With heavy hearts, we announce the sudden passing of our partner, Christopher Brandon Noyes, an indispensable member of the KBK family. Chris departed suddenly on September 6, 2023. He was only 40 years old. His absence is already deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Born on December 18, 1982, in Fresno, California, Chris was a true Californian, growing up in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. He was a passionate attorney, dedicated colleague, loving father, devoted son, and loyal brother and friend.
Chris pursued his legal education at the San Joaquin College of Law, where he honed his skills and nurtured his passion for the law. Early on, he demonstrated his exceptional talents, becoming a named partner at a prestigious law firm in Fresno. He obtained a record-setting $128,610,000 jury verdict in 2014 in Kings County involving a contractual dispute over 34 square miles of agricultural land and its associated water rights. The nine-figure award was one of California’s most significant jury verdicts in 2014 and is the biggest verdict to date for Kings County.
For nearly a decade, Chris dedicated himself wholeheartedly to KBK, where he became an integral part of our team. His dedication was unwavering, as he was often the first in the office every day, rarely missing a day of work. His zealous advocacy, commitment to justice, and solid work ethic profoundly impacted our work at KBK and the lives of our clients.
His recent noteworthy results include recovering $40 million in settlements for hundreds of clients whose homes and businesses were burned to ashes or severely damaged by California’s wildfires. Chris also handled high-profile, mass action cases involving sexual abuse claims, including a critical role in reaching a global settlement for multiple claimants alleging sexual misconduct by a former men’s health physician at USC’s Student Health Center.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Chris had a passion for basketball and an impressive sneaker collection. However, his love for his two young boys truly defined him. Chris’s devotion to his children was unparalleled; they were the light of his life.
Chris Noyes’s untimely death leaves a void in our professional lives at KBK and our personal lives as friends and family. During this painful time, our thoughts are with his mother, younger brother, and two beloved sons. We share in their grief and extend our deepest condolences.
Chris’ legacy lives on through the many lives he touched and the indelible mark he left on KBK. His family will hold a private memorial service in Fresno.