ATTORNEY, SENIOR PARTNER, PILOT, MARINE CORPS VETERAN
Timothy A. Loranger is an attorney and senior partner at the national mass disaster law firm of Wisner Baum. A consumer attorney, pilot, and avid citizen advocate, Tim oversees our firm's transportation product liability litigation, aviation, and commercial ground transportation accidents (including truck accidents, train crashes, and military vehicle accidents), and military accidents resulting in catastrophic personal injury or wrongful death. He served as Chairman of the Aviation Law Section of the American Association for Justice, the world’s largest trial bar, in 2021-2022.
Forbes Advisor chose Tim for its short list of the 10 Best Wrongful Death Accident Attorneys in Los Angeles, California in 2023. Best Lawyers® selected Tim as the 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation in Los Angeles. This recognition can only be earned by one lawyer who receives the highest overall peer feedback in one legal practice area in one metropolitan region. It is a distinction that exemplifies an exceptional level of trust and respect that a lawyer has earned from peers in the legal field.
Tim has experience working on numerous commercial truck, bus, and aviation cases involving negligent design, operation, and maintenance. His experience in these cases, combined with a varied background in science and mechanics, has given him significant insights into finding and proving the causation in these accidents.
A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Tim served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. His experience as a Marine prepared him for a career in the legal field where service, honor, compassion, perseverance, and dedication are essential traits.
During this time, Tim expressed his strong passion for aviation and aviation safety and worked as an aircraft mechanic throughout the U.S., including the Marine Corps and Navy Air Stations in El Toro, California; San Diego, California; Memphis, Tennessee; and Jacksonville, Florida. The focus of his training and work was on RF-4B, F/A-18, and KC-130 aircraft at both the squadron and intermediate maintenance levels.
Tim developed a life-long desire to fly at a young age and earned his pilot’s license in 1999 and flew for many years. After serving in the Marines, Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from California State University, Northridge and his law degree from Southwestern University School of Law.
As a proud member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), Consumer Attorneys of California, and the American Association for Justice, Tim is a part of an extensive association of plaintiff attorneys dedicated to representing consumers in, and protecting them from, unsafe products, unsafe medicine, unfair business practices, and unscrupulous, negligent corporate conduct.
Tim dedicates himself beyond the courtroom by lobbying for consumer safety legislation as a strong advocate for victim’s rights and equal access to justice. He is a proud member of the CAALA Board of Governors, as well as an active member of various committees within CAALA, including the Government Relations Committee, the Public Relations Committee, the Listserve Committee, the New Lawyers Committee, and the Mentor Program.
CAALA has honored Tim with three Presidential Awards for his tireless efforts to preserve victims’ rights and for his advocacy for consumer safety.
In his spare time, Tim raises money for charity, runs in marathons, and trains and competes in triathlons, with plans for a full-distance Ironman Triathlon in the works. He receives his greatest joy spending time with his wife, Desiree, and their daughter, Elizabeth.
Tim was also an active member of the Boy Scouts of America and the Civil Air Patrol—a benevolent, nonprofit organization and auxiliary of the new U.S. Air Force, dedicated to aerospace education.
EDUCATION
Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, CA (J.D., 2002)
California State University Northridge (B.A., Biology, 1999)
Private Pilot License, Single Engine Land, USA (1999)
COURT ADMISSIONS
California, 2003
U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2003
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 2004
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, 2006
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, 2011
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2011
District of Columbia, 2013
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2013
US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2019
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 2019
U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico, 2023
AWARDS AND HONORS
Best Wrongful Death Injury Lawyers Los Angeles, CA (2023), Forbes Advisor
Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2023
Certificate of Recognition 2022, American Association for Justice (AAJ)
Client Champion Silver Award - Martindale Hubbell, 2022
Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Los Angeles (2020)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (2017-2024) for work in:
Aviation Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Elected Chairman of the Aviation Law Section of the American Association for Justice (2021-2022)
California Powerhouse, Law360 Regional Powerhouse Series, 2021
Selected to: Southern California Super Lawyers®, 2015 – 2023
Selected to: Southern California Super Lawyers® – Rising Stars, 2011 – 2013
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
The National Trial Lawyers Top 10 Aviation Trial Lawyers
The National Trial Lawyers Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers
Avvo.com Superb Score 10 out of 10
Steven C. Glickman Award 2016, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
Presidential Award 2007, 2015, 2017, 2022 Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
Presidential Award of Merit 2008, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
