John’s tenacity and compassion are unmatched. He develops strong bonds with his clients and their families. John’s boundless energy and his dedication to his clients make for a combination that is difficult to beat. This is reflected in the impressive results he has obtained for his clients over the last 30 years.

John’s compassion is best illustrated by his casework. He represented a family who lost their wife and mother in a motorcycle accident. Feder went to Canada, where the family lived, to learn about the woman the family lost. His opposing counsel recognized his ability to tell their story and the case settled on the eve of trial. The settlement is believed to be the highest result ever for a motorcycle wrongful death case.

Feder specializes in personal injury and wrongful death cases, including products liability, medical malpractice, elder abuse, public-entity liability, and trucking and taxi cab accidents. John was President of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association in 2007. He was a finalist for the 2010 and 2006 CAOC Consumer Attorney of The Year Award, and a finalist for the 2007 Trial Lawyer of the Year award for the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association.

John serves on the Board of Governors of the Consumer Attorneys of California. He received the CAOC Presidential Award of Merit in 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, and 2002. He is also on the Executive Committee for Consumer Attorneys of California, serving as the state president in 2014. Feder is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Attorneys Information Exchange Group (AIEG), and the American Association for Justice. He has been honored as a Super Lawyer as one of the top attorneys in Northern California from 2005 to the present.

Feder has written and lectured extensively in the personal injury field for the Consumer Attorneys of California, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, and State of California CEB. He served on the faculty of the Hastings College of Advocacy for many years. Feder serves as a settlement conference panelist for the Marin and San Francisco Superior Courts, as well as the Bar Association of San Francisco. Feder clerked with Judge Donald B. Constine of the Superior Court of California from 1977-1978.

Outside of work John enjoys travelling, waterskiing, bicycling and other outdoor activities with his wife and children. He was an especially proud parent when he recently watched his daughter sing competitively on national television. He is also a rabid Giants and Cal Bears fan.

• EDUCATION

  EDUCATION

  • J.D., 1978, Hastings College of the Law
  • B.A., 1975, University of California at Berkeley
• PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & OFFICES

  PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & OFFICES

  • Consumer Attorneys of California
    • Vice President; 2006 – present
    • Executive Board; 2006 – present
    • Board of Governors; 2000 – present
  • San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
    • President; 2007
    • Board of Governors; 1995 – 2006
• ADMISSIONS

  ADMISSIONS

  • United States District Court, California Northern District
  • State Bar of California
• AWARDS

  AWARDS

  • Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2010
  • Super Lawyer as selected by Northern California Super Lawyers Magazine, 2010
  • Presidential Award of Merit, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2010
  • Super Lawyer as selected by Northern California Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009
  • Presidential Award of Merit, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2009
  • Super Lawyer as selected by Northern California Super Lawyers Magazine, 2008
  • Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2007
  • Super Lawyer as selected by Northern California Super Lawyers Magazine, 2007
  • Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2006
  • Presidential Award of Merit, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2006
  • Super Lawyer as selected by Northern California Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006
  • Presidential Award of Merit, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2002
• PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

  PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

  • SFTLA: Reading Your Adversary, 2010
  • CAOC 49th Annual Convention: Elimination of Bias, Ethics & Substance Abuse,2010
  • CAOC Hawaii Seminar : How to Make Settlement Documentaries and Maximize the Value of Your Case, 2010
  • Plaintiff Magazine December 2010: Proving Future Damages When Your Client is Self-Employed, 2010
  • SFTLA: Putting Together A Settlement Demand Package, 2009
  • SFTLA: Direct Examination at Trial-How to Keep Your Jury Engaged With Your Expert, 2009
  • CAOC 48th Annual Convention: Fierce Advocacy v. Civility, 2009
  • CAOC 48th Annual Convention: Depositions in the Premises Case, 2009
  • CAOC Hawaii Seminar 2009: Winning Techniques for Premises Liability Cases, 2009
  • SFTLA: Drafting Effective Demand Letter, 2008
    San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association: Technology for the Courtroom, 2008
  • SFTLA: Care and Feeding of Experts: How to Make the Most of Your Experts, 2008
  • CAOC 47th Annual Convention: Strategies in Litigation: The Dangerous Condition Case, 2008
  • National Business Institute: Advanced Expert Witness Tactics, 2007
  • California Continuing Education of the BAR: Creative Deposition
  • Techniques-How to Systematically Cross-Examine On a Products Case, 2007
  • CAOC 46th Annual Convention: Handling The Auto Case From Bumper to Bumper, Part II, 2007
  • SFTLA: Closing Arguments of the Masters, 2007
  • CAOC Focus Group: Tips For Catastrophic Injuries, 2006
  • CAOC Tahoe Ski Seminar: Ten Tips for Successful Mediation, 2006
  • SFTLA: Five Crucial Focus Group Tips for Counsel, 2006
  • BASF: Techniques for Effective Taking and Defending Depositions, 2006
  • CAOC 45th Annual Convention November 2006: Ski Accident Litigation, 2006
  • SFTLA: Voir Dire Seminar, 2005
  • CAOC: How to Increase the Value of Your Focus Group, 2005
  • CAOC Hawaii Seminar 2005: Dealing with Liability Releases, 2005
  • SFTLA: Presenting Life Care Plans and Dealing with The Defense Expert, 2004
  • CAOC Hawaii Travel Seminar December 2003: Effective Cross-Examination of the Defense Economist , 2003
  • SFTLA: Killer Cross Examination Techniques, 2002
  • SFTLA: Tips on Handling The Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Case Without Driving Yourself Crazy, 2002
  • Hastings Lecture: Trial Advocacy-Handling Brain Injury Cases, 2002
  • Lorman Education Services: Successful Handling of Wrongful Death Cases in California, 2002
  • CAOC Focus Group: Tips for Catastrophic Injuries, 2001
  • SFTLA: How to Enhance the Testimony of Your Accident Reconstruction Expert Using Powerful Demonstrative Evidence, 2001
  • CAOC Tahoe Seminar: Accident Reconstruction from the Ground Up, 2000
  • CAOC Hawaii Seminar 2000:Betrayal of Trust-Protecting America’s Seniors from Neglect or Abuse, 2000
  • SFTLA: Handling the Big Rig Case Using Safety Regulations, 1999
  • CAOC: Wrongful Death Trucking Litigation, 1999
  • SFTLA: Product Cases: What You Should Know About Seatbelts, Seatbacks, Door Latches and Tires, 1997
  • SFTLA: Creative Strategies for Handling A Medical Device Case, 1997
  • CAOC: The ABC’s of a Defective Tire Case, 1996
  • Hastings College of Advocates Lecture: Tips on Handling the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Case Without Driving Yourself Crazy, 1996
  • CAOC 35th Annual Convention: Creative Strategies for Handling a Medical Device Case, 1995
  • CAOC Forum: The ABC’s of a Tire Case, 1994
  • CAOC 34th Annual Convention: What You Should Know About Passive Restraint Litigation, 1994
  • CAOC: Claiming Damages for Impaired Earning Capacity, 1993
  • CAOC: Proving Liability in Construction Site Accidents, 1990
  • CAOC: Handling Uninsured Motorists Case, 1989
  • California Continuing Education of the Bar Trial Practice Institute: Products Liability, 1986

Case Results