Barry R.  Schirm

Biography

For forty-one years, Barry has primarily represented local, regional, national and international manufacturers of products, with focus on pretrial preparation and the trial of such matters in both state and federal court. His legal experience also includes all aspects of appellate review. He has represented a number of the major automobile manufacturers and suppliers of components in cases involving defect claims related to air bags, sudden acceleration, park-to-reverse, and vehicle crashworthiness. Barry also has many years of experience in handling, trying and overseeing automotive warranty “lemon law” litigation for automobile manufactures. He chairs the Automotive Warranty litigation group at Hawkins Parnell & Young. He also has extensive experience with toxic torts, class actions, commercial litigation, and general insurance defense litigation. Among his notable cases, Barry served as trial and lead appellate counsel in Soule v. General Motors Corp. (1994) 8 Cal.4th 548, in which the California Supreme Court imposed significant limitations on the application of the consumer expectation test in design defect claims. In addition, he submitted an amicus curie brief on behalf of General Motors Corp. in Buttram v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas (1997) 16 Cal.4th 520, in which the California Supreme Court concluded that Prop. 51 can be prospectively applied to a cause of action arising from a latent and progressive disease, unless the plaintiff was diagnosed with the disease or otherwise discovered the illness or injury prior to June 4, 1986, the effective date of Prop. 51.

Services

Education

  • Southwestern Law School  (J.D., 1980)
    • Member, Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity
    • Dean’s List
    • Law Clerk, Office of the District Attorney of Orange County
  • California State University, Fullerton  (B.A., 1977)

Bar Admissions

  • California

Courts

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Professional Affiliations

  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • Los Angeles Superior Court Arbitrator and Mediator
  • Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC)
  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • DRI
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • State Bar of California

Honors

  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (2023-2024)
    • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Trials

  • Geredes v. FCA, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
  • Smelkinson v. Chandler Park HOA, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
  • Chesser v. Certainteed, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
  • Orona v. Amcord, Inc., Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
  • Katherine Lopez v. BASF Catalyst, et al., Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Central Civil West
  • John Elliot v. Kaiser Gypsum, et al., Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Central District
  • Merlin Olsen v. Asbestos Companies, et al., Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Central District
  • Mike Scanlon, et al. v. A.W. Chesterton, et al., Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
  • Robert Niebauer, et al. v. 3M Company, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
  • Lynne Haver v. Kelly-Moore Paint Company, et al., Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Central District
  • Ronald Saffold v. Kelly-Moore Paint Company, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Central District
  • John McTaggart v. Kelly-Moore Paint Company, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Central District
  • Adrianna Mraz v. DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Central District
  • Antonio Gonzales v. DaimlerChrysler Corporation, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • Diresh Patel v. Uniroyal Tire Company, Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino
  • William Rhodes v Patrick Webb, Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
  • Virginia Giblin v. Chrysler Corporation, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles- Central District
  • Terri Soule v. General Motors Corporation, Superior Court of California, County of Orange
  • Pete Woeger v. General Motors Corporation, Superior Court of California, County of Orange
  • Doug Keen v. Dennis Marrero, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
  • Jennifer Rand v. Nissan Motor Corporation, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Santa Monica

Charitable & Civic Involvement

  • Boy Scouts of America
    • Eagle Scout
    • Former Assistant Scoutmaster & Merit Badge Counselor
  • Southern California Labrador Retriever Rescue Volunteer

Published Appellate Decisions

  • Soule v. General Motors Corp., 8 Cal. 4th 548 (1994)
  • Rutherford v. Owens-Illinois, Inc., 16 Cal. 4th 953 (1997) - amicus curiae brief for General Motors Corp.
  • Buttram v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 16 Cal 4th 520 (1997) - amicus curiae brief for General Motors Corp.
  • Southwest Pet Products v. Koch Industries, 89 F. Supp. 2d 1115 (D. Ariz. 2000)