Cynthia McGuinn

Top rated Personal Injury attorney in San Francisco, California

Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn
Cynthia McGuinn
Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn
415-398-5398
Contact me today

Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Products Liability, Medical Malpractice; view more

Licensed in California since: 1981

Education: Golden Gate University School of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2025

Call today:
415-398-5398

Contact me today

Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn

44 Montgomery Street
Suite 1900
San Francisco, CA 94104 Visit website

Cynthia McGuinn is a partner of the San Francisco law firm of Rouda, Feder, Tietjen & McGuinn.  She represents individuals in complex consumer, personal injury, wrongful death, professional negligence and product liability cases. Cynthia has an extensive track record of success with jury trials involving substantial damages, securing eight-figure verdicts in a number of previous cases. In 2015 Cynthia earned the largest personal injury jury verdict in the history of Sonoma County.  Her proven ability to read and connect with jurors and to clearly explain complex legal and technical information are qualities that frequently lead other attorneys to seek her advice for impending trials and to assist them in trying such cases.

Cynthia's numerous awards and recognitions include: 2003 Trial Lawyer of the Year award from the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, recognition as a "Top Woman Litigator" in California every year since 2005 and, in 2015, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association.  Cynthia has taught trial advocacy at several law schools, including Harvard and Yale.  She was the first woman President of the San Francisco chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), the first woman President of the National Foundation of ABOTA and was the National President of ABOTA in 2018.  Cynthia is also a Fellow of several other invitation-only organizations, including The International Society of Barristers, the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, which is an association limited to 600 attorneys worldwide. Cynthia frequently lectures and writes on trial practice topics. In her "free time" she likes hiking, biking and equestrian activities.

Practice areas

Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff

Focus areas

Animal Bites, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Defects, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Pharmaceutical, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Slip and Fall, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death

  • 70% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
  • 20% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
  • 10% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff

