PLBH - Law Offices of Perona, Langer, Beck, and Harrison

Bios

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  Major A. Langer

  Senior Partner

  Mr. Langer is the senior managing partner of Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison. He has tried over 100 cases to verdict. Mr. Langer handled the case of Weber v. The City of Rolling Hills as a result of the Rolling Hills Landslide. This case was the longest civil trial in the history of California, lasting 14 months before a successful jury verdict. He has also successfully represented actress Pamela Anderson in a breach of contract lawsuit. Mr. Langer was admitted to the New York bar in 1966 and California bar in 1967. Mr. Langer is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of California, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States Supreme Court. Mr. Langer is a member of Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and the American Association for Justice.

  Education:

  Link: Major A. Langer

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  Ronald Beck

  Partner

  Mr. Beck has practiced his entire legal career with Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison. He was named partner in 1983. Mr. Beck specializes in personal injury, real estate, and business litigation cases, trying numerous successful cases including jury cases, court cases, and binding arbitrations. Mr. Beck received the American Jurisprudence Award for Civil Procedure in 1976, and was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta fraternity. He is a member of the Board of Governors of Consumer Attorneys of California.

  Education:

  Link: Ronald Beck

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  Ellen R. Serbin

  Partner

  Ms. Serbin received her B.A. degree from Pitzer College in 1981 and her Juris Doctor degree from University of San Diego School of Law in 1986. She was admitted to the bar in California and Arizona in 1987 and has been practicing law since 1987. In November of 1987, Ms. Serbin was hired as an associate by the Perona, Langer firm and in 1996 became a principal of the law firm. Ms. Serbin has a diverse litigation practice representing clients in State and Federal court in the areas of employment civil rights, insurance bad faith, real estate fraud, inverse condemnation, contracts, landlord/tenant disputes, landslides, construction defect, and elder abuse. In addition to her trial experience, Ms. Serbin has handled in excess of 70 appeals, writs and petitions for review before various appellate courts including the California Court of Appeal, Arizona Court of Appeal and Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. Many of the appeals she has researched, written and argued have resulted in published opinions including Rosencrans v. Dover Images, Ltd, 192 Cal. App. 4th 1072 (2011), County of San Bernardino v. Calderon, 148 Cal.App.4th 1103 (2007), Plut v. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, 85 Cal.App.4th 98 (2000), Pruyn v. Agricultural Ins. Co., 36 Cal.App.4th 500 (1995), and Rivera v. Sassoon, 39 Cal.App.4th 1045 (1995). In 2015, Ms. Serbin was certified by The State Bar of California as an appellate law specialist, an elite qualification. Ms. Serbin is an active and sustaining member of the Anti-Defamation League and is currently serving on the Executive Board of Directors for the ADL’s Orange County/Long Beach Regional Office. She also belongs to several professional organizations including the American Association for Justice, American Bar Association, California Employment Lawyers Association, Consumer Attorneys of California and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

  Education:

  Link: Ellen R. Serbin

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  John A. Mendoza

  Partner

  John has successfully litigated thousands of industrial injury cases over the past 20 years. Many of these cases involved trial court decision being overturned, resulting in changes to California laws benefiting not only his clients, but all Californians. Most recently, John was successful in overturning the trial court in a case where the reviewing court held that employees have the freedom to select their own physician in cases involving industrial injuries, even if the employer has formed a Medical Provider Network. This decision dismantled the restrictive manner in which California Administrative Law courts and insurance carriers had previously applied the provisions of the 2005 reform legislation. John received his undergraduate education at UCLA, earning a bachelors degree in political science, with a focus in international relations. His postgraduate education was conducted at Pepperdine University, School of Law and at the University of La Verne, School of Law. While earning his juris doctorate, John was the recipient of two American Jurisprudence Awards. In addition to his twenty plus years prosecuting industrial injury cases, John has two decades of civil liberties litigation experience before both the federal bench and the courts of the State of California, including the landmark case of Van Schoick v. *Saddleback* Valley Unified School Dist. (California Supreme Court, writ denied). John’s work in this area led to the Pacific Justice Institute, Attorney of the Year Award in 2006. John has sat on and chaired several board of directors of national and international, non-profit charitable organizations. John has guest hosted, guest paneled or appeared on numerous television and talk radio programs, including Fox News, KABC 7, KNBC 4, KTLA, KFWB radio, KKLA radio (LA Live), amongst others.

