Alex Behar
Alex Behar is a trial lawyer at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, specializing in automobile accident, product liability, and wrongful death cases throughout Arizona and California including in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. He has extensive experience in cases involving back and spinal cord injuries and prides himself on developing strong relationships with his clients, ensuring good communication throughout the course of their case remains a priority.
Recognized as a 2020 Best Lawyer in America®, Mr. Behar has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients, including both seven-figure and eight-figure results. Most recently, both he and PSBR partner Spencer Lucas secured a $2,595,103.97 judgment for a Nevada woman who suffered severe and permanent injuries after she was struck by a vehicle while walking through a hotel parking lot in Pasadena, California. The judgment was awarded following a three-week bench trial before a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.
Mr. Behar was also a member of a trial team, serving alongside PSBR attorneys Brian Panish and Dan Dunbar who obtained a $41,864,102 jury verdict and subsequent $46,000,000 settlement in a case involving a United States Air Force Captain who suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck from behind while on his motorcycle and then dragged the length of a football field and a half by a Southern California Gas Company truck. The parties agreed to a settlement of the case following the punitive damages phase of the trial, but prior to the jury’s verdict on those damages being announced.
Additional eight-figure results obtained by Mr. Behar include the following:
- An over $29,000,000 settlement secured by PSBR attorney Dan Dunbar and Mr. Behar for a man who suffered quadriparesis as a result of a defective car part which caused his vehicle to rollover on the freeway.
- An over $10,000,000 settlement secured by PSBR attorney Dan Dunbar and Mr. Behar for a motorcyclist who suffered paralysis from the mid-torso down as well as multiple fractures and internal organ lacerations due to a negligent motorist and a dangerous designed roadway with unsafe sightlines.
Mr. Behar has also obtained numerous seven-figure results for his clients including a $6,000,000 settlement for an man and a woman who were injured during an apartment fire in Long Beach, California. Plaintiffs Darrel Nation and Anhthu Nguyen had lit candles during a power outage and believed that they were extinguished when they went to bed. Several hours later, a fire broke out and spread throughout the apartment. The Plaintiffs attempted to escape from their bedroom but their efforts were hampered because the release mechanism for the security bars covering their bedroom window was hidden and apparently inoperable. Eventually, due to the heroic efforts of city firefighters, the security bars were bent and Ms. Nguyen and Mr. Nation were able to escape.
Additional seven-figure settlements secured by Mr. Behar include:
- An over $6,000,000 settlement for a man who suffered second and third degree burns to over 60% of his body due to a flash fire resulting from a negligently designed heater that was stored in a negligently constructed equipment room.
- An over $5,000,000 settlement for two young girls who suffered a traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injuries after they were hit by a vehicle while walking within a marked crosswalk.
- A $4,250,000 settlement, obtained by Mr. Behar and PSBR attorneys Paul Traina and Ian Samson, for a truck driver who was injured by a tractor-trailer which became stuck in an unpaved, hazardous dirt lot, causing severe orthopedic crushing injuries to his leg and pelvis.
- An over $3,500,000 settlement for the wrongful death of a wife and mother who was killed when her vehicle was broadsided by a speeding motorist going in excess of 75 mph on a street with a 40 mph speed limit.
- A $3,000,000 settlement for an unbelted Arizona man who suffered a moderate traumatic brain injury as well as orthopedic injuries when his vehicle was T-boned by a driver in the course and scope of his employment.
- A $1,250,000 settlement for the wrongful death of a father of a six-year-old boy. Decedent was a motorcyclist who was struck and killed by a driver in the course and scope of his employment.
Mr. Behar began his legal career as a defense attorney, giving him a unique perspective and insight into the litigation process. Having represented the interests of the nation’s largest insurance carriers, he understands how these carriers value claims, interpret policies, and litigate actions. Additionally, Mr. Behar has represented Fortune 500 companies including the U.S. Bank and the Bank of New York Mellon in both state and federal actions.
Prior to entering the civil practice, Mr. Behar clerked at both the Los Angeles County and Ventura County District Attorney’s Offices. He obtained his J.D. from Loyola Law School, where he was a member of the Hobbs Trial Advocacy Program, and graduated from UCLA with a degree in Political Science. While at UCLA, Mr. Behar proudly served as a Justice Corps volunteer, assisting low income litigates with divorce and custody proceedings at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Mr. Behar is a member of the State Bar of California, as well as the State Bar of Arizona. He is an active member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and regularly volunteers his time to various pro-bono legal programs.