The Public Justice Trial Lawyers of the Year Award

Each year, Public Justice, one of the largest and most prominent plaintiff’s attorneys associations in the United States, presents its Trial Lawyer of the Year Award to the trial attorney or legal team who made the greatest contribution to the public interest within the past year by trying or settling a socially significant case. The cases won or settled by finalists cover a broad range of public interest work, including but not limited to civil rights, consumer protection, workers’ rights, human rights, environmental preservation, and corporate and governmental accountability. 

In 2014, former Chief Assistant County Counsel Greta Hansen, former Assistant County Counsel Danny Chou, and Deputy County Counsel Jenny Lam were named Public Justice Trial Lawyers of the Year for 2014 along with their co-counsel in the County of Santa Clara v. Atlantic Richfield litigation.   

Through County of Santa Clara v. Atlantic Richfield, the trial team secured a $1.15 billion judgment against the former manufacturers of lead paint, which will be used to clean up the lead that remains in homes throughout California and poisons thousands of children each year.