Michael J. Bidart

Michael J. Bidart is a distinguished consumer attorney who has significantly influenced our healthcare system. With a wealth of experience, he serves as the Managing Partner at the firm and leads the HMO Litigation and Property/Casualty Departments.

Since joining the firm in 1986, Mr. Bidart has played a pivotal role in developing the firm’s health insurance practice. He has successfully litigated bad faith disputes against insurers and HMOs, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.

One of his notable accomplishments came in 1999 when he secured a landmark verdict of $120.5 million against Aetna for denying care recommended by the health plan’s own physicians (Goodrich v. Aetna). Prior to this, Mr. Bidart had already achieved numerous groundbreaking decisions, including State Farm v. Superior Court (1996), which established the liability of insurance companies under Business & Professions Code §17200 unfair business practices in California. He also obtained over $300 million in compensation for victims of the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Beyond his courtroom victories, Mr. Bidart has been instrumental in advocating for healthcare benefits. His efforts led to the expansion of health care benefits for women with breast cancer by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. He also spearheaded the firm’s campaign to ensure that prostate cancer patients across the state have coverage for proton beam therapy under their insurance policies.

Recognized as a leading attorney, Mr. Bidart has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He has been named a Super Lawyer by Law & Politics Magazine annually since 2004, ranking as a Top 100 Attorney and Top 10 from 2018 to 2023. In 2019, the Los Angeles Daily Journal honored him as a Top Healthcare Attorney in California. His influence and impact have been acknowledged by prominent publications such as the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, and California Lawyer Magazine, which have identified him as one of California’s most influential lawyers. The Wall Street Journal has also highlighted his success in healthcare litigation, noting its role in reigniting the debate in Congress about patients’ right to sue their health plans.

Mr. Bidart is highly regarded as a lecturer and keynote speaker, sharing his expertise on HMO litigation and bad faith insurance practices. He has been invited to speak at renowned conferences and associations, including the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Consumer Attorneys of California, American Conference Institute, The Rutter Group, and the California Judges Association.

Committed to the legal community, Mr. Bidart has served on the Board of Governors of the Consumer Attorneys of California and the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles. He has also been a member of the Board of Regents at Loyola Marymount University.

Mr. Bidart earned his Bachelor of Science degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1971 and his Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1974. He has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from both universities, acknowledging his outstanding achievements and contributions.