First Admitted: 1981, California

Professional Webpage: https://www.rftmlaw.com/attorney-profiles/cynthia-mcguinn/

Bar/Professional Activity:
  • Fellow, International Society of Barristers, 2007 - Present
  • Consumer Attorneys of California, “Learning from Women Who Pick Winning Juries in Employment Cases,” Woodside, California
  • Secretary, Executive Board, American Board of Trial Advocates, San Francisco Chapter, 2005
  • Secretary, Executive Board, American Board of Trial Advocates, San Francisco Chapter, 2005
  • President, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2008
  • San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1987 - Present
  • Board of Governors, Consumer Attorneys of California, 1996 - 1997
  • National Employment Lawyers Association, 1989 - Present
  • Associate, American Board of Trial Advocates, 1997 - Present
  • Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, 1998 - Present
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2006 - Present
  • San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, “Making the Invisible Injury Visible,” San Francisco, California
  • Education Committee(National), American Board of Trial Advocates, 1999
  • VP, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2007
  • Consumer Attorneys of California, 1985 - Present
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, 2008 - 2010
  • California Employment Lawyers Association, 1989 - Present
  • Board of Directors, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 1989 - 1999
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, 1997 - Present
  • Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2004 - Present
  • Marin Trial Lawyers Association, 2007 - Present
  • Civil Justice Committee(National), American Board of Trial Advocates, 1998
  • Association of Defense Counsel “How to Win” San Francisco, California
  • Treasurer,  American Board of Trial Advocates, 2006
  • State Bar of California, 1981 - Present
  • National Board Member, American Board of Trial Advocates, 1999 - 2002
  • American Association for Justice, 1988 - Present
  • Nor Cal Chair, Legislative Executive Committee - Employment   Litigation, Consumer Attorneys of California, 1997
  • Western Trial Lawyers Association, 1995 - Present
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2009
  • Bar Association of San Francisco, 1998 - Present
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
  • Unwitnessed fall through partially unprotected fire escape landing/ladder at mutli story apartment building at night. No prior incidents or near misses.  Plaintiff had highly elevated alcohol level. Plaintiff rendered paraplegic with mild brain injury and no recall whatsover as to how she had come to be at the apartment building or how she fell.  Plaintiff not discovered for more than 10 hours after she allegedly fell one story to the ground floor level. Case settled while Motion for Summary Judgement pending for fourteen million, two hundred fifty thousand ($14,250,000.00.), 2019
  • Cole v.Henry.  Sonoma County Jury Verdict $13,4420.474.  Single vehicle collision.  Defendant, father, driver falls asleep at the wheel; plaintiff, adult daughter sustained serious orthopedic injuries.   Defendant contended plaintiff was comparatively negligent in agreeing to unsafe travel route and driving arrangements.  Case unique for daughter suing father.  , 2015
  • Leyvas v. Washington Township Hospital: Medical malpractice case involving a newborn; failure to treat jaundice resulting in kernicterus and cerebral palsy. $85 million dollar jury trial verdict.
  • Shugart v. OEA: Personal injury caused by explosion resulting in blindness.  $14.4 million dollar jury trial verdict of which $10 million was for punitive damages
  • Dean v. Fedco: Wrongful death of tree trimmer hit by truck. $1,161 million dollar jury trial verdict
  • Eagles v. Albertsons: Forklift/pedestrian accident resulting in partial amputation of foot. $6.4 million dollar jury trial verdict
  • Ryan et al v. Yellow Cab Cooperative, Inc: Multiple plaintiff personal injuries Shuttle bus/taxi collision.  $3.6 million dollar jury trial verdict
  • Manukyan v. Tippelt: Vehicle collision resulting in traumatic carpal tunnel injuries to hands. $1million dollar jury trial verdict
  • Dr. Doe v. Third and Mission Associates: Orthopedic surgeon injured by falling plywood.  $5.3 million dollar jury trial verdict
  • Sousa v. Teaching Living Concepts: Vehicle collision, personal injury case resulting in hand fractures and degloving injury
  • Douglas v. Dulac: 15 year old passenger with asperations of becoming an professional snow skier involved in vehicle collison suffered leg injuries in vehicle collision involving consumption of alcohol.  Defendant driver was plaintiff's schoolmate - who had not consumed alcohol- and who was acting as the designated driver.  Fact pattern was that another car made an unsafe lane change and the designated driver operating vehicle in while plaintiff was a passenger overreacted and swerved, losing control and skidding down the highway.  $680,540 dollar jury trial verdict.
Honors/Awards:
  • Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, San Francisco, California, 2004
  • Trial Lawyer of the Year 2003, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, San Francisco, California
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association., Lifetime Achievement Award, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2015
Educational Background:
  • University of Akron, Ohio, B.S., 1971
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
  • "100 Days Before Trial - Part II", Consumer Attorneys of California, Webinar, San Francisco, November 19, 2009
  • Demonstrating Liability & Damages Using Computers, Day in the Life Videos and Settlement Brochures, Western Trial Lawyers Association, Maui, Hawaii, June 2001
  • "100 Days Before Trial - Part I", Consumer Attorneys of California, Webinar, San Francisco, October 22, 2009
  • Mediation A to Z from the Plaintiff's Perspective, University of San Francisco, School of Law, April 2001
  • "Art of Negotiation", San Francisco Trial Lawyers, San Francisco, October 21, 2009
  • Discovery in Construction Litigation, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, July 2000
  • "Masters Seminar: 12 Angry Jurors", Consumer Attorneys of California and San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association, Burlingame, September 29, 2009
  • Demonstrative Evidence in Brain Injury Cases, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, June 2000
  • "Jury 2.0", San Francisco Trial Lawyers, San Francisco, September 15, 2009
  • Summary Judgments in Construction Cases, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, October 1999
  • Sexual Torts Seminar, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, December, 1998
  • "Jury Questionnaires", Consumer Attorneys of California, Webinar, San Francisco,  April 16, 2009
  • Demonstration - Mock Trial. Plaintiff's Opening Statement, Wrongful Death - Cross Over Median Barrier Case, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel/Association of Defense Counsel, Lake Tahoe Seminar, June, 1998
