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On July 7, 2007, Eric Doi, a Union Pacific Railroad Co. (UP) employee, was severely injured in a tragic vehicular accident, rendering him a C-4 Quadriplegic. UP denied liability, alleging at the time of the event Doi was not in the "course & scope" of their employment and was using the UP company truck for personal reasons during off-hours. This case centered on the definition of "What is the 'course & scope' of employment" under FELA, The Federal Employers' Liability Act. The jury, after weighing all the evidence, believed Eric Doi's attorneys, Don Britt and John Gilbert of The Crow Law Firm. Eric Doi was awarded over $48 million, what is believed to be the largest verdict for a single injured individual in the 100 year history of FELA. This is the story of how The Crow Law Firm sought and got justice for Eric Doi.
Don Britt is a highly distinguished attorney, who decided to become n lawyer at an early age, when after being an accident victim, he became fascinated by the legal process. He earned both his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of California at Berkeley in 1966 and 1969 respectively. Don spent the first 10 years of his career defending a variety of personal injury and railroad related cases. It was this exposure to how the other side worked that led him into private practice in 1979 and what he calls his "true calling" as a plaintiff's attorney. From 1979 to 1986, Don worked on F.E.L.A. and other personal injury cases with the law offices of Leo M. O'Connor. He established the Firm of Britt & Simlick in 1987 and merged with The Crow Firm in 1994. During his 17 years of F.E.L.A. experience, Don has represented the surviving families in many major derailment accidents. Don continues to represent people with injuries of all kinds and is a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys.
John Gilbert joined The Crow Law Firm in 1990 after a long career with the Union Pacific Railroad. After attending the University of Wyoming, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1976, he went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad as a section man in the Maintenance of Way Department. In 1978, John was first exposed to the legal aspects of the F.E.L.A. when he transferred to the Union Pacific Claims Department. With his first hand experience in railroad claim procedures and a broad understanding of how the F.E.L.A. applies to railroad employees, he decided to attended Western State University College of Law and earned his law degree in 1988. He left Union Pacific in the fall of 1989 to pursue a career as a trial attorney.
Having observed how injured railroaders were treated, John decided to put his knowledge to work helping railroaders and now is headquartered in our Southern California office. He is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Consumer Attorneys of California, Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.
The Crow Law Firm has been representing the interests of seriously injured people for more than 50 years. Originally founded to ensure that injured railroad workers received full financial recovery, The Crow Law Firm expanded its reach to help anyone in the State of California who was injured due to the negligence or recklessness of another. When clients come to the firm, they are often unsure of what to do next, whether they will be able to pay their bills or work again, or whether they will be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit forward. They may be traumatized because of the catastrophic nature of their personal injury, or the loss of a loved one due to wrongful death. The Crow Law Firm respects the fact that clients have placed their trust in the firm during this most difficult time. When the, we make a commitment to you.
You can contact Don Britt and John Gilbert at 916-441-2980,
or www.crowlaw.com
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