James G. Butler is a partner at Butler Viadro, LLP, in Oakland. He represents clients in catastrophic personal injury cases arising from industrial accidents, dangerous premises, defective products, and general negligence matters. He is also a certified specialist in workers’ compensation. In 2007, The San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (SFTLA) nominated him for its Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. He is a former president of SFTLA, serves on The Board of Governors of the California Applicants' Attorneys Association, serving as secretarym and has been the Chair of its Third Party Issues Committee since 1999. Poet, art collector, surfer, warrior.