Garth W. Aubert

Garth W. Aubert Partner

P 213 694 4216
444 South Flower Street
Suite 4100
Los Angeles, CA 90071
444 South Flower Street, Suite 4100, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Overview

With more than 30 years of experience, Garth has earned a reputation for effective, strategic and efficient legal representation. He defends aerospace product manufacturers, airline service providers, aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul organizations, fixed base operators, airport authorities, and airlines. Garth also defends clients in toxic tort litigation. 

Garth represents his clients in state and federal courts throughout the United States, in matters ranging from complex litigation and class actions to local litigation. Garth has also represented his clients before the National Transportation Safety Board.

Garth has successfully defended clients confronted with lawsuits arising from incidents, accidents, disputes and exposures throughout the United States and abroad that result in severe personal injuries, wrongful death, commercial disputes, substantial property damage and exposure to toxic substances.

Garth has also been entrusted by clients to serve as national defense counsel with respect to their aviation liability matters.

Additionally, Garth proactively counsels his clients in loss prevention programs, risk avoidance, product integrity seminars and audits, contractual provisions, and electronic discovery. Garth is also routinely called upon by his clients to lead investigations in response to incidents and accidents.

Garth has spoken and written extensively on topics related to litigation, technology and aviation, including for organizations such as the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Insurance Institute of London, Aircraft Builders Council, American Conference Institute and in the London insurance market. Garth authored a chapter for Litigating the Aviation Case, 3rd Edition, published by the American Bar Association. Garth previously served as chair of the Aerospace Committee of the Defense Research Institute. 

Garth is a life-long resident of Los Angeles. Outside of work, Garth enjoys boating, cycling and skiing with his wife of over 30 years and his two adult children, and enjoys the challenge and satisfaction of completing seemingly unending home improvement projects.

Bar Admissions
  • California
  • US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • US District Court, Central District of California
  • US District Court, Eastern District of California
  • US District Court, Northern District of California
  • US District Court, Southern District of California
Education
  • University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, JD, 1992
  • University of Southern California, BA, 1989
Experience
  • Defense of a government contractor/military helicopter maintenance client through a month-long trial in Texas of severe personal injury claims arising from the crash of a US Army Blackhawk helicopter in Italy, culminating in a favorable jury verdict
  • Defense of airline service providers against severe personal injury lawsuits and substantial aircraft damage claims in courts throughout the United States
  • Defense of commercial litigation arising from damage to commercial aircraft, including Boeing 757, 777, and 787 aircraft, in various US courts
  • Defense of an aviation product manufacturer against personal injury lawsuits by passenger plaintiffs arising from an engine failure on a United Airlines flight to Hawaii
  • Defense of an aviation product manufacturer in complex litigation arising from the crash of a Sikorsky S-58 helicopter in Los Angeles
  • Defense of an aviation product manufacturer against personal injury lawsuits by numerous passengers arising from an engine failure upon takeoff during a JetBlue flight from Long Beach, California
  • Defense of a fixed base operator/aircraft fueler in complex, wrongful death litigation arising from the crash of a Cessna 421 air ambulance aircraft near Las Cruces, New Mexico
  • Obtained numerous court-ordered dismissals of lawsuits against manufacturer clients based on the absence of personal jurisdiction in California
  • Defense of a fixed base operator/aircraft refueler against wrongful death litigation arising from the crash of a Piper PA-46 near Spokane, Washington
  • Defense of a component part manufacturer based on the Government Contractor Defense of wrongful death claims arising from the crash of a US Army Apache AH-64 helicopter in Mali
  • Defense of a military helicopter maintenance provider against claims of severe personal injuries arising from the crash of a US Army AH-6M “Little Bird” helicopter in Iraq
  • Defense of an alloy forging manufacturer against complex commercial litigation arising from the crash of a Bell 206 helicopter resulting in the death of all three occupants near Ontario, Canada
  • Defense of a component part manufacturer based on the Government Contractor Defense of a wrongful death lawsuit arising from the hard landing of a MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft in Hawaii, resulting in dismissal of the lawsuit by the Ninth Circuit
  • Defense of an alloy casting manufacturer in multi-party litigation arising from the crash of a Bell 205 helicopter near British Columbia
  • Defense of a heavy maintenance facility against wrongful death and environmental liability lawsuits in three states arising from the crash of a DC-8 aircraft near Sacramento, California
  • Defense of a military parachute manufacturer/government contractor in litigation arising from the death of a Navy SEAL during a training exercise in San Diego, California
  • Defense of an aircraft maintenance facility in wrongful death litigation arising from the inflight breakup of a Cessna 525 aircraft over Utah
  • Defense based on the Air Carrier Access Act of an airport shuttle bus operator against a wrongful death lawsuit
  • Defense of a geosynchronous satellite component manufacturer against claims of negligence and fraud in the manufacture of parts for nine telecommunication satellites
  • Defense of an aeronautical chart publisher in federal multi-district litigation arising from the crash of a US Air Force CT-43A (B737) aircraft in Dubrovnik, Croatia, which resulted in the death of US Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and others
  • Defense of a major oil company against several nationwide class actions and other litigation arising from an allegedly defective general aviation lubricant
  • Defense of a product manufacturer against environmental claims and penalties arising from an aviation fuel spill near Ventura, California
  • Defense of a vermiculite product manufacturer against wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits throughout California
  • Defense of a legacy aviation engine manufacturer against personal injury and wrongful death asbestos claims throughout California
  • Designated as an expert on California law in support of litigation outside the United States
  • Counseling clients regarding indemnity, limitation of liability and insurance provisions in complex commercial contracts
  • Drafted and presented day-long workshop regarding incident/accident investigation techniques and best practices for report writing in order to mitigate exposure
Recognition

Recognition

  • AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available
  • Designated as a Southern California Super Lawyer, a peer-review based recognition granted to less than 5% of attorneys
  • Recognized by Who’s Who Legal as a leading aviation attorney in California
  • Recognized by Expert Guides – Best of the Best USA in the aviation category
News & Insights

    Speaking Engagements

  • PFAS Litigation and Regulatory Developments Conference (Virtual), Perrin Conferences
    February 9, 2023
  • Artificial Intelligence and Products Liability, The Insurance Institute of London
    January 1, 2022
  • Aviation Legal Update, Aircraft Builders Council
    January 1, 2017
  • Indemnity Agreements, Aircraft Builders Council
    January 2, 2016
  • Recent Developments in Aviation Law – Personal Jurisdiction, Aircraft Builders Council Annual Conference
    January 1, 2016