Jay A Kaplan - was born in Los Angeles, California into a family with a tradition of being lawyers. He attended college at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) where he graduated with the highest academic honors, Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Jay earned his law degree at U.S.C. and Whittier Law Schools.

While attending school, Jay clerked for the Magana Cathcart Law Firm, which had represented injured railroad workers under the FELA since the early 1950's. Following his graduation from law school, Jay went into solo practice until 1981 when he helped found the law firm of Kaplan, Zorigian & Kaplan. In 1991, he founded the present Law Firm of Kaplan Law Corporation.

During the course of his thirty+ year-legal career of representing injured unionized workers, Jay has been designated by SMART Transportation Union, the Transportation Communications Union/IAM, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalman, the National Conference of Fireman and Oilers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, United Transportations Union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. In addition to being designated by the aforementioned rail unions, Kaplan Law Corporation are also designated Legal Counsel for the Inlandboatman's Union of the Pacific, a division of the International Longshoreman and Harbor Worker's Union, the United Association of Plumbing, Pipefitting, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Local 250 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Los Angeless, San Gabriel and San Bernardino.

Recent representations of injured members of these unions have resulted in four separate verdicts each of which was significantly over a million dollars as well as several in the very high six figure range. In fact, in January 2019 we obtained a 1.632 Million dollar verdict for an injured Maintenance of Way worker. Additionally, Jay recently settled a case against one of the major railroads, involving a 53-year-old shop craft worker for a present value settlement in excess of three and a half million dollars as well as another settlement for a worker in the mechanical department for just under one million dollars. Kaplan Law Corporation since its inception has obtained verdicts and settlements for their clients easily in excess of two hundred and fifty million dollars.

Jay is licensed to practice in all of the Courts of California including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals where he has successfully won cases. He is a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys (ARLA). Additionally over the past twenty five years, Martindale Hubble has yearly listed him as AV Preeminent, which is the highest possible peer review rating for legal ability and ethical standards conferred by that organization after a rigorous screening process. Jay is also fluent in Spanish.

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Harrison Kaplan - works as an attorney for Kaplan Law Corporation. He graduated from the University of California at Riverside (UCR) where he majored in sociology. Harrison earned his law degree from the Southwestern Law School SCALE Accelerated Two-Year Program. Prior to law school, Harrison worked as an intern for both State Senator Ben Allen and Assembly member Miguel Santiago. While in law school, he externed at the Constitutional Rights Foundation.

Harrison’s motivation to practice law was set forth at an early age by his father Jay and grandfather Victor who always displayed to him the importance of fighting on behalf of injured working people. Harrison wants to continue the long-standing tradition of the Kaplan Law Corporation in providing great service to and zealously advocating on behalf of all of our clients.

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Our law firm also employs six investigators/field representatives, essentially all of whom have extensive backgrounds and experience involving FELA personal injury matters. In fact, all but one of our investigators/field representatives have worked for one of the railroads, in one capacity or another, prior to going to work for Kaplan Law Corporation, and therefore have a hands on and intricate knowledge and understanding of the workings of the various railroads and their structures.

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Jim Larreau - who comes from a railroad family originally hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad in North Platte, Nebraska on as a Firemen and Oiler in 1979. In November of 1984 Jim was elected to his first Union position as a Local Chairman. Jim continued to advance upwardly through the Union occupying the position of Working Vice General Chairmen and Assistant General Chairman, and eventually he became the General Chairman in January of 2008. Subsequently he was re-elected as General Chairman and as well elected as a National Vice President of the NCFO Union in 2011. Additionally, he was elected as an Executive Board Member of Local 32 BJ of the SEIU. Jim held these positions until he retired in August of 2020, after 41 ½ years of dedicated service to his railroad and Union career. In addition to being a proud member of the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers/SEIU, Jim has been a member of the IBEW since 1994.

Jim has been a fearless protector and advocate for the rights of his brother and sister railroaders for his entire railroad career. To fortify his talents in advocating on behalf of railroaders, he attended the George Meany Labor College where he received invaluable training in the field of handling arbitrations and other related labor matters.

Because of Jim’s tremendous amount of experience as a Firemen and Oiler, Electrician, and Union Representative he is able to offer unparalleled experience in all Craft cases that our law corporation prepares for trial. Additionally, because of his significant experience as a General Chairman and National Officer of the Union, he has been indispensable in assisting the Law Corporation in the representation of our clients who have Whistleblower, labor and employment cases.

After six months of retirement, Jim quickly realized he greatly missed his true passion of helping his brother and sister railroaders. He understands the plight a person goes through when injured or improperly treated by the railroad and their need for assistance.

Jim enjoys boating on his spare time and has been doing this most if his life. Jim resides in Huntington Beach, California and can be reached at (562)588-5434 or at his e-mail larreaujim@gmail.com.

