About Graiwer Kaplan Vernik & Evans
About Graiwer Kaplan Vernik & Evans, LLP
Graiwer Kaplan Vernik & Evans, LLP was founded by Manuel Franco and Gary Kaplan and is comprised of the most prestigious attorneys and legal representatives in Southern California. After 40+ years of leadership from Mr. Franco and Mr. Kaplan, the firm was acquired by Boris Vernik and Ronald Jeffrey Evans in 2023. Supported by a team with a wide variety of education and experience, we ensure our clients receive the utmost level of professionalism and legal representation for each individual case.
Manuel F. Graiwer
Founding Partner
Manuel Franco Graiwer was born March 20, 1943 in Mexico. Franco Graiwer was admitted to practice in the state of California before the United States District Court in 1970. Thereafter, Mr. Franco Graiwer was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America in 1973. From 1970 to 1972, Mr. Franco Graiwer was an associate in the Firm of Minsky, Garber and Rudof. In 1972, Mr Franco Graiwer formed The Law Offices of Manuel F Graiwer. In 1980, Mr. Franco Graiwer formed the partnership of Graiwer & Golberg, which later became known as Graiwer & Kaplan in August of 1999. Mr. Franco Graiwer has extensive experience in cases dealing with personal injury, government tort, product liability, workers’ compensation, matters including serious and willful misconduct and violations of Labor Code 132(a), wrongful termination, employment discrimination, and immigration matters. Mr. Franco Graiwer has been an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, as well as having been a Judge Pro Tempore for the Workers Compensation Appeals Board. In addition, Mr. Graiwer was a prosecuting attorney for the State Bar of California. He is fluent in Spanish as well. Mr. Graiwer has now retired from Graiwer Kaplan Vernik & Evans, LLP. Areas of Practice: Personal Injury Government Tort Liability Product Liability Workers’ Compensation Serious and Willful Misconduct Violations of Labor Code 132(a) Wrongful Termination Employment Discrmination Immigration Education: UCLA- Bachelor of Science in Zoology (1965) University of California School of Medicine- Los Angeles (1965-1966) UCLA Medical School- Department of Microbiology and Immunology (1966-1968) UC Davis Law School- Juris Doctorate (1969)
Boris Vernik
Managing Partner
Mr. Vernik represents plaintiffs in civil litigation and personal injury involving automobile accidents, slip-and-falls, and product liability. Mr. Vernik also represents injured workers in all aspects of workers’ compensation cases as well as 132(a) and serious and willful misconduct claims. Mr. Vernik has successfully litigated numerous high valued cases in front of the WCAB and has also argued in front of the Court of Appeals Second District. Mr. Vernik now acts as a managing partner of Graiwer Kaplan Vernik & Evans, LLP.
Nathan P. Byrne
Attorney
Prior to attending his first law school in Dublin, Ireland Mr. Byrne worked on an oil tanker traveling from Mokpo, South Korea to Al Basrah, Iraq. His time on board inspired him to pursue a career in law. Particularly, Mr. Byrne wanted to represent employees in any way possible and become a constant advocate for their rights. While attending Law School in Dublin Mr. Byrne also obtained a Bachelor's degree in History from DCU and participated in various moot court competitions. In his final year of law school Mr. Byrne applied to a number of Law Schools in the United States, having been accepted to UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, Northwestern and Columbia Law Schools he decided upon UCLA where he was also the recipient of the Dean's Tuition Scholarship. While attending UCLA Mr. Byrne was a member of the International Law review, and Environmental Law Society. Mr. Byrne was admitted to practice before the State Bar of California and all Federal District Courts of California in November 2023. While only newly admitted, Mr. Byrne Joined Graiwer & Kaplan in September 2022 and has already gained significant experience in all aspects of Workers Compensation claims and is looking forward to continuing his legal career as one of the most zealous advocates for employees. Areas of Practice: Workers Compensation, 132(a), Serious and Willful Misconduct Education: Dublin City University (DCU) - Joint Honors, BSC in Law and History. University of California Los Angeles (UCLA School of Law) LL.M; Masters in Law
Viktor Ginko
Attorney
Mr. Ginko represents plaintiffs in wage and hour, civil litigation, and personal injury matters involving automobile accidents, slip-and-falls, and product liability cases. Mr. Ginko also represents injured workers in all aspects of workers’ compensation cases. Mr. Ginko has successfully litigated numerous high-valued cases in the California State and U.S. District Courts. Since 2008 Mr. Ginko has extensive experience in personal injury and civil litigation at both the state and federal levels. Mr. Ginko is an aggressive litigator committed to giving a strong voice to injured clients and ensuring they receive the maximum recovery they are entitled to under the law. Areas of Practice: Civil Litigation Civil Rights Law Contracts Personal Injury Wage and Hour Workers’ Compensation Education: Glendale University College of Law – Juris Doctorate Harvard Law School – Contract Law Certificate
