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Eric Ratinoff
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Eric Ratinoff
Kershaw, Cutter, & Ratinoff
401 Watt Ave
Sacramento, CA 95864
Phone: (916) 448-9800 | Fax: (916) 669-4499
http://www.kcrlegal.com
Civil Justice Attorney for Injured Californians
Legal Topic
Personal Injury
Preferred New Clients
Personal injury, product liability, insurance bad faith, consumer fraud, medical negligence, nursing home abuse, elder abuse and serious automobile accidents.
Sub-Categories
Personal Injury
- Dangerous Property
- Wrongful Death
- Personal Injury Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Construction Site Injuries
- Slip & Fall
- Sports Injuries
- Petrochemical Accidents
- Whiplash
- Felony Auto Accident
- Defamation
- Invasion of Privacy
- Libel
- Slander
- Design Defects
- Manufacturing Defects
- Frauds, Scams, Hoaxes
- Pyramid Schemes
- Assault & Battery
- Child abuse
- Dog Bites & Animal Attacks
- Police Misconduct
- Sexual Assault
- Airplanes
- Buildings
- Mass Transit - Bus, Train, Subway
- Ships & Boats
- Financial Malpractice
- Anesthesia Malpractice
- Birth Injuries and Defects
- Elder and Nursing Home Abuse
- Emergency Room Errors
- HMO Managed Case
- Lasik Eye Surgery
- Medication Malpractice
- Prescription/Drug Malpractice
- Surgical Errors
- Wrong Diagnosis or Misdiagnosis
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Asbestos Mesothelioma
- Chemicals & Cosmetics
- Dangerous Drugs & Products
- Medical Products & Devices
- Radiation & Electromagnetic Energy
- Amputation
- Birth Injury
- Burn Injury
- Head/Brain Injury
- Paralysis
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 1993
Bar Number: 166204
Other Court Admissions
All California Courts.
Association Memberships
American Association of Justice; Consumer Attorneys of California; Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association; and Trial Lawyers for Public Justice.
Continuing Education
Every year I speak at seminars. I also regularly attend seminars and workshops put on by the Trial Lawyers College, and I am a 2004 graduate of the college. Each year I far exceed the number of continuing education hours that are required by the State Bar.
Example Cases
Personal Injury -- severe ankle sprain causing avascular necrosis of the joint, resulting in a $1.85 million recovery.
Medical Malpractice -- medication error causing brain injury, resulting in $1.9 million recovery.
Insurance Bad Faith -- fire loss, resulting in $600,000 in bad faith damages.
Personal Injury -- big rig caused serious injury to elderly woman's leg, resulting in $1.6 million recovery.
Medical Malpractice -- chiropractor failed to diagnose cauda equina syndrome, resulting in $1.1 million recovery.
Insurance Bad Faith -- disability carrier fails to honor claim, resulting in $500,000 recovery.
Wrongful Termination -- racially harassed employee quit his job, resulting in $425,000 recovery.
Education
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
School:
University of California
City:
Santa Cruz
State:
CA
Year:
1989
Honors:
Graduated with Honors.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Founder and Editor of the UC Santa Cruz Undergraduate Journal of Philosophy.
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
University of California Davis
City:
Davis
State:
CA
Year:
1993
Honors:
American Jurisprudence Award in legal writing.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Law Review, editor.
Number of Attorneys
10
State Licensed In
California; other attorneys in the firm licensed in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.
Firm Focus and History
Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff is proud to represent people who have been injured. Whether an injury is caused by careless companies, drivers, doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, manufacturers, or insurance companies, Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff has a proven record of excellent results in courts throughout the country. Our sole focus is on helping ordinary people achieve extraordinary results so that they can get their lives back on track.
Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff was started in 2002, when C. Brooks Cutter and I joined forces with William Kershaw to found the Sacramento region's premier law firm representing consumers in all types of cases. We are one of the leading personal injury law firms in California, and we are also leaders in the arenas of insurance bad faith litigation, class actions, medical product liability, and consumer fraud.
Previous Employment Summary
Before starting Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff, I was a partner with the firm of Friedman, Collard, Cutter & Panneton. I started with the firm ten years earlier, and left to start Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff.
Activities and Awards
I serve as a Judge Pro Tem for El Dorado County Superior Court, as well as for Placer County Superior Court. I was President of the Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, and served on the Board of that organization for many years. I have spoken to numerous lawyer groups at seminars regarding all aspects of consumer lawsuits.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I love it when my client's educate themselves on legal issues. I try to help educate them, as well. Representing a person is a collaborative process, and that collaboration benefits (and the case benefits) when I have a well informed client.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I always read every document that my clients prepare for me, and whenever necessary I discuss the documents with them to make sure I understand what they want me to know.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I do not coach clients who wish to represent themselves. I am, of course, willing to speak with anyone who contacts me about their potential case, but I do not provide "coaching."
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I became a lawyer because I wanted to help people. Other than being a doctor, a nurse, or a teacher, I cannot think of a better opportunity to improve the lives of people than by being a lawyer. I love being a lawyer, and I love that every day I have the privilege of working for my clients.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I am the son of immigrant parents who taught me the value of appreciating hard work, ethics, integrity, humility, and love. I try to instill those same values in my own children. I bring those values with me into my office, the courtroom, and the lives of the people with whom I interact each day.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I chose to represent injured people because I wanted to help people. Please see "1. Why did you decide to be a lawyer?" above. I never considered any other area of practice.
What do you like best about your career?
I fight hard to get the best results possible for my clients. I love the challenge of what I do, and the success I achieve over and over for my clients. I love getting to know the people I represent, getting to meet their families, and working with them on their cases.
Tell us about your law firm:
My partners and I started Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff with the vision of working to provide the best possible representation for people who have been injured. Accordingly, we have 10 lawyers and approximately 20 staff, all focused on the needs of our clients and their cases. We pride ourselves on the relationships we have built with our clients. A testament to that is the large amount of referral business that we get from past clients. I consider those referrals to be among the highest honor a lawyer can receive.
What are your strengths and style?
My greatest strengths as a lawyer are that I work harder than most, I have tremendous integrity, and I have tremendous empathy. I view arrogance as a weakness, and true understanding of people as a great strength.
Personal Interests:
My personal interests are everything and anything having to do with my two kids and my wife. Besides that, I love to run, cycle, and ski.
Office Manager/Assistant
Sherry Cleckler
Fax
(916) 669-4499
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
Spanish
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
On most simple personal injury cases, my fee is 33 1/3%, unless the case is headed to trial, in which case it increases to 40%. My fee on any complex or costly case is 40%. I always advance costs, and never get paid unless I make a recovery for my client.
Hourly Rates
I do not do hourly work.
Free Initial Consultation?
My initial consultation is always free.
Typical Retainer
No.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
