Mike Laughlin has passed away.
Mike retired a few years ago, but was one of the leading California workers’ comp defense attorneys for decades. Earlier in his career he practiced in San Francisco with the firm Sedgwick, Detert, Moran and Arnold.
Around 1985 he and and a number of his partners left and formed Laughlin, Falbo, Levy and Moresi. Over the years they grew the Laughlin firm to where it now has 160 attorneys and a statewide presence.
Mike always struck me as one of the best defense attorneys in the business. He was well prepared and had a knack for seeing the “big picture” on a claim.
Sedgwick, Detert and the Laughlin firm firm became sort of a farm team for leaders in the industry, as former WCAB Commissioners Gordon Taylor and Alfonso Moresi practiced with Mike. Current WCAB Commissioner Jose Razo later joined that firm before his appointment to the board.
My Boxer & Gerson LLP law partner Michael Gerson summed up Mike Laughlin this way:
“He was a pleasure to work with and a true gentleman. He was a resolver and not a churner. He was compassionate and concerned with our clients.”
His passing is a reminder that some of the most effective attorney advocates are not always the ones with a blustery, take-no-prisoners approach.
Here is the announcement of his passing on the LFLM website:
http://www.lflm.com/news-knowledge/michael-w-laughlin/
Julius Young
https://www.boxerlaw.com/attorney/julius-o-young/
510.835.8870