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Robert Resendez -

Robert Resendez, Jr. started his railroad career in 1973 with the Union Pacific Railroad as a switchman, brakeman in Los Angeles, California. In 1977 Robert was promoted to Engine Service and worked in both the yard and on the road. In 1985 he was elected as the Local Chairman for UTU-E Local 1422 and served in that position from that time until he retired from Union Pacific Railroad on December 31, 2017. Additionally, Robert was asked to be the coordinator for operation Red Block in the Los Angeles Hub for Union Pacific Railroad Company. Robert’s distinguished railroad and union career also included his being an International officer for the SMART Transportation Union as well as being on their Executive Board and Human Rights Committee. After forty-four and a half years of railroad and union service he earned the honor of being a lifetime member of SMART Transportation. Robert, with his vast experience in the operating department brings a high degree of expertise in assisting our firm in preparing, operating and engine service cases for trial. Robert resides in Long Beach, California and can be reached at (951)285-8766 as well as resendez1422@gmail.com.

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John Tirado - started his long railroad career as a third generation railroader in the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE) department. He hired on in 1976 with the Southern Pacific Transportation Company in the San Joaquin Division as a Trackman. By 1978 John was qualified on various different types of track equipment. Following that he worked many years as a qualified semi driver and railroaded in several states including but not limited to California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska and Idaho. Also during his lengthy career with SPTCo and Union Pacific Railroad he worked on all types of Maintenance of Way track gangs including production, rail, crossing, surfacing and switch.

In addition to the vast experience John had in the Maintenance of Way Department with over 40 years of service he also served as a union representative in the San Joaquin division since he was first elected as a Local Chairman in 1982. He served several terms on the Executive Board of the former Pacific Federation and when the Federation merged with the Unified System Division in 2010 he continually served on that Executive Board till 2016 when he retired. John is also a lifetime member of the BMWE. With his 40 years of experience working numerous jobs and locations in the BMWE and his over 34 years of experience of being a Union Representative, John brings tremendous experience and assets to our firm in the assistance and preparation of railroad injury cases for trial. John resides in Bakersfield, California and can be reached at (661)496-4791 or at his e-mail bigjohn1976@gmail.com or railtrucker_1976@yahoo.com.

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Ron Beaty - started his railroading career in 1979 as a Traveling Motorcar Mechanic for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company in Bakersfield, California. He became a promoted Engineer in 1980. Ron first became a member of the UTU in 1980. He was also a member of IAM, and had a Lifetime Membership with the UTU. Due to both his experience working on heavy equipment as well as performing work in Engine Service he has greatly assisted in the preparation of all types of FELA cases for trial. Ron resides in Bakersfield, California.

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Carl Biel - started his railroad career in 1979 as a Fireman and Oiler Laborer in Taylor Yard for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company. Subsequently, by 2002 Carl was working in the City of Industry as a Mechanical Service Operator and continued to do so until he was promoted in 2004 by Union Pacific Railroad Company to be a Peer Support Foreman General for the entire Los Angeles basin which included Los Angeles, City of Commerce, Dolores, Taylor Yard and West Colton. In that capacity he worked with various crafts including Machinists, Electricians, Carmen and Pipefitters.

Following that time, Carl decided that he preferred to return to the ranks and in 2007 he returned as a Mechanical Service Operator and performed that job until he retired in 2017. During that time he also served as a Master Trainer for Locomotive Movers and Forklift Operators.

Carl’s extensive work background has proved vital in Kaplan Law Corporation preparing Shopcraft cases for trial. Additionally, throughout his entire railroad career, Carl was also extremely active in the Union. Initially he served as a Committeeman for the IBFO from 1984 through 1987. He later served as a local Chairman for the NCFO from 1987 through 2004 and once again as a Committeeman from 2007 through 2017. Carl additionally has worked as a Security Supervisor at Staples Center from 2006 through 2012 providing personal assistance to the Los Angeles Lakers and Kings.

Carl is bilingual in Spanish and English and currently resides in Los Angeles. He can be reached at (323)899-0458.

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Tony Lopez - Tony worked for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company since 1997 and then for Union Pacific Railroad in the Maintenance of Way Department. During that time Tony worked as a welder, truck driver and track machine operator. Consequently Tony has an extensive hands on understanding of the track department and its equipment, work practices, and structures. This knowledge has proven invaluable in preparing cases for trial . Tony is bi-lingual and resides in Bakersfield, California.

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Mark McLaughlin - Although he comes from a family with a long line of locomotive engineers, including one of the past International Presidents of the organization, Mark first started working for the railroad in the Maintenance of Way Department for the old Milwaukee Railroad in Iowa and acquired hands-on experience that has proven invaluable in investigating FELA cases. Since coming to work for our firm, Mark has investigated various FELA cases involving all crafts. Mark works out of Phoenix office and has worked on cases in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and California. Mark can be reached at (800)552-7526.

