Robert H. Wright

Partner

Los Angeles

rwright@horvitzlevy.com 818.995.0800

vCard

Overview Representative Matters Credentials Publications

Jump To

Clients leverage Robert Wright’s expertise in handling appeals and writs on a range of issues including products liability, torts, and damages.

Robert has presented over 30 arguments before the state and federal appellate courts, including arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and each of the districts of the California Court of Appeal.

Robert has been counsel of record in closely-watched cases raising issues of statewide importance, including recent cases addressing the lawfulness of exclusivity provisions in contracts between businesses (Quidel Corp. v. Superior Court (2020) 57 Cal.App.5th 155) and the measure of damages for future medical care (Cuevas v. Contra Costa County (2017) 11 Cal.App.5th 163).

Robert is a partner at the firm, where he has been practicing since 1999. He is one of the firm’s managing partners. On behalf of the Department of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California, he has prepared questions for the legal specialist exam in appellate law. He is also a California State Bar Certified Appellate Specialist.

Before joining the firm, Robert was a litigation associate with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he handled civil litigation, antitrust counseling, and appeals. Robert is a frequent contributor to state and national legal publications and a featured contributor to the Washington Legal Foundation on the issue of Mass Torts-Asbestos.

Representative Matters

Samuelian v. Life Generations Healthcare, LLC (2024)

In a published opinion, California Court of Appeal holds that noncompetition provisions are binding on partial owners of a business unless the provisions are unreasonable, reversing confirmation of a $40 million arbitration award.

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.

Gantner v. PG&E (2023)

Supreme Court holds that PG&E is not liable for emergency power shutoffs it implemented to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. Superior Court (South San Joaquin Irrigation District) (2023)

California Court of Appeal holds that, in a utility takings case, a public entity's findings of public necessity and "more necessary public use" are not reviewed by the trial court only for substantial evidence or a gross abuse of discretion.

Webb v. General Cable (2021)

Court of Appeal overturns multi-million dollar jury verdict for lack of substantial evidence in asbestos case.

Quidel v. Superior Court (2020)

After grant of review by California Supreme Court, California Court of Appeal for a second time reversed trial court that had applied a rule of per se invalidity to exclusivity provisions in contracts between businesses

Newman v. Larios (2020)

California Court of Appeal affirms judgment based on insurer’s acceptance of plaintiff’s tactical settlement offer

Scholes v. Lambirth Trucking Co. (2020)

Representing amicus curiae, Horvitz & Levy successfully argues in California Supreme Court that statute authorizing heightened damages for injury to trees does not apply to trees damaged by negligently spread fires

Taulbee v. EJ Distribution Corp. (2019)

Horvitz & Levy obtains affirmance of jury verdict finding trucking company not liable for catastrophic freeway accident

Villa Riviera Condominium Association v. Spectra Company et al. (2019)

California Court of Appeal affirms judgment for subcontractor in construction defect action.

Hake v. Allied Fluid Products Corp. (2018)

Court of Appeal affirms nonsuit on ground that plaintiff's "every exposure" theory was insufficient to prove causation under Kansas law.

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

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

Court of Appeal reverses denial of summary judgment for fitness center

Corenbaum v. Lampkin (2013)

California Court of Appeal holds that evidence of “billed” but unpaid medical expenses is not admissible to prove future medical damages or noneconomic damages.

Bruns v. E-Commerce Exchange, Inc. et al. (2011)

California Supreme Court reverses Court of Appeal opinion that permitted plaintiff to proceed with putative class action more than five years after filing complaint.

Collins v. Plant Insulation Company (2010)

California Court of Appeal reverses $1.9 million judgment in asbestos action and orders new trial on allocation of fault.

Credentials

Education

Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington
J.D., summa cum laude, 1991
University of Virginia
B.A., 1987

Bar Admissions

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

Professional Associations

Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
DRI
Los Angeles County Bar Association Amicus Briefs Committee (2008-present), State Appellate Judicial Evaluation Committee (2012-2018)

Awards

“AV Preeminent” rated by Martindale Hubbell
ALM’s “Top Rated Lawyers” section for Appellate Attorneys
Super Lawyers (2006-2025)

