For the past twenty years Mr. Laffan has concentrated on Workers Compensation defense, both in house with major carriers such as Home Insurance, Travelers and TIG Insurance and as panel counsel, defending self insureds, carriers and the California Insurance Guarantee Association on behalf of insolvent carriers.

Mr. Laffan's legal experience includes defense of cases from inception through trial and appeals.  This includes initial case evaluation, depositions of claimants and medical experts, legal research and writing, cross-examination of applicants, presentation of direct testimony of defense witnesses and petitions for reconsideration and writs of review.

Case evaluation is critical in Workers Compensation Mr. Laffan has studied all phases of permanent disability rating and rates his own cases.  He has kept abreast of developments in medicine, attending seminars on medical topics and lien defense.

Mr. Laffan is a graduate of UCLA, with a degree in English literature.  He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern University School of Law.  During law school, Mr. Laffan served an externship on the Court of Appeal, writing unpublished opinions under the guidance of research attorneys and justices.  He passed the California Bar the same year he graduated law school.  He passed the legal specialization examination in Workers Compensation, also on the first try and is a Certified Specialist in Workers Compensation.

Mr. Laffan's military service was with the Army Security Agency, which trained him in Korean.  He spent two years overseas in Korea and Japan.  He has also studied Spanish and has traveled in Mexico.

Mr. Laffan lives with Barbara, his wife of 16 years and his two children, Elizabeth, age 15 and Brian, age 10 and five cats.  Hobbies include playing piano, guitar and violin, hiking, skiing and scuba.