Practice Areas

Personal Injury

Over the decades, our firm has represented clients in a variety of personal injury matters, from auto accidents to slip and falls. We have represented multiple plaintiffs against insurance companies in auto accidents big and small. Our firm has also represented clients in complex matters involving a work injury and a 3rd party personal injury claim, negotiating with numerous parties to the benefit of our client. We have secured large settlements and won trials, including a more recent jury verdict against the City for a slip and fall.

Workers Compensation

Our firm has brought many cases to successful completion where the issues were difficult and complex. In 2010, we took over a four-year-old denied case where the claim was filed more than 16 months after the injury occurred. The case was eventually settled for more than $300,000.00.

• In the last two years, the firm has represented three clients where the defendant was seeking credit of $100,000.00 to $200,000.00 for overpayments of temporary disability. In all three cases, these claims were either entirely dropped or were denied by the court after trial.
• In the last month, our firm settled a case for $278,000.00, where the original offer by the defendant was $20,000.00.
• In a more recent trial before the San Diego Workers Compensation Appeals Board, Mr. Langenderfer secured a trial award providing the client with a large disability award, including a lifetime pension after a serious work injury.  The Workers’ Compensation trials require substantial preparation and effort. We prepare each case as if the trial will be necessary. This is our reputation and philosophy, and we believe that it helps to encourage fair and adequate settlement offers.

Longshore and Harbor Act

Workers injured in a harbor incident are entitled to benefits through the Longshoreman & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). This process can be complex because a federal Longshore case can also continue to be tried at the state Workers Compensation Appeals Board, while simultaneously at the Department of Labor, an experienced legal advocate is recommended. This can be even further complicated if the harbor accident was caused by third-party negligence.

The Law Offices of Pierre Vaughn has been handling Longshore cases, state workers compensation cases and negligence actions for decades. Our firm recently settled two Longshore cases for significant amounts, and prior to that, won a favorable decision in a trial before the US Department of Labor for a client injured while working on a naval ship.

Employment Law

Our firm has handled overtime claims and discrimination cases, at times representing multiple plaintiffs against large companies, even international corporations. We have settled claims in favor of plaintiffs for well over six figures against several large well-known retailers and a large telecommunications company. As we always prepare our cases for trial, we had one large retailer call us on the eve of trial with a hefty settlement offer for our several plaintiffs. Being fully prepared to litigate is a major reason for our success in obtaining the maximum outcome for the injured parties we represent.

Social Security

Many of our worker’s compensation and personal injury clients are severely disabled and qualify for Social Security disability benefits. This can be a long and arduous appeals process. A competent attorney with knowledge in the area can be extremely helpful. Our office can represent you in your social security claim. Similar to personal injury claims, social security claims can often intertwine with other claims such as a work injury claim, therefore, we can often be more efficient than many other firms as we likely already possess the many necessary medical records within your workers compensation file.