Publications

Calif. Ruling Got It Wrong On Trial Courts’ Gatekeeping Role (Sep. 21, 2023) Law360
Distinguishing “Take-Home” Asbestos Liability Decision, California High Court Rejects Theory For COVID-19 (July 18, 2023) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Utah Joins Growing List of States Legislatively Addressing the Over-Naming Problem in Asbestos Litigation (April 5, 2023) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Iowa Supreme Court Clips Statutory Defense in Asbestos Litigation (June 24, 2022) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Cases in State and Federal Court Could Create “Take-Home COVID-19” Liability in California (April 5, 2022) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Iowa Supreme Court to Consider Breadth of Unique “Bare Metal Defense” Law (Aug. 18, 2021) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
West Virginia Latest State to Legistatively Address Asbestos-Defendant Over-Naming (May 20, 2021) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
One Response to Over-Naming of Asbestos Defendants: Allegations As Evidentiary Admissions (March 22, 2021) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Tennessee Supreme Court Embraces “Bare Metal” Defense in Asbestos Suit (Jan. 25, 2021) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Can Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Deploy the Asbestos-Liability Playbook for “Take-Home” COVID-19 Suits? (Oct. 20, 2020) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Damages in Wildfire Litigation, Business Law News 2020, Issue 2
Tennessee High Court Set to Rule on “Bare Metal” Defense in Asbestos Litigation (May 5, 2020) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Latiolais v. Huntington Ingalls, Inc.: Easing the Standard for Federal Officer Removal (Mar. 12, 2020) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
A Tale of Two Verdicts: Juries’ Disparate Decisions on Talc Undermine Case for Punitive Damages (Feb. 24, 2020) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Supreme Court’s DeVries Decision Doesn’t Spell the End of “Bare Metal” Defense in Asbestos Cases (Apr. 5, 2019) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
NJ Supreme Court to Decide Whether Third Party Manufacturers Have Duty to Warn of Asbestos Exposure (Feb. 15, 2019) Westlaw Journal Asbestos, Vol. 41, No. 9
Divided Virginia Supreme Court Decision Epitomizes National Split over “Take Home” Asbestos Liability (Oct. 26, 2018) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
California Supreme Court Says Use of Industry Custom and Practice Evidence Is a “Two-Way Street” in Products Liability Actions (Sept. 11, 2018) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Asbestos-Liability-Suit Judges Should Beware Plaintiffs’ Expert’s “Notice” Testimony (Apr. 11, 2018) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Ohio High Court Confirms Cumulative-Asbestos-Exposure Theory Cannot Establish Legal Causation (Mar. 30, 2018) Westlaw Journal Asbestos, Vol. 40, No. 12, p. 6
Phantom Medical Damages and the Five Key Pillars for a Successful Defense (Feb. 2018) PIAA
The “No-Safe-Level” Theory Is Just as Bad in the Real World as in Litigation (Jan. 2, 2018) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Trial Judge Tosses Jury Verdict in Talcum Powder Mass-Tort Suit for Lack of Causation (Nov. 1, 2017) Washington Legal Foundation, The Legal Pulse
Court Ruling in Pharma Case Calls into Question Consumer Expectations Test’s Use in Asbestos Suits (Sept. 29, 2017) Westlaw Journal Asbestos, Vol. 39, No. 25
Fourth Circuit Upholds Application of Government-Contractor Defense in Asbestos Suit (Aug. 4, 2017) Westlaw Journal Asbestos, Vol. 39, No. 21
Once Again, the California Supreme Court Refuses to Rule on the ‘Every Exposure’ Theory of Causation (June 23, 2017) Westlaw Journal Asbestos, Vol. 39, No. 18, pp. 3-4
California’s Medical-Injury Compensation Law Provides a Model for Federal Tort Reform (May 5, 2017) Washington Legal Foundation, Legal Backgrounder
Reptile Dysfunction: An Appellate Court Disapproves of the Reptile Theory (Mar. 14, 2017) Trials and Tribulations [DRI], Vol. 23, No. 1 , pp. 3-5
Can Employees Be On Call On Break? (June 1, 2015) Daily J., p. 5
Federal Health Insurance Mandates and the Impending Upheaval of the Collateral Source Rule (Jan. 29, 2015) Washington Legal Foundation, Contemporary Legal Note, Number 76
The Effect of Howell on Personal Injury Medical Cost Recovery (Oct. 2014) Los Angeles Lawyer, pp. 16-19
Howell Two Years Later: Strategies for Responding to Attempts to Circumvent a Landmark Decision (2014) Verdict, Vol. 1, pp. 19-22
AB 748: Taming Interest Rates for Public Entities, New California Laws for 2014 (Jan. 21, 2014) Supplement to Daily J., p. 10
Assumption of the Risk in Boat Racing: A Study in Maritime Jurisprudence (2013) 11 Loyola Mar. L.J. 271
Measuring Damages to Trees and Pets (Dec. 7, 2012) The Recorder, p. 12
The Conflict over Medicare’s ‘Full Reimbursement’ Rule (June & July 2012) Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy, Vol. 29, Nos. 9 & 10 [two-part article]
Howell v. Hamilton Meats & Provisions: A Landmark Damages Case (Winter 2012) Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Vol. XXXIII, No. 2, p. 1
Sanchez v. Strickland and the Measure of Damages in California for Past Medical Expenses (Winter 2012) Legal Insights, p. 15
Limiting Windfall Damages (Feb. 2012) Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy, Vol. 29, No. 5, p. 1
The Five-Year Mandatory Dismissal Statute May Be Back In Vogue (Dec. 27, 2011) Daily J., p. 3
California Decisions – On the Books and Off: Why the Bar Should Remain Attentive to the Benefits of Seeking Both Publication and Depublication (3rd & 4th Quarter 2010) Verdict, p. 37
Punitive Damages Immunity of Federal Instrumentalities (American Bar Association Winter 2009) The Brief, Vol. 38, No. 2, p. 24
Determining Whether to File an Appellate Court Writ Petition (Cont.Ed.Bar 4th ed. 2008) Cal. Civil Writ Practice, ch. 17
California Court: Peer Review Recommendations Not Final (Nov. 2004) Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy Vol. 22, No. 1, p. 3
International Antitrust Handbook (American Bar Association 1997-1998)

Put Our Proven Appellate Expertise to Work for You.

For over 60 years, we've preserved judgments, reversed errors, and reduced awards in some of California’s most high-profile appellate cases.

Explore our practices Explore Careers