The Firm · Case Selection
The Cases We Take
A selective practice means every case gets trial-level attention. These are the matters we handle — and if yours is not one of them, we will tell you quickly.
Board-Certified civil trial practice. Contingency fee. Free, confidential consultation.
Five kinds of cases
The Law Offices of David L. Milligan focuses on serious, high-stakes matters:
- •Catastrophic personal injury — traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, severe burns, amputation, injuries requiring surgery or lifelong care.
- •Wrongful death.
- •Institutional sexual abuse — survivors of abuse in California women’s prisons (CCWF/CIW), juvenile halls and detention facilities, and other custodial institutions. Handled statewide.
- •Environmental & toxic exposure — Central Valley nitrate and well-water contamination, agricultural and industrial exposure. Handled statewide.
- •Serious motor-vehicle collisions — car, trucking and commercial-vehicle, and motorcycle crashes with significant injury.
Cases are taken from intake through jury verdict, on a contingency-fee basis. See all practice areas →
Do I have a case? An honest screen
Do I have a car accident case worth pursuing?
As a rule of thumb, a motor-vehicle case is worth a serious look when three things line up: meaningful impact (significant vehicle damage, roughly $2,500+ or a moderate-or-worse collision), prompt medical care (ambulance or hospital, or a doctor visit within about a week), and a recovery source (the at-fault party is insured or commercial, or you carry UM/UIM coverage). That screen is guidance, not legal advice — close calls deserve a phone call.
What about institutional abuse or toxic exposure cases?
Those are evaluated case-by-case — the motor-vehicle screen above does not apply. Abuse in a California women’s prison or juvenile facility, and contamination of the water your family drinks, are serious matters regardless of any formula. We review them confidentially and statewide.
What happens if my case is not a fit for the firm?
We tell you quickly and plainly — usually in the first conversation — so you can find the right lawyer without losing time. A selective practice only works if the answer is honest in both directions.
Do you accept referrals from other attorneys?
Yes. The firm serves as co-counsel and trial counsel for lawyers across California and pays referral fees in compliance with Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5.1. See our For Referring Attorneys page.
“The very essence of civil liberty certainly consists in the right of every individual to claim the protection of the laws, whenever he receives an injury.”
Chief Justice John Marshall · Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Start here
Important: This page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Submitting an inquiry does not create an attorney–client relationship; that relationship is formed only by a written agreement signed after we evaluate the matter for conflicts and merit. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Statutory citations are illustrative; the legal framework applicable to a specific case depends on the facts. The Law Offices of David L. Milligan, APC is licensed in California.