John O'Brien

Mr. O’Brien began his legal career in 1990 at one of California's most prestigious law firms, Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, where he specialized in personal injury and wrongful death cases. In 1996, Mr. O’Brien started his own practice where he has developed an excellent reputation for aggressive advocacy and integrity followed by an impressive history of successful verdicts, arbitration awards and settlements on behalf of his clients. His goal is to make sure injured victims are fully compensated for their losses and that responsible parties are held accountable. With over 29 years of experience, Mr. O’Brien is a highly successful and effective personal injury attorney who has achieved Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating, has been selected as a Northern California Super Lawyer every year since 2014, is a member of American Board of Trial Advocates, American Association of Justice, Consumer Attorneys of California and in 2009 was selected as “Advocate of the Year” by the Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association. O'Brien & Zehnder Law Firm represents victims of catastrophic injuries caused by automobile accidents, nursing home abuse, animal attacks, burn injuries, trucking accidents, and boating accidents. For a free initial consultation please contact O'Brien & Zehnder Law Firm and Mr. O’Brien will personally review your case.

• Car Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Trucking Accidents
• Construction Site Accidents
• Wrongful Death

• Free Consultation
• Contingent Fees
  We handle all of our cases on a contingency fee basis. This means we charge no fee unless we win your case.

California

Since 1990

9th Circuit

U.S. District Court

Founding & Managing Partner

O'Brien & Zehnder Law Firm

1996 - Current

Associate

Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison

1990 - 1994

USC Law Center

J.D. (1990)

1987 - 1990

Honors: American Jurisprudence Awards in Contracts, Constitutional Law and Evidence

Activities: Member of USC Law Review from 1988-1990

University of the Pacific

B.A. (1987) | Economics and Political Science

1983 - 1987

Honors: Magna Cum Laude

Selected as Top Lawyers in Sacramento by Peers 2015 to present

Sacramento Magazine

2015

Selected as Northern California Super Lawyer 2014 to present

Super Lawyers

2014

Trial Advocate of the Year

Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association

2009

AV Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

American Jurisprudence Awards in Contracts, Constitutional Law and Evidence

USC Law Center

American Association of Justice

Member

Current

Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association

Member

Current

Consumer Attorneys of California

Member

Current

American Board of Trial Advocates

Associate Member

2008 - Current

California State Bar  # 148757

Member

1990 - Current

A Cup Of Coffee With 10 Of The Top Personal Injury Attorneys In The United States: Valuable insights you should know before you settle your case

Rutherford Publishing House

July 8, 2014

Why Do People Need a Personal Injury Attorney?, Business Leader Spotlight Show

Certified Personal Injury Attorney

California Bar Association

Q. I was at Disney Land and a woman in a scooter ran over my foot.

October 10, 2016

A: Every person in California has a duty to use reasonable care to prevent harm to others. The failure to use reasonable care is negligence. In answer to your question, yes you can pursue a negligence claim against the person who ran over your foot if that person failed to use reasonable care. Actual intent is not required.

Q. May a Judge in jury trial suddenly dismiss my case because HE DECIDED defendants' behavior "was not outrageous enough"?

October 10, 2016

A: Intentional infliction of emotional distress requires an element of extreme and outrageous conduct, usually a question of fact for a jury. However, if there are no disputed issues of fact, a judge can decide as a matter of law that the conduct complained of does not rise to the level of extreme and outrageous. If the court has ruled that way in your case, you are probably fortunate that it happened now before you wasted considerably more time and money having a jury tell you the same thing.

Q. I fell into an unmarked trench on private property 3 days ago, and was misdiagnosed at one hospital, as being a sprain,

October 6, 2016

A: The homeowner may bear some responsibility for your injury but I would need to know more facts before giving you a definitive answer. How big was the trench? Why didn't you see it? Was this at night? Not well marked? Why was there a trench on the property? Why were you on the property? And many more...As to the potential medical malpractice, it doesn't sound like the injury or your recovery were affected by the failure to diagnose the injury at the first hospital. If you can't show damages as a result of the negligent failure to diagnose the injury, there is nothing to pursue against the first hospital. You need to consult with experienced counsel and provide many more details. ... Read More