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Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn is proud to share that Partner Loren Schwartz was recently featured as a guest speaker this past Saturday, March 22, at the San Francisco Trial Lawyers’ Association’s Ski & CLE in Incline Village, Lake Tahoe. The multi-day event, which ran from March 20–23, brought together leading plaintiffs’ attorneys for continuing legal education and networking in one of the most scenic regions of the country.
Loren’s presentation, “Recovery of Non-Economic Damages in Survival Actions,” focused on a major shift in California law brought by SB 447, which amended California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.34.
For decades, California law prohibited plaintiffs in survival actions from recovering non-economic damages like pain, suffering, or disfigurement – meaning that when a plaintiff died, so did those damages. The amendment has changed that, allowing recovery of non-economic damages in certain survival actions filed between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2025, or cases granted preferential trial setting before 2022.
Survival actions, often brought alongside wrongful death claims, allow plaintiffs to pursue damages the decedent would have been entitled to had they survived. During his presentation, Loren discussed the significance of this legal development, the nuances of when it applies, and how it reshapes recovery in cases involving catastrophic injury and death.
About Loren Schwartz
Loren Schwartz is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and Partner at Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn. Backed by years of experience and a passion for advancing plaintiffs’ rights, Loren has secured multi-million dollar recoveries in a range of complex and high stakes injury cases, including those involving auto accidents, workplace accidents, medical negligence, and wrongful death. His insight and commitment to justice make him a valued member of our legal team and a trusted resource for trial lawyers across the state.
For questions about Loren’s presentation or to learn more about how our firm advocates for victims and their families, contact us today.