News Stories

Bicycle helmets save lives. Unfortunately, many individuals choose not to wear a bicycle helmet when they head out for some riding. This can be deadly. According to the National Safety Council, approximately one-third of all non-fatal bicycle injuries are head injuries. Data also shows that most of the 80,000 bicycle-related head injuries treated in emergency rooms every year are brain injuries. Understanding bicycle helmet laws in California ... Read More

We are proud to celebrate a truly special evening on the horizon: this year’s Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (OCTLA) Top Gun Awards & Installation Dinner, where remarkable leaders in our legal community will be honored for their exceptional achievements, dedication, and service.

Greg Bentley to Be Inducted Into the Hall of Fame

This year, we are honored to celebrate Greg Bentley, who will be inducted into the prestigious OCTLA Hall of Fame. Greg’s extraordinary career, leadership, and unwavering commitment to justice have shaped the legal landscape and set a standard of excellence we are proud to recognize.

2025 OCTLA Top Gun Honorees

This year’s Top Gun Awards celebrate attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional skill, courage, and results in their practice areas. We congratulate the following honorees:

• Keith Bruno & Nick Rowley – Top Gun: Medical Malpractice
  Recognized for their outstanding advocacy and groundbreaking work on behalf of patients and families.
• Tom Antunovich – Top Gun: Young Gun
  Honored for his exceptional early-career achievements, passion for justice, and impressive results.
• William Shapiro – Top Gun: Distinguished Achievement
  Celebrated for a career marked by excellence, leadership, and unwavering service to the profession.
• Greyson Goody – Top Gun: Personal Injury
  Recognized for his dedication to injured clients and his remarkable success in personal injury litigation.

Clare Lucich Installed as Incoming OCTLA President

We are also thrilled to celebrate Clare Lucich, a previously honored Young Gun Top Gun Recipient, who will be installed as President of OCTLA in January. Clare’s leadership, commitment, and vision continue to elevate the organization, and her upcoming presidency marks an exciting new chapter for OCTLA. This year, she will also co-host the awards ceremony alongside the current OCTLA President.

Keith More Returns as Live Auction MC

A beloved and familiar presence, Keith More—a four-time Top Gun Honoree for Workers’ Compensation—will once again serve as the MC for the Live Auction, a role he has embraced with enthusiasm and excellence year after year.

This year’s Top Gun Awards & Installation Dinner promises to be an inspiring evening celebrating dedication, leadership, and the pursuit of justice. We congratulate all honorees and look forward to commemorating their achievements together.

 

Read More

The accident came out of nowhere, leaving you in pain and unsure of what to do next. One moment, you were at work in Orange County, and the next, a workplace injury disrupted your life. Questions about medical bills, lost earnings, and job security flood your mind.Acting quickly can make a real difference for your health and future. California workers’ compensation benefits are available to help, but the system has strict rules and deadl... Read More

You got hurt at work, and it might have been because of a mistake. Maybe you missed a safety step, took a shortcut, or made a poor choice that led to an accident. With medical bills piling up and time away from work, it can feel overwhelming and unfair.The good news is that California's workers' compensation system protects employees even when the injury was partly your fault. This means you can usually receive medical care and earnings ... Read More

Your night out in Newport Beach took a terrifying turn when a drunk driver hit your car on the way home. The driver had been drinking at a local bar or restaurant, clearly intoxicated before getting behind the wheel.Now you’re dealing with serious injuries, medical bills, and the stress of wondering if the place that served them can be responsible. California’s dram shop laws let people injured by drunk drivers hold alcohol-serving estab... Read More

The crash happened so quickly, you hardly had a chance to react. One moment, you drove attentively; the next, a distracted driver on their phone slammed into your car. Now you’re left with painful injuries, a damaged vehicle, and the stress of trying to piece your life back together, all because someone thought a text was worth more than your safety.Texting while driving causes countless accidents, and too often, victims are the ones lef... Read More

At Bentley & More LLP, our clients’ stories are what drive us. Each case represents not just a legal battle, but a human being or family going through one of the most difficult times of their lives. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to share this recent 5-star Google review highlighting the work of our own Keith More and Dane Gilliam:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Exceptional Legal Representation – Highly Recommend!“We can’t thank Keith More and Da... Read More

We are proud to announce that Gregory L. Bentley, co-founding partner of Bentley & More LLP, has been recognized as the 2026 Best Lawyers in America® “Lawyer of the Year” in Insurance Litigation, Orange County. This prestigious honor, awarded to just one attorney per practice area and region each year, reflects Greg’s decades-long record of leadership, advocacy, and precedent-setting results on behalf of consumers and injury victims.... Read More

As anticipation builds for this year’s Annual Top Gun Awards Dinner, excitement is brewing around one particularly distinguished honoree — Greg Bentley, founding partner of Bentley & More LLP, who will be inducted into the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (OCTLA) Hall of Fame.A Storied Career of Honors and ImpactGreg Bentley’s career is marked by consistent excellence, earning him recognition across numerous prestigious ... Read More

