Matt Levinson is a partner at Cole Pedroza LLP, and is an Appellate Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. His practice focuses on representation of health care providers in appellate and writ proceedings, and he frequently represents clients in the defense and enforcement of the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (“MICRA”). He also regularly assists trial counsel when appellate issues of first impression are anticipated and in cases presenting high exposure.
Additionally, Matt counsels clients and trial counsel on third-party payer claims by ERISA plans, Medicare, and Medicaid, and on mandatory-insurer reporting to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Matt graduated with distinction from Cornell University, where he studied economics and government. He then earned a J.D. at UCLA School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of the UCLA Law Review. He began his career at Thelen Reid & Priest LLP in Los Angeles, where his practice focused on appeals and writs. He represented institutional and individual interests in litigation related to torts, insurance, health care, construction, and other commerce.
After leaving Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, he further expanded his professional experience representing consumer clients with a focus on catastrophic products liability cases, including automotive design defects, business fraud and legal malpractice.
He is admitted to practice in California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Central and Northern Districts of California. He also served as a member of the Appellate Law Advisory Commission to the California Board of Legal Specialization (2017-2019).
Published opinions include Today’s IV, Inc. v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, et al. (2022) 83 Cal.App.5th 1137 (statutory immunity to public nuisance claim); Lopez v. Ledesma (2022) 12 Cal.5th 848 (scope of MICRA as applied to physician assistants); Zannini v. Liker (2022) 74 Cal.App.5th 610 (patient abandonment); Akopyan v. Superior Court (2020) 53 Cal.App.5th 1094 (judicial disqualification under Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6); Savaikie v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (2020) 52 Cal.App.5th 223 (vicarious liability under exceptions to “going and coming” rule); Doe v. University of Southern California (2018) 28 Cal.App.5th 26 (administrative review of academic discipline); Alexander v. Scripps Memorial Hospital (2018) 23 Cal.App.5th 206 (Health Care Decisions Law immunity); Bigler-Engler v. Breg, Inc. (2017) 7 Cal.App.5th 276 (excessive noneconomic damages); Winn v. Pioneer Medical Group, Inc. (2016) 63 Cal.4th 148 (scope of Elder Abuse Act); Flores v. Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (2016) 63 Cal.4th 75 (scope of MICRA); Perez v. Nidek Co., Ltd. (9th Cir. 2013) 711 F.3d 1109 (FDA Medical Device Amendment preemption); Santillan v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Fresno (2012) 202 Cal.App.4th 708 (Code of Civil Procedure, section 340.1); Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center v. Superior Court (2011) 194 Cal.App.4th 288 (privacy in medical malpractice class action); Burton v. Cruise (2011) 190 Cal.App.4th 939 (waiver of contractual arbitration); Muller v. Fresno Community Hospital & Medical Center (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 887 (attorney’s fees); North Coast Women’s Care Medical Group v. Superior Court (2008) 45 Cal.4th 1145 (free exercise defense); Freedman, M.D. v. Superior Court (2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 198 (Code of Civil Procedure, section 425.13); Guardado v. Superior Court (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 91 (Code of Civil Procedure, section 170.6); Saxena v. Goffney, M.D. (2008) 159 Cal.App.4th 316 (medical battery); Barragan v. Lopez, M.D. (2007) 156 Cal.App.4th 997 (wrongful life); Bockrath v. Aldrich Chemical Co. (1999) 21 Cal.4th 71 (specificity of pleading toxic tort claim); Abbott v. Mandiola, M.D. (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 676 (sanctions following mistrial); and, Brooklyn Navy Yard Cogeneration Partners, L.P., et al. v. Superior Court (1997) 60 Cal.App.4th 248 (attorney disqualification).