Our Attorneys

Ernest Vargas

ERNEST VARGAS was admitted to the California State Bar in January 1965 and has practiced law his entire career representing injured parties, and heirs of those killed, in accident cases caused through the fault of a negligent or otherwise legally liable party under the law.

During his many years of practice, he has also been admitted to practice, on a case-by-case basis, before the Federal and State courts of Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada, representing California residents who were injured or killed while visiting those states. He has also been admitted to practice in the U.S. Territory of Guam, where he represented the heirs of a Chinese man who died while taking a scuba diving course while vacationing there from his home in Japan.

He has served as an Arbitrator, Mediator, and Settlement Officer for the Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, and independently selected Arbitrator and Mediator for private parties. He has also served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles County Municipal Court. He was a Referee for the California State Bar Court’s Disciplinary Panel as well as a Mandatory Fee Arbitration Officer. He has lectured at seminars for the University of California Continuing Education of the Bar. He was a member of the Accident Claims Committee of the American Arbitration Association. He has also served as the “Uninsured Motorists” Committee Chairman for the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association.

Ernest Vargas was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in June of 1961 after completing four years of a Reserve Officer Training Course at UCLA. He obtained a deferral at that time to attend Law School through September of 1964, at which time he reported to the 2nd Logistical Command in Fort Lee, Virginia. He was elevated in rank to 1st Lieutenant and was selected as Commander of the Basic Officer’s Course at the Quartermaster School, leading 75 Lieutenants through the program. He was assigned to the 2nd Logistical Command’s Logex (Logistical Exercise for Reservists) for which he received a commendation for exceptional service. Upon his discharge from his military obligation, he was elevated to the rank of Captain.

He has been admitted to the Supreme Court of the State of California, the U.S. District Court of the California Central District, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, the U.S. Court of Military Appeals, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court of the California Southern District, the U.S. District Court in Reno, Nevada, the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada, the U.S. District Court in Tucson, Arizona, the U.S. District Court in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the U.S. District Court of Guam.

He has published articles in legal publications on “Comparative Negligence - Recent Developments,” and “Liability in Food Cases,” and has written “Legal Briefs” columns for local magazines in the Glendale and Pasadena areas.

He has been designated, and has testified, as an “expert” in Legal Malpractice cases.

On his off time, he enjoys tennis, golf, snow skiing, and scuba diving.