Shant A. Karnikian

Partner

Shant Karnikian is a Partner and trial attorney with Kabateck LLP. He handles contentious and high-stakes cases in a variety of practice areas. His practice focuses on insurance bad faith, catastrophic personal injury, and consumer class actions. During his time with the firm, Shant has honed his skills as a litigator and trial lawyer while recovering in excess of $100 million for clients. He has spent his entire career seeking justice on behalf of people who have been wronged and fighting insurance companies and corporations that put profits over people. He leads a dedicated team of lawyers who share his passion for advocacy, and he prides himself on being hands-on with every aspect of his cases.

Shant received his law degree from Loyola Law School, where he was awarded the Dennis & Anne Beaver Scholarship for exceptional academic merit and community service. He started his career as a law clerk at Kabateck LLP and worked his way up the ranks. Eventually, Shant became the firm’s go-to attorney for preparing cases for trial. Shant has served as second-chair trial counsel to the firm’s lead trial attorney Brian Kabateck on six jury trials, all of which have resulted in favorable verdicts for their clients. 

His hard work and track record is consistently recognized by his peers and the community. He has spoken on the topics of insurance bad faith, handling wildfire claims, and trial techniques at legal education panels hosted by the various industry organizations and institutions such as the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (SFTLA), and Loyola Law School. 

His articles regarding legislative developments relevant to trial lawyers have been published in the Daily Journal and Advocate Magazine. He also hosts the firm’s Civil Action podcast where he and Brian Kabateck analyze recent appellate opinions regarding their practice areas.  In 2017, Shant was selected to participate in CAOC’s Leadership Academy—a program aimed at giving young lawyers the skills and techniques needed to make them effective leaders in CAOC, their professional settings, and in their communities. In 2019, Shant was selected as one of five finalists for CAALA’s Rising Star award, recognizing some his hard-fought victories including a record-setting $39.5 million dollar verdict.

Beyond his work for the firm, Shant spends time working with organizations that advance causes he believes in. He serves on the board of Los Angeles County Bar Association’s “Counsel for Justice” which runs a variety of non-profit projects providing low-cost or pro bono legal aid to Angelenos, including victims of domestic violence, the homeless, and veterans. He strives to support fellow plaintiff lawyers by serving on the board of CAOC. He regularly engages in efforts to lobby the California legislature on behalf of the injured and individuals whose rights have been violated. He currently serves as a board member and the Treasurer of Loyola Law School’s Alumni Board of Governors. He is also a member of the executive committee of LACBA’s Litigation Section which seeks to improve and further the standards of trial practice and the art of advocacy in civil litigation.

NOTABLE RESULTS

  • $56+ Million – Settlement of lawsuit on behalf of 100+ families alleging claims of failure to maintain mobile home park in habitable condition.
  • $39.5 Million – Jury verdict after 11 week trial on behalf of 30 families alleging claims of failure to maintain mobile home park in habitable condition.
  • $14.5+ Million – Settlement of personal injury lawsuit arising out of bike accident.
  • $9.25 Million – Settlement of employment class action against trucking company.
  • $5.7 Million – Settlement of insurance bad faith action in North Carolina arising out of hurricane damage to a condominium complex.
  • $5.2 Million- Settlement against against an insurance company that failed to pay the amounts owed to their client for damage to its beachfront property that was sustained from Hurricane Florence
  • $5 Million – Personal injury settlement for law enforcement officer injured in line of duty while riding motorcycle, in addition to recovery in workers compensation case.
  • $1.8 Million – Settlement of insurance bad faith action arising out of claim for fire damage to a home in Malibu from the Woolsey Fire, after the insurance carrier had paid the insured over seven figures on the claim.
  • $1.7 Million – Jury verdict and attorney fee award in insurance bad faith case arising out of water damage to home.
  • $1.375 Million – Settlement of insurance bad faith case after $500,000 excess judgment.
  • $1 Million – Policy limits settlement of lawsuit against travel agency in United States for two travelers lost in the jungles of Madagascar for 5 days.
  • $1 Million – Settlement of employment class action against for-profit tech education company.
  • $915,000 – Settlement of employment class action against trucking company.
  • $500,000 – Settlement of employment class action against trucking company.
  • $495,000 – Prelitigation settlement of legal malpractice claims against high-profile insurance defense firm.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
  • Finalist, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles “Rising Star” Award 2019
  • Largest mobile home park habitability settlement ever recorded — $56 million
  • 6th Largest Verdict for 2018 in Los Angeles County — $39.7 million
  • 11th Largest Verdict for 2018 in California — $39.7 million
  • Top Bus Accident Verdict in 2015 — $3.5 million
  • South California Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
ATTORNEY ARTICLES
  • Times Standard, You and the Law: Thinking of Law School? Take This Advice (March 11, 2019)
  • The Recorder: How to Get Around the Dreaded Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy (February 8, 2019)
  • Law 360, Calif. Leads the Way for Consumer Protection Laws (November 14, 2017)
  • Daily Journal, AB 2159: Immigration Status in Civil Actions (January 18, 2017)
  • Advocate, Use of Criminal Convictions in Subsequent Civil Trials (October 28, 2015)
  • Daily Journal,  The Naked Truth: Little Recourse for Cloud Based Security Breaches (September 15, 2014)
  • Daily Journal,  State Laws Fail to Keep Up with the Billowing Cloud (June 17, 2014)
  • Daily Journal, State Needs to Limit Gaming of ACA  (September 18, 2013)
  • Advocate, Being an Effective Second-Chair Trial Counsel (January 2020)

    Advocate, Being an Effective Second-Chair Trial Counsel

MEDIA MENTIONS
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIP
Consumer Attorneys of California
  • Board of Directors – 2022
  • Board of Governors – 2018 to Present
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
  • Board of Governors – 2018 to Present
Consumer Attorney Association of Los Angeles
  • Finalist, “Rising Star” Award – 2019
  • Nominee, “Rising Star” Award – 2018
Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • Litigation Section Executive Committee – 2022 to Present
  • Counsel for Justice Board of Directors – 2021 to Present
  • Member – 2013 to Present
  • Trial Practice Inn of Court – 2012 to 2013
American Bar Association
  • Vice Chair, Young Lawyer’s Division – 2013-2014
American Association of Justice
  • Insurance Committee – 2019 to Present
  • Bad Faith Litigation Group – 2019 to Present
Armenian Bar Association
 
EDUCATION
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
  • J.D.,  2012
University of California, Santa Barbara
  • B.A. Political Science, 2008

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