  • "Ethics & Civility Program", Golden Gate University, San Francisco, American Board of Trial Advocates, March 10, 2009
  • Gathering and Using Evidence in Third Party Actions Arising Out of Construction Site Injuries, Consumer Attorneys of California, Annual Tahoe Seminar, March, 1998
  • "Cross Examination with the Women of ABOTA", San Francisco Trial Lawyers, October 25, 2008
  • Trying the Wrongful Death Action, Consumer Attorneys of California, Winter Seminar, Beaver Creek, Colorado, February 1998
  • "Selecting Juries in an Unhappy America", Nevada Justice Association's 32nd Annual Convention/Seminar, Napa California, September 25, 2008
  • Direct Examination of Plaintiff' Expert - Accident Reconstructionist, American Board of Trial Advocates Seminar, Masters in Trial Program, November 1997
  • "Mediation 2008: How The Process Has Evolved", The Mediation Society, 6th Annual Education Program, San Francisco, May 30, 2008
  • Developing an Holistic Investigative Service-How to become Indispensable to the Trial Lawyer, California Association of Licensed Investigators, September 1997
  • Chair, Jury Techniques: "How to Select, Engage and Enlist Your Jury", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, April 8, 2008
  • The Pros and Cons Of Interactive Evidence, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Evidence Seminar, May 1997
  • Faculty, "Advocacy Skills Workshop", Stanford Law School, Autumn 2007
  • General Damages in the Wrongful Death Case, Quantifying the Intangibles of Care, Comfort And Society, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Evidence Seminar, September 1996
  • "Cross-Examination of Defense Expert", Child High Chair Case, ABOTA Masters in Trial, San Bernardino, October 12, 2007
  • Quick Hits, Newest Evidence & Concepts: Voir Dire When Your Jury is Defense Minded, 31st Annual CAOC Tahoe Seminar, April 1996
  • "Cross-Examination of Defendant's Seat Designer", ABOTA Masters in Trial, Reno, Nevada, Collapsing Seat, Auto Case, September 21, 2007
  • Voir Dire: The Auto Case, Western Trial Lawyers Association, June 1995
  • "Plaintiff's Closing Argument." Wrongful Termination Case, ABOTA Masters in Trial, San Francisco, May 31, 2007
  • The Ultimate Trial Book, Cross Examination, American Board of Trial Advocates Seminar, June 1995
  • "Engaging in the Resolution Discussion-Opening a Dialogue to Set Cases Up for Resolution", Consumer Attorneys of California, Live Web Seminar, May 22, 2007
  • Creative Approaches to Establishing Difficult Damage Issues Loss of Consortium, 30th Annual CAOC Tahoe Seminar, March 1995
  • "Practical Tips for Communicating with Your Jury", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Seminar, April 10, 2007
  • Judge, 32nd Western Regional National Trial Competition, February 17-18, 2007
  • "The Powerful Closing Argument", Consumer Attorneys of California, 45th Annual Convention, November 17-19, 2006
  • Marketing the case to the Jury, "Jury Persuasion in the 21st Century", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Seminar, November 14, 2006
  • "Proving Emotional Distress Damages", National Employment Lawyers Association, 2006 17th Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, June 25, 2006
  • "Trial Tips from the Masters", Regional Trial Lawyers Conference, Bacara Resort, Santa Barbara, California, June 10, 2006
  • Justice, Golden Gate University School of Law's Appellate Advocacy Program, April 9, 2006
  • "Trial Demonstration Auto/Motorcycle Accident", ABOTA Masters in Trial Program, Seattle Washington, November 4, 2005
  • "The Ultimate Trial Notebook-Opening Statement", ABOTA Masters in Trial Program, San Francisco, California, May 19, 2005
  • "Adaptation or Extinction: The Evolution of Trial Lawyers", Northern District of California Judicial Conference, April 2005
  • "Direct Examination of Plaintiff's Expert-Brain Injury", ABOTA Masters in Trial Program, Laguna Beach, California, January 2005
  • "Advanced Jury Techniques", San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, San Francisco, November 9, 2010
  • Judge, In School Negotiation Competition, Hastings Law School, Center for Negotiation & Dispute Resolution, October 2004
  • Masters in Trial. Demonstration - Opening Statement to Jury Deliberation. (Direct Exam of Plaintiff), Houston Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, October 7, 2010
  • Beyond Scrapes and Bruises-Proving What Can't Be Seen-Emotional Distress Damages, NELA's 2004 Annual Convention, San Antonio Texas, June 26, 2004
  • Masters Seminar - Women's Caucus "Making Your Point, Effective Advocacy", Consumer Attorneys of California, San Francisco, September 15, 2010
  • Masters in Trial Program - Negligence/ Premises-Criminal Act Case, American Board of Trial Advocates, Los Angeles, May 9, 2003
  • "Masters In Cross-Examination", Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Universal City, June 11, 2010
  • "100 Days Before Trial - Part III", Consumer Attorneys of California, Webinar, San Francisco, December 3, 2009
  • Masters in Trial Program-Negligence/ Product Liability, American Board of Trial Advocates, San Francisco, January 2003
  • "Masters In Cross Examination", American Board of Trial Advocates, Sacramento, California, November 20, 2009
  • Jury Selection and Beyond: Dealing With Juror Bias in the 21st Century, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, April 2003

Office location for Cynthia McGuinn

44 Montgomery Street
Suite 1900
San Francisco, CA 94104

Phone: 415-398-5398

Selections

21 Years Super Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2025

Top Lists

Top 50: Women Northern California Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2015
Top 100: Northern California Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2012

Certificates and credentials

American College of Trial Lawyers
International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Additional sources of information about Cynthia McGuinn

Find me online

Attorney resources for Cynthia McGuinn

Download badge
Update profile
Order online

Contact me

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

To: Cynthia McGuinn Super Lawyers: Potential Client Inquiry

The information contained in this web site is intended to convey general information. It should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. It is not an offer to represent you, nor is it intended to create an attorney-client relationship. The use of the internet or this contact form for communication is not necessarily a secure environment. Contacting a lawyer or law firm email through this service will not create an attorney-client relationship, and information will not necessarily be treated as privileged or confidential.

Find top lawyerswith confidence

The Super Lawyers patented selection process is peer influenced and research driven, selecting the top 5% of attorneys to the Super Lawyers lists each year. We know lawyers and make it easy to connect with them.

Page Generated: 0.11616086959839 sec