Mike Arias

Mike Arias, the managing partner at Arias Sanguinetti, has established himself as a formidable attorney in the fields of personal injury, employment law, sexual assault, mass torts, class action, wrongful death, and consumer protection. His career spanning four decades is marked by significant eight and nine-figure verdicts and settlements.

Arias has been involved in two landmark cases that highlight his expertise and commitment to justice. The first is a lawsuit against the University of Southern California (USC) and former gynecologist George Tyndall, which resulted in an $852 million settlement, the largest sexual assault settlement in history. The case revolved around the sexual abuse of thousands of USC students over several decades, with the university failing to act on repeated complaints.

“The impact of this settlement was felt widely within USC as court-ordered policy changes fundamentally shifted the way that the university operates,” Arias said. “On a larger scale, the introduction of further lookback windows for sexual assault survivors, including the recent California ‘cover-up’ lookback window are indicative that policymakers and courts see the need for further avenues for survivors to obtain justice.”

Tyndall was found dead in bed last October while awaiting trial on numerous charges.

The second notable case involves a $38.5 million settlement for a quadriplegic individual, the largest known settlement in the history of a New England state for a single plaintiff. The case stemmed from a martial arts event where the plaintiff suffered catastrophic injuries due to negligence.

“People who suffer quadriplegia require specific care throughout their lives, and this settlement will allow him to live a much longer life with the care he needs,” Arias said. “At the end of the day, I do this work to make a positive impact in people’s lives, and seeing the relief that this settlement and the USC settlement brings to those injured parties is an almost indescribable feeling.”

Arias’s insights into emerging trends in the legal field, particularly concerning AI and its integration into legal practices, highlight his forward-thinking approach.

“Obviously, the issue of AI continues to create fear and panic. Seeing how it will impact the practice of law is of serious concern,” he said. “The discussion around AI and how it will fit into the practice of law continues to build swirling anticipation and disagreement. It’s not a matter of whether AI will be used in law, it’s a matter of when. As the State Bar proposes new initiatives and new questions wind their way through the courts, all trial attorneys will need to keep an eye out for the latest rules and rulings and understand how those decisions impact their day-to-day practice and the way that they prepare and try cases.”