawyer Association.

He has been selected by his peers to the list of Super Lawyers, including the “Top 50 Orange County” and “Top 100 Southern California” lists that featured him in Los Angeles Magazine consecutively for ten years and is honored to be named to the list of Best Lawyers of America, a recognition reserved for only the top 3% of the Bar. Eric has handled high-profile cases that have resulted in appearances on Good Morning America, Fox News, Court T.V., and ABC's "Primetime." Eric was the youngest member ever admitted to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) at the age of 33, where he served as President of the Orange County Chapter of ABOTA in 2010.

He is currently one of just 200 Diplomats to have tried more than 100 jury trials of the 7000 members of ABOTA Nationwide. In January 2018, he will receive the ABOTA Joseph D. McNeil Civility Award, which is only given to a member whose integrity, civility and professionalism inspires trust among counsel and clients, and promotes respect for the profession. As the Past President of the Orange County Bar Foundation, Eric led a non-profit organization strengthening Orange County youth and families through unique, award-winning health and education programs. In 2008, he was named as Alumni of the Year at Western State University Law School and was inducted into the school’s "Hall of Fame" in 2013. He is a recipient of the Angelo Palmieri Award for Civility from the Banyard Inn of Court and was the first lawyer to be awarded the OC Look award by Orange Coast Magazine, an award given to those individuals who exemplify success and style in Orange County. Eric has been a speaker at countless seminars on litigation and trial skills, spoken at various law schools about the importance of civility and professionalism and published multiple articles on strategy and practice of the law.

Lawyer Bio

Eric Traut distinguished himself early as one of the top trial attorneys in Southern California when he was recognized as the youngest winner of the prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year award in the history of the Orange County Trial Lawyer Association.

He has been selected by his peers to the list of Super Lawyers, including the “Top 50 Orange County” and “Top 100 Southern California” lists that featured him in Los Angeles Magazine consecutively for ten years and is honored to be named to the list of Best Lawyers of America, a recognition reserved for only the top 3% of the Bar. Eric has handled high-profile cases that have resulted in appearances on Good Morning America, Fox News, Court T.V., and ABC's "Primetime." Eric was the youngest member ever admitted to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) at the age of 33, where he served as President of the Orange County Chapter of ABOTA in 2010.

He is currently one of just 200 Diplomats to have tried more than 100 jury trials of the 7000 members of ABOTA Nationwide. In January 2018, he will receive the ABOTA Joseph D. McNeil Civility Award, which is only given to a member whose integrity, civility and professionalism inspires trust among counsel and clients, and promotes respect for the profession. As the Past President of the Orange County Bar Foundation, Eric led a non-profit organization strengthening Orange County youth and families through unique, award-winning health and education programs. In 2008, he was named as Alumni of the Year at Western State University Law School and was inducted into the school’s "Hall of Fame" in 2013. He is a recipient of the Angelo Palmieri Award for Civility from the Banyard Inn of Court and was the first lawyer to be awarded the OC Look award by Orange Coast Magazine, an award given to those individuals who exemplify success and style in Orange County. Eric has been a speaker at countless seminars on litigation and trial skills, spoken at various law schools about the importance of civility and professionalism and published multiple articles on strategy and practice of the law.

Read more on firm website

Education:

  • Western State University College of Law , J.D., graduated 1989
  • California State University Fullerton, BA, graduated 1986

Bar Admissions:

  • California, The State Bar of California

Affiliations:

  • Amarican Inns of Court - Member, 2000-Present
  • American Board of Trial Advocates - National Representative, 2015
  • Banyard Inn of Court - Board Member, 2002 - Present
  • Banyard Inn of Court - Co-President 2016-2017
  • Banyard Inn of Court - Inn Liason, 2008-Present
  • Consumer Attorneys Association of California - Member, 1990
  • Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles - Member, 1990
  • Consumer Attorneys of California - Continuing Education Committee, 2016
  • Consumer Attorneys of California - Legislative Committee, 2016
  • Consumer Attorneys of California - Member, 2016
  • Consumer Attorneys of California - Member, 2016
  • Consumer Attorneys of California - Member, 2016
  • Lex Romana (Italian/American Lawyers of Orange County) - President, 2005 - 2006
  • Orange County Bar Association - Board Member, 2002 - 2003, 2010 - 2011
  • Orange County Bar Association - Chairperson of College of Trial Advocacy, 2004 - Present
  • Orange County Bar Foundation - President, 2014
  • Orange County Chapter of ABOTA - Advocate, 1998 - Present
  • Orange County Chapter of ABOTA - President, 2010
  • Orange County Trial Lawyers Association - Member, 1990
  • Orange County Trial Lawyers Association - President, 2002

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
 

Awards:

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
  • ABOTA Diplomate
  • Best Lawyers, 2015-present
  • Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms, 2016-present
  • Orange County Trial Lawyers Association Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, 2003
  • Alumni Hall of Fame from Western State Law School, 2013
  • Alumni of the Year from Western State Law School, 2008
  • Banyard Inn of Court, Civility Award, 2009
  • OC Look Award, Orange Coast Magazine, 2010
  • Super Lawyers "Top 100 Southern California," 2013-2014
  • Super Lawyers "Top 50 of Orange County," 2008-2014
  • Super Lawyers 2005-2014

Additional Information:

 

Attorney Client Comments

Firm Details

Traut Firm
http://www.trautfirm.com
 
Headquarters
Griffin Towers, Suite 700
Five Hutton Centre Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92707
(714) 698.4750

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Attorney Case History

$70M Freeway Complex Fire Verdict

Daily Journal’s Top Verdict of 2012 

$1.4 million verdict

Slip and fall at market with back surgery with a $30,000 initial offer.

$54,656 verdict

Two broken ribs with a $3,000 initial offer.

$4 million verdict

Wrongful death of a mother of four who was accidentally shot with a $0 initial offer.

$38,300 verdict

Auto collision with a $5,000 initial offer.

$281,000 verdict

"Speed Contest" collision with a $15,000 initial offer.

$84,666 verdict

Negligent supervision case with a $7,500 initial offer.

$1.25 million verdict

Auto collision with head trauma with a $350,000 initial offer.

$24,000 verdict

Low-speed collision with a $400 initial offer.

$2.25 million verdict

Electrocution of a father with a $20,000 initial offer.

$131,117 verdict

Assault case by employee of nightclub with a $0 initial offer.

$1.1 million verdict

Couple injured in auto collision with a $90,000 initial offer.

$500,000 verdict

Motorcycle VS. bus incident causing severe leg injury with a $25,000 initial offer.

$84,660 verdict

Injury incurred by elderly plaintiff when an employee opened a door into her with a $7,500 initial offer.

$182,000 verdict

Surface hazard fall. 

$62k verdict

Soft tissue injury automobile case with a $5,700 initial offer.

$1.5M settlement

Settlement obtained for victim of drunk driver accident.

$2.8M verdict

 in denial of stock options by energy company.

Toth v. City of Anaheim

Eric Traut represented the City of Los Angeles upon appeal. 

$2.9M arbitration award

Arbitration award against major Indian Gaming facility with $60k initial offer

City of Moreno Valley v. Superior Court of Riverside County

Eric Traut represented real party in interest upon appeal http://www.gmsr.com/article/091026MorenoValleyOpinion.pdf

$2.88 million verdict

It was the only case to proceed to binding arbitration against the Pechanga Casino and the largest verdict in the state’s history against the Pechanga Indian Reservation under the Pechanga Tort Liability Act. [link to case: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/549870/Naruko%20Arb%20Award.pdf]