Thomas Somers
Attorney
Thomas W. Somers started his law career in 1986 with the Law Offices of Jeffery Trudgeon representing injured workers. Within two years, he bought the practice continuing applicant’s work as The Law Offices of Thomas W. Somers until 2011. Mr. Somers then switched to defending worker’s compensation actions for the County of Los Angeles with Morris, Giesler, Callister and Huira. In 2023, Mr. Somers again switched sides back to representing injured workers with Graiwer & Kaplan, LLP. Having represented both applicants and defendants in workers’ compensation matters, gives Mr. Somers understands the complete picture of the intricacies and difficulties of navigating ‘the system’. In addition, Mr. Somers’ years of experience before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Boards throughout Southern California has allowed him to make the personal connections with judges and advocates, allowing for a smoother and quicker experience towards resolution of a claim. Areas of Practice: Workers’ Compensation Social Security Education: Whittier College – Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/Business (1972-1976) California Western School of Law – Juris Doctorate (1976-1979)
Gary R. Kaplan
Founding Partner
Gary R. Kaplan was born on August 13, 1958, in Jersey City, New Jersey. While in law school, Mr. Kaplan was the recipient of Scholastic Achievement Awards in Evidence and Civil Pre-Trial Procedure. Mr. Kaplan was admitted to practice in the State of California and before the United States District Court in 1983. In August of 1999, Mr. Kaplan became the managing partner of Graiwer & Kaplan, LLP. Mr. Kaplan has extensive civil litigation and trial experience involving cases dealing with personal injuries, governmental tort liability, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, product liability, construction defects, highway design, as well as numerous other types of personal injury matters. He also litigates claims involving workers’ compensation, serious and willful misconduct, Labor Code Section 132(a), wrongful termination, employment discrimination, as well as wage and hour disputes. He has also prepared appellate briefs and has successfully argued before the Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District of the State of California. Mr. Kaplan has represented numerous clients during various stages of EEOC and FEHA administrative investigations, which have resulted in the resolution of numerous claims prior to the initiation of legal proceedings. Mr. Kaplan has also defended claims on behalf of State Farm, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, CSE, the LAC-MTA and various Unified School Districts. Mr. Kaplan has been selected to act as a arbitrator and mediator through the Los Angeles County Superior Court. His diverse background representing both plaintiffs and defendants has provided Mr. Kaplan with a unique perspective of the risks of litigation, and more importantly, the benefit of prompt and fair resolution of claims. Mr. Kaplan has now retired from Graiwer Kaplan Vernik & Evans, LLP. Areas of Practice: Civil Litigation Personal Injury Government Tort Liability Medical Malpractice Legal Malpractice Product Liability Workers’ Compensation Labor Code Section 132(a) Wrongful Termination Employment Discrimination Education: Seton Hall University- Bachelor of Arts Political Science (1980) Southwestern University- Juris Doctorate (1983) Certified Mediation Specialist (2019)
R. Jeffrey Evans
Managing Partner
Mr. Evans represents injured workers in all aspects of workers compensation cases as well as 132(a) and serious and willful misconduct claims. Mr. Evans also handles complex litigation relating to subrogation and personal injuries sustained during the course and scope of employment. Mr. Evans is a Judge Pro Tem at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. He has also been an invited lecturer for many workers’ compensation organizations through the years. Mr. Evans has been practicing in the workers’ compensation arena since 1989. In 1997, Mr. Evans was certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in workers’ compensation law. For the first 20 years of his career Mr. Evans was a workers’ compensation defense attorney and an equity partner in the largest workers’ compensation defense firm in the state of California. During his tenure as a defense attorney, Mr. Evans was frequently retained to defend catastrophic workers’ compensation claims. He now takes great pride in aggressively representing injured workers who have sustained work related injuries to insure the injured worker receives all benefits to which one is entitled under the law. Mr. Evans now acts as a managing partner of Graiwer Kaplan Vernik & Evans, LLP. Areas of Practice: Workers’ Compensation Labor Code 132(a) Serious and Willful Misconduct Claims Complex Litigation Personal Injury Education: California State University, Dominguez Hills- B.S. Finance (1991) Western State University College of Law- Juris Doctorate (1994) Certified Specialist Workers’ Compensation (1997)