We are proud to announce that several of our attorneys have been honored in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America®. This prestigious recognition highlights the dedication, integrity, and exceptional legal skill that define our firm’s commitment to serving clients at the highest level.Recognizing Excellence Across Experience LevelsBest Lawyers in America® is one of the most respected... Read More

Yes, you may still have a valid slip and fall case even if there was a wet floor sign present. Under California law, property owners are required to maintain a reasonably safe premises beyond just posting warnings. Therefore, a yellow cone or caution sign doesn't automatically protect businesses from liability when inadequate placement, poor visibility, ongoing hazards, or unreasonable dangers cause injuries.Many injured victims assume a w... Read More

Yes, undocumented workers have the right to file construction accident claims and receive workers' compensation benefits in California, regardless of immigration status. Your legal rights to workplace safety and injury compensation exist because of your role as a worker, not your immigration status.Construction sites rank among the most dangerous workplaces in America, with immigrant workers facing disproportionately high injury rates. Whe... Read More

Yes, you may file a wrongful death lawsuit without criminal charges against the responsible party. California's civil courts operate independently from criminal proceedings, requiring only proof by a preponderance of the evidence rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. When prosecutors decline to file charges or secure a conviction, families maintain their right to seek compensation through civil litigation for the loss of their loved one... Read More

When someone gets hurt on someone else’s property, poor upkeep often plays a major part. Property owners have a legal duty to keep their property safe. That includes fixing problems, cleaning surfaces, replacing broken items, and warning people about risks. If they fail to do so, they may be held responsible for resulting injuries. A premises liability lawyer can help evaluate whether a property owner’s negligence led to your accident and dete... Read More

Losing a loved one because someone else made a terrible mistake or acted carelessly leaves a lasting impact. It creates not only emotional distress but also a series of legal questions, especially when more than one person in the family wants to take legal action.What happens if multiple family members want to file a wrongful death claim? That question often comes up in places like Newport Beach’s Balboa Peninsula, where families feel the ... Read More

Thousands of drivers travel Riverside’s highways, local roads, and industrial corridors every day. Mixed in with cars, motorcycles, and delivery vans are semi-trucks—huge vehicles hauling freight across Southern California. When these rigs crash, the outcome is often far worse than a regular traffic accident.Bentley & More LLP helps Riverside individuals and families who’ve been hurt in truck crashes caused by careless or reckless driv... Read More

The loss of a loved one completely alters your world. Life doesn’t feel the same, and every day brings new reminders that they’re gone. But when the loss happened because someone else made a bad decision—like texting while driving, ignoring safety rules at work, or giving the wrong medicine—it hits even harder.In Orange County, families who’ve gone through this have a legal option. It’s called a wrongful death claim. This type of lawsuit a... Read More

Burn injuries in the workplace are traumatic, often resulting in significant pain, long-term medical care, and emotional distress. If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury at work in California, it’s crucial to understand your rights, the steps you should take, and the legal options available to you.This comprehensive guide will walk you through what to do after a workplace burn, how California law protects injured workers, and how... Read More

When Andrea Morris, a dedicated nurse at City of Hope, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on the job, her life was irrevocably changed. Despite being surrounded by five medical professionals—including two doctors—no one administered CPR. One doctor even testified under oath that he was not qualified to perform CPR. The lack of immediate medical intervention led to severe brain damage, leaving Andrea quadriplegic and dependent on round-the-clock ... Read More

Bentley & More LLP has filed lawsuits on behalf of Los Angeles County homeowners who lost their homes in the devastating January 2025 Eaton and Palisades wildfires. The lawsuits accuse insurance giants AAA and USAA of systematic underinsurance and deceptive practices, leaving fire victims without adequate funds to rebuild.

According to the claims, both insurers relied on flawed cost-estimating software, 360Value, which dramatically undervalued rebuilding costs—offering coverage as low as $264 per square foot when actual costs ranged from $800 to $1,400. Many homeowners allege they were misled into believing their policies provided sufficient protection and were even prevented from purchasing higher coverage limits.

These allegations are backed by previous investigations from the California Department of Insurance, which found widespread underinsurance issues across the industry.

To learn more about the case and its implications for California homeowners, read the full coverage from:

• Daily Journal – “Homeowners accuse AAA and USAA of wildfire underinsurance”
• San Francisco Chronicle – “Thousands of L.A. homeowners lacked coverage after fires”
• Los Angeles Times – “Fire victims sue AAA and USAA, alleging insurance fraud”
• PR Newswire – “Homeowners Sue WSAA and AAA Alleging Systemic Underinsurance in the Wake of LA County Wildfires”

This case highlights the urgent need for stronger consumer protections and insurance reform in wildfire-prone regions.

Read More