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Nicholas Wagner

Nicholas Wagner

Fresno, CAAdmitted 1983
Car AccidentsWorkplace InjuryMotorcycle AccidentsProduct LiabilityTruck AccidentsSlip & FallWrongful Death

About Nicholas Wagner

Nicholas "Butch" Wagner is a trial attorney who has practiced personal injury law for nearly 40 years and employment law for over 20 years. He graduated as class valedictorian from St. Xavier University in 1980 and earned his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1983, passing the California Bar that same year. After relocating from Chicago to Fresno in 1983, he has been licensed in all California state courts and all federal courts, and has held admission to the U.S. Court of Claims since 1990. Wagner has obtained multi-million dollar settlements and jury verdicts across employment and personal injury matters, including a nearly $75 million verdict and judgment against Walmart. He has argued before the California Supreme Court and testified as an expert witness before the California State Assembly on employment law. Wagner has appeared on national television programs including Good Morning America, Court TV's Catherine Crier Live, the Tucker Carlson Show, and Your World with Neil Cavuto. One of his early cases, Zelnick v. Candid Camera, aired on Court TV and produced the first successful lawsuit against a reality television show for a prank that caused injury. He has since successfully sued major corporations including Walmart, Bolthouse Farms, Pepsi Co., 7-Up, Polaris, PG&E, and Mercury Insurance Company.

Notable case results

$54.6 millionVerdict

Wagner Jones Kopfman & Artenian secured a $54.6 million federal jury verdict on behalf of roughly 840 California Walmart truck drivers who went unpaid for mandatory pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections, controlled layovers, and rest breaks spanning more than a decade.

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco) · 2016Read the full story →
$72.4 millionVerdict

And judgment, Ridgeway v. Walmart (personal injury)

Reported by the firm
$100 millionVerdict

+ recovery, Fire Survivors v. PG&E

Reported by the firm
$15.1 million

Brewer v. First American

Reported by the firm
$14.5 million

English v. Mercury Insurance Co.

Reported by the firm
$11 million

Cardoso v. First American

Reported by the firm
$5.25 million

Victims v. Sanger

Reported by the firm
$5 million

Juarez v. Coca Cola

Reported by the firm
$4.25 million

Jones v. 7-Up

Reported by the firm
$6.6 million

Batrich v. Prudential Overall Supply

Reported by the firm

First successful lawsuit against a reality TV show, Zelnick v. Candid Camera

Reported by the firm

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

Practice areas

Car Accidents
Workplace Injury
Motorcycle Accidents
Product Liability
Truck Accidents
Slip & Fall
Wrongful Death

Education

University of Notre Dame Law School
J.D., 1983
St. Xavier University
Undergraduate, 1980

Bar admissions & credentials

State Bar of California, admitted 1983

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