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.

Proven verdicts and settlements

$3.13 millionSettlement

Kenny Mullins, 32, was shot and killed by two reserve Fresno County deputies at a southwest Fresno auto dismantling shop on March 6, 2020. His family sued in federal court, and in August 2025 the judge ruled the civil rights trial against the deputies would proceed. In October 2025 the county agreed to pay $3.125 million to his young daughter and his mother, and the federal court approved the settlement in February 2026.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Fresno · 2025Civil RightsRead 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 Notre Dame Law School
J.D., 1983
St. Xavier University
Undergraduate, 1980

Bar admissions & credentials

State Bar of California, admitted 1983

Other attorneys at Wagner Jones Kopfman & Artenian

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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
Miles, Sears & Eanni
Miles, Sears & Eanni
$20.2 Million Verdict for Worker Burned in Biomass Boiler Fireball at AES Mendota
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.