Darrell M. Padgette, Partner

Darrell represents clients in trial and appellate courts throughout the United States in complex, mass tort, multi-district aviation litigation. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell in Aviation and Aerospace, Litigation and Products Liability.

His extensive trial experience includes the representation of United States of America, other governmental entities, corporations and individual clients in civil and criminal litigation in state and federal courts. He is a former deputy district attorney and federal prosecutor. His significant aviation background includes the representation of pilots, FBOs, mechanics and Part 145 facilities, airlines and other operators, as well as manufacturers, distributors and miltary contractors in all aspects of litigation and appeals.

His reported cases include the United States v. Reyes-Platero, 224 F.3d 1112 (9th Cir. 2000); McKinley v. XL Specialty Ins. Co., 131 Cal.App.4th 1572 (2005); Getz v. The Boeing Company, 690 F.Supp2d 982 (N.D. Cal. 2010); and Helman v. Alcoa Global Fasteners, Inc., 637 F.3d 986 (9th Cir. 2011). He has also authored several articles that discuss California's Sophisticated User Doctrine, the Death On the High Seas Act, and most recently, how to bypass the federal Administrative Procedure Act to secure evidence from the federal government in aviation cases. 

Darrell is admitted to practice in all federal district courts in California as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th and 10th Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court. He is also a soldier in the U.S. Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General's Corps.