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Hector Ortiz - Hector worked for The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company in the Maintenance of Way Department for almost 25 years in the Los Angeles area and San Bernardino area. For many of those years Hector worked as a Foreman. As a result, Hector has extensive knowledge and understanding of the Maintenance of Way, its tracks and structures. He has taken many of the bilingual statements in our Maintenance of Way and shopcraft cases and helped with the preparation of several of those cases for trail involving AMTRAK, BNSF, SPTCO and the Union Pacific Railroad Company. He resides in the Los Angeles area and can be reached at (800)295-3442

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Daisy M Torres - is a Civil Litigation Paralegal with over 32 years of experience who began her career in the legal field as a Pre-Litigation Paralegal in 1987. She is a valuable part of the team and brings to the law firm a broad range of experience in litigation involving, among other areas, complex bodily injury claims; accidental and wrongful death matters; railroad accidents; motor vehicle accidents; traumatic brain injury cases; birth injury; elder abuse; products liability and slip and fall accidents. In fact, Daisy assists our legal team in all phases of litigation, from inception through discovery and trial. Additionally, she has extensive experience in drafting pleadings and discovery, providing necessary documents for depositions, filing legal documents in all levels of the court system, Superior, Federal and Court of Appeals and providing attorneys support during trials. Further, she provides both legal and administrative support in all aspects of the organization and management of files. Daisy demonstrates additional expertise in her work involving preparation of Railroad Retirement Disability Pension and Social Security Applications. Daisy is bilingual.

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Ann Margaret Olmos - has been working in the legal field for over 37 years. She began her career in the legal field as a Front Desk Clerk in 1979 and through the years has advanced to Office Assistant with a diverse range of duties. She provides administrative/secretarial support to our firm and is responsible for the client intake process, setting appointments, organization and maintenance of files. Ann Margaret is bilingual and very knowledgeable in answering inquiries and assisting our clients with helpful and necessary information. She possesses excellent communication and relationship building skills. Ann Margaret maintains a friendly, courteous and professional demeanor at all times, and goes out of her way to respond to clients as soon as possible.

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Victor E Kaplan - was born in Washington D.C.. He attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated in 1935. He earned his Juris Doctor law degree at the University of Southern California (USC) in 1938. Shortly after graduation, Victor joined a prominent labor law firm and continued to practice there until he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.

Following WWII Victor resumed practicing labor law for a law firm that handled cases for various unions, including the newly organized CIO Unions headed by John L. Lewis. The firm also represented labor members from the electrical workers, furniture workers, agricultural workers and UAW in matters before the National Labor Relations Board involving unfair discharges. Victor also spent six months in Trona, California representing the Mine, Mill, and Smelter workers during the 1940’s in their strike against American Potash and Chemical Corporation. Additionally, during that period he personally walked several picket lines in support of organized labor and represented Union Members free of charge when they were arrested and charged with criminal violations for exercising their constitutional rights. Over the years, Victor has represented several Unions such as the Inlandboatsmen Union (IBU), Plumbing, Pipe Fitters, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics Union, Atomic and Chemical workers and the workers of Mobile Oil in labor arbitration matters.

In the late 1950's, Victor went to work for the Magana law Firm whose principal, Raoul Magana, had worked for one the pioneer firm's in FELA litigation. Subsequently in 1981, Victor left the firm he had been practicing with and went to work with his son, Jay. Victor continued to work primarily on the type of cases which were his first love, labor law and pension right matters. Additionally, he served as an arbitrator appointed by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County.

Victor was licensed to practice in all of the Courts of the State of California as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He was a member of virtually all of the California Bar Associations including the Consumer Attorneys of California. He also possessed an AV Martindale Hubbell rating.  Victor was the oldest practicing member of the California State Bar. Victor passed away on August 7 2018.

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Jeffrey Bradarich - Lead Investigator - Prior to working for our law firm, Jeff spent approximately fifteen years as a Fireman and Oiler in the Southern Pacific shops in Roseville, California. During that time, he was also the Local Chairman and the Vice General Chairman of the System Council of the IBFO. Jeff first learned his skills as a potential investigator by preparing and investigating cases for company ordered investigations while representing his men as well as by learning from his father who was a General Chairman for one of the other crafts. Since joining our firm, Jeff has investigated many FELA cases involving Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company, Union Pacific Railroad Company, AMTRAK as well as various shortline railroads. In fact, Jeff’s understanding of mechanics was instrumental in helping our law firm obtain a settlement of $3,400,000 for an injured client who injured his knee. Jeff primarily worked out of Needles, California and Bull Head City, Arizona, with constant trips to Barstow, San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and all places in between. Jeff also regularly attended union meetings in Roseville and the Bay Area. Our dear friend and brother Jeff passed away in 2015.

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Dennis Brown - started his railroading career in 1979 as a Brakeman, Switchman for the ATSF RR. In 1985 he became a promoted Engineer for ATSF until 1992 when he hired on as an Engineer working for Amtrak. Supporting the Union had always been important to Dennis and in 2003 he was elected as a Vice-local Chairman for the BLE at Amtrak. In 2005 he became the Metrolink and Connex Local Chairman for the BLET. In 2010 he was elected to be the Amtrak local Chairman of the BLET.

Prior to his career in the railroad industry, Dennis worked in the Pipefitter shops as a Blacksmith, later as a Boilermaker, performing welding and rigging duties and also as an Ironworker. Due to his over thirty year career in the Operating Department of various railroads as well as his almost ten years in the construction trades it has resulted in Dennis effectively assisting in the preparation of our cases for trial.

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