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James S. Bostwick
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyer in the Country
  • Highest Medical Malpractice Verdict in the Country
  • Nationally Certified Medical Malpractice Specialist
  • Best Lawyers® Trial Lawyer of the Year
  • Inner Circle of Advocates
    Inner Circle of Advocates

    Invitation-only organization of the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in the U.S.

  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
    International Academy of Trial Lawyers

    Former President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, limited to the top 500 trial lawyers in the U.S.

  • American Board of Trial Advocates
    American Board of Trial Advocates

    Invitation-only group of the nation’s top civil lawyers and judges.

  • American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
    American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys

    James Bostwick is a nationally certified medical malpractice specialist and founding member.

  • Best Lawyers
    Best Lawyers

    Recognized since it's inception in 1983 by this peer-reviewed publication, comprised of the best legal talent in the world.

  • Super Lawyers
    Super Lawyers

    James Bostwick has been named as a Top 100 medical malpractice attorney in Northern California.

  • The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
    The National Trial Lawyers Top 100

    Recognized among The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates
    Multi-Million Dollar Advocates

    An exclusive group limited to less than 1% of U.S. attorneys who have won multi-million dollar results.

  • Lawdragon
    Lawdragon

    James Bostwick inducted into the Hall of Fame and featured among the Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America.

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James Bostwick Photo

James S. Bostwick

  • Profile
  • Associations
Bio

As founder of Bostwick & Peterson, James and his team have helped clients recover over $1 billion in compensation and set and broken numerous records for the highest verdicts and settlements.

Though his main office is in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bostwick is trusted by clients and colleagues across California, Hawaii, Colorado, and other U.S. states. He was one of the first attorneys in the country to become a Medical Malpractice Specialist as Certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and remains one of a select few practitioners to hold this distinction. Mr. Bostwick is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an exclusive invite-only organization comprised of the nation’s top 100 plaintiffs’ trial lawyers and a member and former president of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, limited to the top 500 trial lawyers in the US.

Since winning the largest medical malpractice verdict in the nation in 1978, Mr. Bostwick has gone on to secure record results for clients in multiple states and venues, and has helped the firm beat the California record for largest medical malpractice recovery twice since 2018.

His ability to win top-dollar recoveries makes the difference for clients in need of compensation and for medical malpractice victims who face unfair damages caps that limit compensatory damages for pain and suffering to just $250,000 (in California).

Notable Verdicts & Settlements

  • $21M – Record verdict for a mild traumatic brain injury, auto/truck accident. (2000)
  • $17M – Largest California medical malpractice settlement to date. (2019)
  • $14M – Largest California medical malpractice settlement at the time. (2018)
  • $11.4M – Largest California birth injury settlement at the time. (2010)
  • $11M – Largest injury settlement in Hawaii history at the time (2000)
  • $8.9M – Largest birth injury award against the U.S. Government in the US Federal Court at the time. (Hawaii, 1985)
  • $8.0M - Largest medical malpractice settlement in Oklahoma history at the time (1985)
  • $7.6M – Largest medical malpractice verdict in the U.S. at the time (1978).
  • $6.4M – Largest legal malpractice verdict for an individual in California at the time (1984).

Awards & Accolades

  • The Best Lawyers in America© (1983-2021)
  • Best Lawyers “Trial Lawyer of the Year” (2012 and 2013)
  • Super Lawyers® Magazine (2004-2021)
  • Super Lawyers® Top 100: Northern California Super Lawyers (2004-2008 and 2012)
  • Top 4 Trial Lawyers, California Bar Journal
  • Top 5 Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers in SF (Chronicle)
  • Top 60 Trial Lawyers in America (Forbes, Town & Country)
  • Lawdragon Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers (2020 and 2021)
  • AV® Preeminent™ Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®

Memberships / Distinctions

  • Invited Member, Past President (2003), International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Top 500 trial lawyers in the US).
  • Invited Member, Inner Circle of Advocates (Top 100 plaintiffs’ trial lawyers in the US).
  • Invited Member, American Board of Trial Advocates.
  • Founding Member, American Board of Professional Liability (Certification of special competence on the field of professional liability) and recertified in 2000.
  • San Francisco and California Trial Lawyers “Trial Lawyer of the Year” Nominee, 1978.
  • Consumer Attorneys of California “Trial Lawyer of the Year “Nominee, 2000
  • Presidential Award of Merit, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2000.
  • National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers National Finalist, Medical Malpractice (2019).

Publications

Certifications

  • Medical Malpractice Specialist - American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys.

Download attorneys Bostwick's V-Card

Awards
  • Inner Circle of Advocates

    Invitation-only organization of the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in the U.S.

    Inner Circle of Advocates
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers

    Former President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, limited to the top 500 trial lawyers in the U.S.

    International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • American Board of Trial Advocates

    Invitation-only group of the nation’s top civil lawyers and judges.

    American Board of Trial Advocates
  • American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys

    James Bostwick is a nationally certified medical malpractice specialist and founding member.

    American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
  • Best Lawyers

    Recognized since it's inception in 1983 by this peer-reviewed publication, comprised of the best legal talent in the world.

    Best Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers

    James Bostwick has been named as a Top 100 medical malpractice attorney in Northern California.

    Super Lawyers
  • The National Trial Lawyers Top 100

    Recognized among The National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

    The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates

    An exclusive group limited to less than 1% of U.S. attorneys who have won multi-million dollar results.

    Multi-Million Dollar Advocates
  • Lawdragon

    James Bostwick inducted into the Hall of Fame and featured among the Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America.

    Lawdragon

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