Grand Prize – 1st Annual Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association Essay Contest, “‘Side Trips’ Within the Warsaw Convention”, LPBA Journal, Vol. XXIII, No.3, Fall 2002
LITIGATION LEADERSHIP
Plaintiffs’ Management Committee, MDL-2654, In Re: Amtrak Train Derailment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 12, 2015
MEMBER
State Bar of California
The District of Columbia Bar
Consumer Attorneys of California, President’s Club Benefactor, Sustaining Member
American Association for Justice (AAJ): Leader’s Forum - Champion; Veterans and Military Service Members Committee; Aviation Law Section (Past-Chair); Federal Tort Claim and Military Section; Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group
Chairman, Aviation Law Section, American Association for Justice (2021-2022)
Chair-Elect, Aviation Law Section, American Association for Justice (2020-2021)
Vice-Chair, Aviation Law Section, American Association for Justice (2019-2020)
Secretary, Aviation Law Section, American Association for Justice (2017 – 2019)
American Bar Association: The Forum on Air and Space Law; Litigation Section; Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
Honorary Board of Governors, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities, 2015 – 2019
Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
Board of Governors, 2014 – present
Government Relations Committee
Public Relations Committee
ListServe Committee, Chair (2014-present)
Mentor Program
Strategic Planning Committee, Chair
Public Citizen
Lawyer Pilots Bar Association
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
Civil Air Patrol, United States Air Force Auxiliary, 1983 – 1985
GUEST SPEAKER
American Association for Justice, Aviation Law Section Conferences
American Bar Association, ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Aviation and Space Law Committee, Aviation Litigation Committee Conference
Consumer Attorneys of California Webinars
Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, CAALA Conventions and Webinars
Southern Methodist University, SMU Air Law Symposium
AUTHOR
Expert-witness disclosure in federal court, ADVOCATE Journal of Consumer Attorneys Associations for Southern California, June 2023
California bicycle laws – A primer, ADVOCATE Journal of Consumer Attorneys Associations for Southern California, February 2017
‘Side Trips’ Within the Warsaw Convention – LPBA Journal, Vol, XXIII, No. 3, Fall 2002
NOTABLE MEDIA APPEARANCES
TV
ABC News Fresno
ABC News Minneapolis
Democracy Now!
KTLA News Los Angeles
News
Army Times
Associated Press
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Law360
Los Angeles Magazine
Los Angeles Times
Marine Corps Times
Miami Herald
Military Times
National Law Journal
Navy Times
San Diego Union-Tribune
The Washington Post
USA Today
PRO BONO AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES
Member, American Legion
Honorary Board of Governors, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities, 2015 – 2019
Board of Directors, U.S. Vets, 2014 – 2019
Former Member, Civil Air Patrol, a benevolent, nonprofit organization and auxiliary of the new U.S. Air Force dedicated to aerospace education.
Fund Raiser, Livestrong Foundation, Los Angeles Marathon, 2011 – Raised $1,500.00 to help in the fight against cancer and to assist cancer survivors and their families to Livestrong.
PUBLISHED CASES
Jones v. Goodrich Pump & Engine Control Sys., Inc., --- F.4th ----, No. 20-2951, 2023 WL 8045773 (2d Cir. Nov. 21, 2023) (Aviation Products Liability – Preemption: The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 did not preempt state law tort claims arising from crashes of “public aircraft.”)
West v. Shea, 500 F.Supp.3d 1079 (C.D.Cal. 2020) (Civil Rights — Free Speech: Commenter sufficiently alleged that a mayor’s social media profile was a public forum, as required to state First Amendment claim.)
Carpenter v. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., 101 F.Supp.3d 911 (C.D.Cal. 2015) (Products Liability - Government Contractors: Political question doctrine did not bar judicial review of products liability action against helicopter manufacturers and maintenance companies.)
RACING HISTORY
“Hard Corps” Sprint Triathlon, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA, August 6, 2011
Warrior Dash 2011- Lake Elsinore, CA, April 3, 2011
Los Alamitos 30th Annual “Race on the Base” Triathlon, Los Alamitos, CA,
February 26, 2011
13.1 Los Angeles Half Marathon, Venice Beach, CA, January 18, 2011
LA Marathon (Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica, CA, March 20, 2011
Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K run, Redondo Beach, CA, February 6, 2011
San Dimas “Turkey Tri” Triathlon, San Dimas, CA, November 26, 2010
Cedars Sinai “Run for Her” 5K, Los Angeles, CA, November 14, 2010
“Day at the Beach” Triathlon, Hermosa Beach, CA, October 10, 2010
33rd Annual Manhattan Beach 10k, Manhattan Beach, CA, October 2, 2010
“Hard Corps” Sprint Triathlon, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA, August 7, 2010
MILITARY EXPERIENCE
United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, California, Corporal, Aircraft Hydraulic Mechanic (RF-4B, F/A-18, C-130), 1988 – 1992
Deployment:
Veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, 1990-1991
Awards:
Navy Unit Commendation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2nd Award)
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal (w/2 bronze stars)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Rifle Expert Badge
PRACTICE AREAS
Aviation Accidents
Helicopter Crash Litigation
Military Aircraft Crashes
Bus Accidents
School Bus Accidents
Catastrophic Injury
Spinal Cord Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injury
Complex and Multi-District Litigation
Mass Disaster Litigation
Military Accidents
Personal Injury Law
Police Misconduct and Civil Rights
Product Liability Law
Structural Collapses
Train Accidents
Traumatic Brain Injury
Truck Accidents
Wrongful Death Law
