Robbins Geller Attorneys Recognized as Finalists for Consumer Attorney of the Year Award

Robbins Geller attorneys Theodore J. Pintar and Steven M. Jodlowski were selected for Consumer Attorneys of California’s (“CAOC”) esteemed Consumer Attorney of the Year Award for their work in Negrete v. Allianz Life Ins. Co. of N. Am. (“Allianz”), a nationwide RICO case which resulted in more than $250 million in cash payments and other benefits to a class of senior citizens. The settlement was reached on the eve of trial and after more than nine years of hard-fought litigation. In approving the settlement, the court praised the effort of Pintar and Jodlowski and noted that “counsel has represented their clients with great skill and they are to be complimented.” 

Consumer Attorney of the Year is awarded to “members who significantly advanced the rights or safety of California consumers by achieving a noteworthy result in a case.” CAOC noted that the result in the Allianz case “benefited consumers by bringing about industry-wide changes to how these opaque and risky investment products are sold.” 

Pintar has more than 15 years’ experience prosecuting insurance-related consumer class actions, with recoveries exceeding $1 billion. In addition to the Allianz case, he has participated in the successful prosecution of several RICO cases involving the deceptive sale of deferred annuities, including cases against American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company ($129 million settlement value), Fidelity & Guarantee Life Insurance Company ($53 million settlement value) and Midland National Life Insurance Company ($80 million settlement value). Pintar has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine the last two years and named a Top Lawyer in San Diego by San Diego Magazine the last three years. 

Jodlowski has been engaged in a variety of consumer fraud, antitrust, employment, and complex insurance class action litigation and has recovered nearly $600 million in benefits for policyholders. He was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine for the first time this year. 

Winners will be announced November 7, 2015.