Press Releases
Wilson Elser Expands Midwest Presence with Laterals in New Indianapolis, Indiana, Office
August 15, 2023
Joseph V. Macha is a seasoned trial attorney with deep experience in civil litigation, including product liability, toxic tort, construction defect, environmental law, and drug and medical device litigation. Joe also has substantial experience in health care claims and matters, professional liability and commercial trucking. He has served as first chair in more than 20 jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts throughout California and elsewhere, in addition to dozens of bench trials as well as binding and non-binding arbitrations.
Joe’s professional background as a chemist has enabled him to develop a particular proficiency in technical, scientific and medical matters, including issues related to toxic exposure and their sequelae. He has substantial experience defending toxic exposure and environmental claims on behalf of numerous Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies and has spent two decades litigating claims involving benzene, silica, asbestos, “mixed dust,” metals, ammonia and exhaust fumes as well as food and water borne illnesses related to Legionella bacteria, salmonella and botulism.
Joe began his career at CNA Insurance, where he litigated a variety of matters involving personal lines, commercial lines and professional liability cases. Due to his aggressive file handling, Joe was specifically chosen to defend SIU fraud cases, and later in his career he defended a large number of high-profile SIU cases for Infinity Insurance and Coast National Insurance.
Joe has served as Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles Superior Courts and as an arbitrator in Los Angeles County for a number of years.
Representative Matters
Successfully defended client in the Rocketdyne Superfund litigation and actively involved in similar litigation since 1990s.
Defense in Del Amo/Carson Superfund site and Fresno Water District in breach of flood channels during heavy rain causing chemical ad floodwater contamination to multiple residential tracts in Merced area.
Defense of multimillion-dollar environmental cleanup claims in Santa Fe Springs, Omega Superfund, REV 973 (10,000 + PRPS), and Lomita.
Areas of Focus
Environmental
Joe has represented clients before environmental regulatory agencies and in litigation on matters that fall under state and federal laws, including the Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and CERCLA.
Product Liability
Joe has defended numerous product liability claims, ranging from drugs and medical devices to heavy equipment. Medical claims range from two-party litigation to mass tort, class action and multidistrict litigation involving serious injury including death, stroke, neurological deficits and more. He also has handled litigation involving numerous pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements ranging from Fen-Phen to Tylenol. In addition, he has defended cases involving industrial tools and heavy machinery as well as a wide variety of consumer goods and components such as motorized vehicles, toys, infant car seats, sports equipment and household items.
Transportation
Joe has tried a number of commercial vehicle matters involving tractor/trailer combinations (long and short haul) as well as public and private transit busses. This experience has made Joe an in-demand presenter of seminars to employers and carriers on issues of DOT regulations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and California Vehicle Code Compliance
- Western State University College of Law (J.D., 1994)
- Loyola Marymount University (B.A. Political Science, 1987)
- Santa Clara University (B.S. Chemistry/Biology, 1984)
- Indiana
- California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA)
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, Prime Member
- Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
- DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar, Drug & Medical Device Committee; Product Liability Committee; Trial Tactics Committee
- Federalist Society, Environmental Law and Litigation Practice Committees
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Southern California Association for health Risk Management
- Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
- Rated AV® Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
- Top 100 Litigation Attorneys in California, The American Society of Legal Advocates, 2013–Present
- Southern California Super Lawyers®, 2012–2013
- Dutch
- German