H. Thomas Watson H. Thomas Watson

H. Thomas Watson

Partner
Los Angeles
htwatson@horvitzlevy.com 818.995.0800
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Business entities, including hospitals, medical centers, healthcare providers, national insurance carriers, and others all rely on Tom Watson’s extensive appellate experience in procedural, tort, contract, insurance, and health law issues (including MICRA).

Clients also benefit from Tom’s guidance regarding trial strategy, pre-and post-trial motions, and frank assessments concerning the likelihood of securing appellate and/or writ relief.

Tom is a partner at the firm, where he has practiced since 1992. He has been a California State Bar Certified Appellate Specialist since the first year the State Bar offered that certification in 1996. Tom edits and updates the firm’s MICRA Manual and its Evidence Code section 1157 Manual, and has prepared the health law appellate updates for both the California Society for Healthcare Attorneys and the Health Law Committee of the California Lawyers Association Business Law section since 2014. From 2007 to 2012 he prepared the insurance law appellate updates for the Insurance Law Committee of the California State Bar Business Law Section. Tom has extensive experience litigating before the California Supreme Court as appellate counsel for both parties and amici curiae, and has worked on numerous cases in the California Court of Appeal, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and appellate courts in other jurisdictions. Tom publishes and presents extensively on numerous areas of the law, including appellate procedure, medical expense damages, health law, and insurance law.

Representative Matters

Abbassi v. UC Regents (2025)

California Court of Appeal affirms summary judgment for The UC Regents in litigation alleging discrimination and harassment.

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Drost v. Sheridan (2025)

California Court of Appeal affirms application of MICRA to reduce damages award against chiropractor from $29.5 million to $250,000.

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Ward v. Billinglsey (2025)

California Court of Appeal affirms defense judgment after plaintiff claims discrimination in jury selection.

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Charlie L. v. Kangavari (2025)

California Court of Appeal publishes opinion holding that a statute providing procedural safeguards for ER surgeons against medical malpractice claims also protects other physicians who consult remotely with the ER department.

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Patterson v. College Medical Center (2024)

Horvitz & Levy successfully secures writ relief protecting medical center from discovery order compelling it to release psychiatric patients’ contact information.

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LaMarr v. UC Regents (2024)

Horvitz & Levy successfully defends judgment in favor of The UC Regents in an employment case involving an employee who voluntarily transferred to a lower-ranked position to avoid facing possible termination.

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Waszczuk v. UC Regents (2023)

Horvitz & Levy successfully defendant a summary judgment entered in favor of the UC Regents against a vexatious litigant.

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AlSayyad v. The Regents of The University of California (2023)

California Court of Appeal affirms summary judgment in favor of employer based on lack of evidence of discriminatory motive for employee’s three-year suspension.

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Smith v. Clovis Community Medical Center & Smith v. Gade (2022)

California Court of Appeal affirms summary judgment on MICRA statute of limitation grounds.

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Franklin v. Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (2022)

Horvitz & Levy successfully defends summary judgment for hospital in medical malpractice action on actual and ostensible agency grounds.

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Alvarado v. Wilson (2022)

California Court of Appeal affirms trial court ruling that eliminated punitive damages claim in medical malpractice case.

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Ditlevsen v. Pedersen (2021)

California Court of Appeal holds that Horvitz & Levy’s client is responsible for only a small fraction of plaintiff’s damages.

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Mann v. The Regents of the University of California (2021)

Court of Appeal affirms judgment on FEHA claims for the UC Regents, finding no error or prejudice in verdict form or jury instructions

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Blas v. U.S. Sports Camps (2019)

Court of Appeal affirms summary judgment for American Golf Corporation in personal injury case

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Kaur v. Broadbase (2018)

Horvitz & Levy obtains dismissal of appeal in wrongful death suit.

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Dhillon v. John Muir Health (2018)

California Court of Appeal reverses order requiring formal peer review of hospital medical staff's discipline of physician.

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Dhillon v. John Muir Health (2017)

California Supreme Court resolves important administrative law issue, reversing dismissal of hospital’s appeal in staff privileges case

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Cuevas v. Contra Costa County (2017)

California Court of Appeal requires retrial of future medical expense claim to permit evidence of Medicaid and Affordable Care Act benefits

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Acqua Vista v. MWI, Inc. (2017)

California Court of Appeal reverses $24 million judgment against pipe supplier in construction defect case

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24 Hour Fitness USA, Inc. v. Superior Court (2016)

Court of Appeal reverses denial of summary judgment for fitness center

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Gopal v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (2016)

California Court of Appeal rejects enterprise liability theory and affirms summary judgment in favor of health insurer in wrongful death case

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Haynes v. Kim (2016)

California Court of Appeal affirms defense verdict for corporation in auto accident case, rejecting agency theory

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Burdick v. Superior Court (Sanderson) (2015)

California Court of Appeal holds that out-of-state resident’s Facebook post about California resident does not necessarily create personal jurisdiction in California.

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El-Attar v. Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (2013)

California Supreme Court unanimously reverses Court of Appeal regarding hospital procedures for reviewing adverse action on doctor’s application for staff privileges.

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Singh Educational Services v. Blueprint Test Preparation LLC (2013)

Court of Appeal rejects competitor’s attempt to shut down test preparation company in alleged theft of trade secrets action.

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Burlington Coat Factory v. Bella Terra Associates (2011)

California Court of Appeal upholds landlord’s interpretation of novel lease provision.

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Northrop Grumman Corp. v. Factory Mut. Ins. Co. (2008)

Ninth Circuit rules for insurer in dispute over insurance coverage for $1 billion in storm surge flood damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

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Credentials

Education

  • University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law
    J.D., Order of the Coif, 1992
  • Pepperdine University
    M.B.A., 1988
  • University of Idaho
    B.S., summa cum laude, 1982

Bar Admissions

  • California
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Professional Associations

Awards

  • Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards (2022) Martindale Hubbell
  • “AV Preeminent” rated by Martindale Hubbell
  • Listed in ALM’s “Top Rated Lawyers” section for Appellate Attorneys
  • Super Lawyers (2009-2025)
  • Best Lawyers (2010-2024)

Publications

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