Michael Terhar

Phone: 626.765.3000

Mike Terhar doesn’t just head Rose Walker’s office a stone’s throw from Hollywood. He is Hollywood — or at least its lawyer. And, frankly, he does give a damn.

With more than 30 years of litigation experience, Mike has handled numerous cases in the movie industry — most notably his defense of director John Landis in wrongful death lawsuits related to the filming of the “Twilight Zone” movie in 1983. Most Hollywood litigation never achieves such notoriety, but when moviemakers, studios and others in the business need a trial lawyer, they know whom to call.

And, at one point in his career, Mike even defended the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson, in an auto accident case.

Mike’s practice extends beyond the film industry, of course. His work is as diverse as Southern California itself — from aviation litigation, to product and premises liability cases, to sports and recreation accident suits. He has defended airlines, airports, airport security companies and aircraft component makers, as well as manufacturers of everything from ladders to spas. 

Practice Areas

Complex civil litigation, including:

  • aviation-accident cases, representing airlines, aircraft manufacturers, airports and aviation-related businesses
  • representation of major entertainment industry companies, producers and individuals in a variety of claims
  • wrongful death and personal injuries involving product and premises liability 
  • general liability

Representative Experience

  • Defended the helicopter pilot/aerial stunt coordinator in an accident during the filming of the movie “XXX” in which a helicopter and motorcycle stunt man collided off a jump and the rider sued the helicopter operator; obtained summary judgment for the pilot and his company based upon co-employee defense.
  • Handled lawsuits arising from personal injury accidents during production of the films, “Kindergarten Cop,” “Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man,” “Repo Man,” “Mom and Dad Save the World,” “Tommy,” “Showtime,” as well as various TV shows including those produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions, and local TV shows.
  • Represented assistant managers and managers in class action wage and hour case against California movie chain resulting in settlement in favor of both classes.
  • Defended a fixed-base operator who rented an aircraft to a pilot who crashed on takeoff, resulting in four fatalities; plaintiffs alleged the operator did not require a checkout ride.
  • Obtained an 8-minute defense verdict in product liability trial in Oregon.
  • Non-suit granted to airline in passenger injury claim at close of plaintiff’s case.
  • Won defense verdict for a fixed-base operator who sold an aircraft that subsequently sustained engine failure; plaintiff had stopped payments and brought suit for personal injuries, alleging negligent maintenance, breach of warranty and product liability.
  • Defended the general contractor in a crane accident at a commercial “tilt up” construction site that resulted in serious injuries to a subcontractor’s employee.
  • Defended a vacuum pumping truck company in a toxic spill in Santa Barbara resulting in toxic fumes drifting into downtown closing all businesses; there was a personal injury class and a business interruption class; eventual dismissal on procedural grounds with no payments to either putative class or the attorneys.
  • Defended an auto race promoter in a traffic accident arising from the closure of city streets in preparation for a race; plaintiff driver claimed brain damage and loss of legal career.
  • Won a defense verdict for a sports arena in a parking lot accident prior to a basketball game in which a pedestrian was struck by a driver.
  • Obtained seven-figure settlement for plaintiff electrician was burned in flash/short of temporary power panel at construction site.

Professional Affiliations

  • State Bar of California
  • American Bar Association (Litigation, Law Practice Management, and Air and Space Law Divisions)
  • Defense Research Institute (Product Liability Committee and Sports Law Special Litigation Group)
  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
  • Litigation Counsel of America (Founding Fellow)

Admitted to Practice

  • All courts in the state of California 
  • U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

Loyola Law School Los Angeles, J.D., 1979; University of Washington, B.A., 1975

Publications and Speeches

  • Guest speaker at the annual seminar of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
  • Has spoken on the legal system, primary assumption of risk and waiver and release agreements, to various sports organizations

Honors

  • AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating
  • Recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer  (2006-2011)

Additional Experience

  • Volunteer arbitrator and settlement officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court since 1994