Michael Foladi
Attorney
Mr. Foladi grew up in Southern California and attended the UCLA School of Law, where he competed in several trial and appellate advocacy competitions, including the American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition, and received several honors, including fellowships from the American Board of Trial Advocates, Equal Justice America, and Bet Tzedek (“House of Justice”). Mr. Foladi represents the rights of injured workers in all aspects of workers’ compensation litigation, including 132a discrimination cases and Serious and Willful Misconduct cases. Mr. Foladi also handles complex litigation relating to subrogation and personal injuries sustained on the job. Mr. Foladi’s case handling also extends to federal concurrent jurisdiction claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Prior to joining Graiwer & Kaplan, Mr. Foladi was a defense attorney representing Fortune 500 companies and major insurance carriers in all aspects of workers’ compensation litigation, including catastrophic cases and death claims. Mr. Foladi’s experience as a defense attorney has given him unique insight into of the claims handling process from the perspective of employers and insurance administrators – experience that he now applies to expediting treatment and maximizing compensation for injured workers. With over a decade of experience in workers’ compensation courts at both the state and federal level, Mr. Foladi is an aggressive litigator committed to giving a strong voice to injured workers and ensuring they receive all benefits they are entitled to under the law. Mr. Foladi is certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in workers’ compensation law. Areas of Practice: Workers’ Compensation Labor Code 132a Discrimination Claims Serious and Willful Misconduct Cases Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Complex Litigation Personal Injury Education: UCLA –Bachelor of Arts in History; Minor in Public Policy (2005) UCLA School of Law – Juris Doctorate, Concentration in Business Law (2008) Certified Specialist, Workers Compensation Law (2019)
Vivian A. Riddick
Attorney
Vivian A. Riddick was born in 1961 and spent her informative years in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She attended The Pennsylvania State University from 1979-1983 on a four year full athletic and academic scholarship. Her tenacity, commitment, and hard work as a student athlete contributed to her All-American athletic accomplishments and ultimate Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice. Ms. Riddick then attended Howard University School of Law in Washington DC from 1983-1986 where she earned her Doctorate of Jurisprudence. Thereafter, Ms. Riddick was admitted to practice law in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and before the United States District Court in 1987. From November 1988 through December 2017, Ms. Riddick was an associate attorney/hearing representative in the Los Angeles Law Firm of Williams, Beck & Forbes. In January 2018, she joined the Law Firm of Graiwer & Kaplan LLP. Ms. Riddick has extensive litigation and trial experience handling all aspects of cases, involving injured workers before the State of California Department of Industrial Relations Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. Areas of Practice: Civil Litigation Personal Injury Workers’ Compensation Education: The Pennsylvania State University- Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice (1979-1983) Howard University School of Law- Doctorate of Jurisprudence
Savis Zarrabian
Attorney
Ms. Zarrabian was admitted to the State Bar of California and all Federal District Courts of California in 1999. Ms. Zarrabian has been representing injured workers in workers’ compensation matters since 2002 and has been with Graiwer & Kaplan since 2003. Ms. Zarrabian is a tireless advocate and focuses on achieving the best outcome for each and every one of her clients. Prior to joining Graiwer & Kaplan, Ms. Zarrabian worked as a litigation attorney handling complex civil tort litigation. Ms. Zarrabian obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Riverside. She then obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Rutgers University School of Law in Camden, New Jersey, in 1999. Areas of Practice: Personal Injury Workers’ Compensation Civil Tort Litigation Education: UC Riverside- Bachelor of Arts (1996) Rutgers University, School of Law- Juris Doctorate (1999)