About Richard Watters

Richard C. Watters practices civil litigation with a focus on catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, UM/UIM, product liability, and aviation accidents. Born and raised in Fresno, he was admitted to the California State Bar and the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California in 1974, and is also admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the U.S. District Court, Central District of California. He has completed over 97 civil jury trials to verdict in state and federal court, including 13 significant jury verdicts since 2000. Mr. Watters earned his bachelor's degree cum laude and M.B.A. from California State University, Fresno, and his J.D. from the University of Santa Clara.

He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (named Cal-ABOTA Co-Trial Lawyer of the Year 2006), a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and a Patron Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He has been selected as a Northern California Super Lawyer every year since 2005, appearing in the Top 100 twelve times and Top 10 three times. He also served as a sergeant in the California Air National Guard from 1966 to 1972.

Proven verdicts and settlements

$27.5 millionVerdictTop 20 of 2007 · #6

A federal jury in Fresno awarded $27.5 million to Brian Hall after a fireball erupted from a biomass boiler at the AES Mendota power plant, leaving him with catastrophic burns.

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California (Fresno) · 2007Workplace InjuryRead the full story →
$11.8 millionVerdictTop 20 of 2012 · #20

A corner iron that broke loose from a Lion Raisins semi-trailer on Highway 99 shot through Susan Reyes' windshield and into her brain, leaving the Fresno schoolteacher with catastrophic, permanent injuries; Richard Watters secured a jury verdict of $11,876,655.82.

Fresno County Superior Court · 2012Truck AccidentsRead the full story →
$9.3 millionVerdict

A Fresno County jury awarded $9.3 million to Daquan Jones, a Philadelphia-based truck driver who suffered catastrophic injuries after being funneled onto private property through an abandoned city street and then run over by his own semi during an altercation over a $50 exit fee.

Fresno County Superior Court · 2021Premises LiabilityRead the full story →

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique and depends on its own facts.

Practice areas

Education

University of Santa Clara
J.D.
California State University, Fresno
Undergraduate

Other attorneys at Miles, Sears & Eanni

View firm →

Proven verdicts and settlements from other Fresno firms

Paboojian & Bell
Paboojian & Bell
$49.8 Million Verdict for Brain-Injured Kingsburg Man After Paramedic Removed Breathing Tube During Transport
Wagner Jones Kopfman & Artenian
Wagner Jones Kopfman & Artenian
$3.13 million · Fresno County Settlement for Family of Man Killed by Reserve Deputies at Southwest Fresno Auto Shop
Freedman Law
Freedman Law
$212,500 Settlement for Cyclist Felled by Fresno Drainage Failure

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique and depends on its own facts.