Practice areas: Personal Injury, Class Action & Mass Torts, Employment & Labor; view more
Licensed in California since: 1980
Education: Southwestern Law School
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877-540-3245
Parris Law Firm
43364 10th St. WestLancaster, CA 93534 Visit website
In 1985, R. Rex Parris embarked on a mission to establish a law firm that would stand the test of time, founding Parris Law Firm with offices in Lancaster, Bakersfield and Los Angeles, California. His unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation has driven the firm to continually enhance the quality of service and results they deliver in the realms of personal injury, employment law, environmental law and class actions.
Renowned as one of the most accomplished and forward-thinking trial lawyers of our era, Mr. Parris tackles a diverse array of cases, from severe personal injuries to complex class actions, product liability and business torts. When not in the courtroom, he travels across the nation, sharing his insights on the intersection of cognitive science and jury persuasion with fellow trial lawyers. His competence has been spotlighted by major media outlets such as "20/20," "Nightline," the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and numerous legal publications.
Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Parris has consistently achieved remarkable courtroom victories. Early on, he secured the first million-dollar verdict in Kern County, California, and later made history with a record-breaking $370 million defamation jury verdict in Los Angeles. His track record includes numerous seven-, eight- and nine-figure verdicts and settlements, a testament to his meticulous preparation and mastery of persuasion techniques. Every aspect of his trial strategy, from metaphoric language to visual aids, is rigorously tested and refined.
Beyond his legal prowess, Mr. Parris serves as the mayor of Lancaster, California, a role he has held since 2008. His leadership has garnered national attention, as he has spearheaded initiatives that significantly improved the city's well-being. Under his guidance, gang violence plummeted by 82%, the downtown area underwent a transformative redevelopment during a severe economic downturn, and all municipal buildings were converted to solar power, showcasing his dedication to sustainable progress.
Mr. Parris' legacy is one of relentless pursuit of justice and community betterment, a narrative of success built on innovation, preparation, and a deep commitment to making a positive impact.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff, Employment & Labor: Employee, Business Litigation, Environmental, Environmental LitigationFocus areas
Brain Injury, Class Actions, Employment Law - Employee, Environmental Law, Labor Law, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Non-Compete Agreements, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Sexual Harassment, Slip and Fall, Trade Secret, Trucking Accidents, Unions, Wage & Hour Laws, Whistleblower, Wrongful Death
- 30% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 20% Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff
- 20% Employment & Labor: Employee
- 10% Business Litigation
- 10% Environmental
- 10% Environmental Litigation
First Admitted: 1980, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.parris.com/attorney/r-rex-parris/
Bar / Professional Activity
- State Bar of California
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- United States District Court for the Central District of California
- United States District Court for the Northern District of California
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
- Antelope Valley Hospital Community Benefits Advisory Council (where he was a former chairman)
- Antelope Valley Bar Association
- Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association
- American Association of Justice
- Antelope Valley Hospital Community Benefits Advisory Council (Former Chairman)
- Valley Volunteers Program (Founder)
- Antelope Valley War on Gangs (Founder)
- Lancaster Child Abuse Task Force (Founder)
- Board of Directors of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers’ College
- American Cancer Society
- Mayor of the City of Lancaster, California
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- $370 Million, the largest jury verdict of 2009, for two former employees of Georges Marciano, the co-founder of a major clothing brand, for claims of defamation and emotional distress.
- $141 Million settlement involving a man left with long-term brain injuries after a T-bone style crash.
- $49 Million verdict for a California Highway Patrol Officer rear-ended while riding his motorcycle.
- $32.8 Million verdict for our client who was severely injured as a result of a rear-end collision.
- $20 Million settlement award to the family of a Lancaster woman who lost her life in a tragic head-on collision.
- $8.9 Million verdict for a client who was severely injured by a drunk driver. This award far exceeds MetLife’s, the defendant’s insurance carrier's, policy limit of $25,000.
Representative Clients
- Jimenez v. Allstate Ins. Co., 765 F.3d 1161 (9th Cir. 2014)
- Farmers Insurance Exchange v. Superior Court, 218 Cal.App.4th 96 (2013)
- Compton v. Superior Court, 214 Cal.App.4th 873 (2013)
- Bonnel v. Best Buy Stores, L.P., 881 F.Supp.2d 1164 (2012)
- Avalos v. Foster Poultry Farms, 798 F.Supp.2d 1156 (2011)
- Brown v. Electronic Arts, Inc., 722 F.Supp.2d 1148 (2010)
- Catsouras v. Department of California Highway Patrol, 181 Cal.App.4th 856 (2010)
- Whalen v. U.S., 93 Fed. Cl. 579 (2010)
- Whalen v. U.S., 85 Fed. Cl. 380 (2009)
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Master Advocate, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, District of Columbia
Educational Background
- Southwestern School of Law, Juris Doctor (1980)
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Law & Society — University of California, Santa Barbara (1977)
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Conference – Cognitive Science and Behavioral Economics in the Courtroom: Chair – The Science Behind Bonding with Strangers (2016)
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Conference – Cognitive Science and Behavioral Economics in the Courtroom: Chair – Framing (And Re-Framing) the Narrative (2016)
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Conference – Cognitive Science and Behavioral Economics in the Courtroom: Chair – In the Line of Fire (2016)
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Conference – Cognitive Science and Behavioral Economics in the Courtroom: Chair – Market Segmentation in Jury Selection(2016)
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Conference – Cognitive Science and Behavioral Economics in the Courtroom: Chair – Linguistic Programming for Lawyers (2016)
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Conference – Cognitive Science and Behavioral Economics in the Courtroom: Speaker – Start with “Why” (2016)
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Conference – Cognitive Science and Behavioral Economics in the Courtroom: Speaker – Anchoring (2016)
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Conference – Cognitive Science and Behavioral Economics in the Courtroom: Speaker – Reversals (2016)
Honors
- National Law Journal – Plaintiff’s Lawyers Trailblazers 2020
- Daily Journal Top Plaintiff (2020)
- Best Lawyers – U.S. News & World Report 2014-2022
- Metropolitan News Man of the Year (2019)
- EPA Green Power Leader of the Year (2019)
- CAALA Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist (2018)
- Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year – U.S. News & World Report (2018)
- Largest verdict in the United States in 2009 ($370 Million)
- Top Attorneys in Southern California
- Twice Named Trial Attorney of the Year – Antelope Valley
- UCSB Scholars’ Program Master Advocate by The National Institute for Trial Advocacy (1991)
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2026