Joseph Wohrle joined the firm in 2021 and is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Financial Services & Creditors’ Rights departments.
Some of Joseph’s representative matters include:
- Lead trial counsel for multinational petrochemical manufacturer in lawsuit alleging failure to pay for polymer shipments against a U.S.-based distributor and its former shareholder, obtaining a $13.7 million jury verdict after a three-week trial, including judgment against the sole shareholder on the basis of the “alter-ego” theory
- Successful trial defense in matter brought by the State of California against automobile repair facility for permanent revocation of license and fines and penalties based on insurer’s fraud complaints; court found no fraud, imposed $427 fine for one unintentional paperwork error
- Successful defense of insurance fraud “qui tam” action to recover sums paid by insurer to automobile repair facilities alleged to have conspired to defraud insurer of millions of dollars; this and State of California’s license revocation action were the subject of a Los Angeles Daily Journal cover story in the “Verdicts and Settlements” section and a companion article about Joseph’s practice (“Gentlemanly Fighter,” October 17, 2001 issue)
- Prevailing at trial for defendants sued by national fast-food chain for breach of store lease, with post-trial attorney fee award
- Defense verdict in action by commercial lessor against lessee alleging intentional damage to property upon vacation of premises, including verdict on cross-complaint for failure to refund security deposit and other damages
- Obtaining a defense verdict in an insurance bad-faith action arising out of a claims for damage to commercial property and business interruption
- Securing pre-trial dismissal of a commercial insurance brokerage in an action alleging negligence regarding policy procurement
- Successful defense of a prominent Los Angeles restaurant group in a class action alleging food mislabeling
Joseph is Lexis/Nexis Martindale-Hubbell “AV Preeminent.”
Since 2005, Joseph has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at his alma mater, Loyola Law School, where he teaches California civil procedure to second- and third-year law students.
He enjoys bicycling, running, reading (especially historical fiction), and listening to jazz and classical music in his spare time.
EDUCATION
• San Diego State University Cum Laude, and Distinction in Political Science, 1986
• Loyola Law School, Los Angeles J.D., Dean’s List (Second Year), Academic Scholarship Recipient (Third Year)