Mr. Heffernan received his BA from Loyola Marymount University in 1984 and JD from McGeorge School of Law in 1987. Mr. Heffernan is AV-rated (preeminent) and has been with EL&L since 1985, when he started as a law clerk during law school. Mr. Heffernan has represented a wide variety of plaintiffs, from individuals sustaining serious personal injuries to complex mass-tort and consumer class action matters involving significant economic losses.

Wildfire Litigation

Significant focus has been directed at securing recoveries for wildfire victims. Notable litigations include substantial individual and mass recoveries for fire victims in Santa Barbara; Tea (2008), Jesusita (2009); Malibu (2003, 2007); Los Angeles: Sesnon (2008), Sayre (2008); South Lake Tahoe: Angora (2007); San Bernardino: Old Fire (2003), Grass Valley (2007); San Diego: Cedar (2003), Witch, Guejito, Rice (2007); Orange County: Freeway Complex (2008); NorCal Fires (2017); Woolsey Fire (2018); Lahaina Fire (2023), and many others. These efforts have resulted in a substantial number of seven-, eight-, and nine-figure recoveries against insurers, public utilities, municipalities, telecoms, and product manufacturers for a long list of appreciative clients whose lives were transformed and restored after experiencing devastating economic and personal losses.

Insurance Bad Faith

Also specializing in Insurance Bad Faith, 2025 exemplar (Confidential) v. (Insurer) resulted in multiple seven-figure recoveries for bad-faith failure to pay $100,000 policy limits for an auto accident. Mr. Heffernan has achieved three decades of similar results.

Tree Failure Litigation

• 2016 Rey Fire – Santa Barbara: Massive wildfire caused by tree failure into SCE power lines (See video Brucker v. Edison Animation in the Media section). Lawsuit resolved in 2019 with a substantial confidential recovery for the affected homeowner.

• Failed eucalyptus tree incident: Failed eucalyptus tree crushed a wedding party at a public park, resulting in death and serious injuries to multiple parties. Substantial eight-figure resolution (See videos Preliminary Photogrammetry Animation and Preliminary Root Ball in the Media section).

Education

• McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, CA, 1987, J.D.
• Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, 1984, B.A.

Bar Admissions

• California, 1987
• U.S. District Court Central District of California
• U.S. District Court Southern District of California

Published Works

• Underinsurance: A Consumer Fraud, Not an Agent Error or Omission – CAOC Forum, 2004
• Underinsurance Litigation: The Hidden Deductible; – CAOC Forum, 2008

Litigation Percentage

• 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
• Over $500 million recovered for individuals and property owners

Honors and Awards

• Southern California Super Lawyer 2010-2023

Professional Associations

• State Bar of California, Member
• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Member
• Irish American Bar Association, Member
• L.A. County Bar Association, Member
• Consumer Attorneys of California, Member