  Education:

  Link: John A. Mendoza

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  Todd H. Harrison

  Partner

  Mr. Harrison is the Managing Partner of the Employment Law Division at PLBSMH. He primarily focuses his practice on workplace harassment, discrimination and retaliation claims, overtime and minimum wage claims, class actions, whistle-blower claims and wrongful terminations. Mr. Harrison has represented thousands of employees against some of the biggest companies and corporations in the nation. He has obtained millions of dollars in settlements, verdicts and judgements for injured employees and consumers. Mr. Harrison is admitted to practice law in California, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Harrison is a member of the Consumer Attorney Association of Los Angeles, California Employment Lawyers Association, and Los Angeles County Bar Association, Employment Law Section. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Harrison was a two-time Emmy Award winning television broadcaster. For nearly nine years, he was involved in some of the country’s biggest news and entertainment stories, interviewing everyone from the President of the United States and other world leaders to celebrities and professional athletes. Mr. Harrison is committed to fighting employers who take advantage of their workers. He believes in leveling the playing field and giving everyone who has been damaged a voice in the justice system.

  Education:

  Link: Todd H. Harrison

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  Alvin Chang

  Associate

  Alvin Chang joined Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison in 2007. His practice areas include serious personal injury and business litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Chang worked at a boutique plaintiffs’ firm representing workers injured from occupational exposure to toxic chemicals. Mr. Chang has extensive experience in litigation, including law and motion, depositions, and mediation. He has also successfully litigated cases before the California Courts of Appeal. Mr. Chang is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He is admitted to the State Bar of California and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Central Districts of California. Mr. Chang is also a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and Consumer Attorneys of California.

  Education:

  Link: Alvin Chang

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  Jonathan P. Brian

  Associate

  Mr. Brian is a member of the Consumer Attorney’s Association of Los Angeles and California Applicant’s Attorneys Association. He has worked for various self-help legal associations and has tried numerous workers’ compensation cases successfully.

  Education:

  Link: Jonathan P. Brian

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  Brennan S. Kahn

  Associate

  Brennan S. Kahn has been an active Plaintiff’s litigator in the counties of San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and Kern for several years. Prior to joining the law firm of Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison in 2009, Mr. Kahn was admitted to the California Bar in December 2008 after obtaining his Juris Doctorate in May 2008 from the University San Diego School of Law. Before entering law school, Mr. Kahn received a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology in May 2005 from the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology with the intent of using his skills as a clinically trained therapist to assist his career in law. Mr. Kahn is currently a member of a variety of professional legal organizations including the American Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Consumer Advocate Attorneys of Los Angeles, and California Employment Lawyers Association, among others. His practice is primarily centered in employment law, but also includes business litigation, contract formation, intellectual property, and business formation and structure. He is experienced in all matters of litigation including law and motion, depositions, and mediation. While he has successfully prosecuted claims up through trial, he has also independently settled dozens of cases grossing millions of dollars for the benefit of his many clients. In 2016, Mr. Kahn was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, a distinction given to fewer than 2.5% of attorneys in California. Inclusion as a Rising Star is limited to attorneys under the age of 40 or have been practicing law for fewer than 10 years.

  Education:

  Link: Brennan S. Kahn

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  Eric N. Schwartz

  Associates

  Mr. Schwartz received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Sociology from the University of Southern California in 2003 and his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in 2007. He is the author of “U.S Security Strategy: Empowering Kim Jong-il?”, published in the 2008 Loyola International Law Journal. He has successfully tried many cases in both the civil and the workers’ compensation arenas. Mr. Schwartz resides in Venice, California. Prior to law school, he taught English in Tokyo, Japan. He enjoys sports and roots for USC football, Kansas basketball, the Lakers, and Chelsea. He loves movies and attending concerts.

  Education:

  Link: Eric N. Schwartz

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  Jerry C. Chang

  Associate

  Jerry Chang obtained his BA degrees at the University of Southern California, majoring in Business Administration and Cinema Television Business. Subsequently, Mr. Chang obtained his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, where he was a Dean’s Scholarship recipient and a law clerk of the Center of Disability Rights. Mr. Chang is currently admitted to the California State Bar. Before joining Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison, Mr. Chang practiced extensively in the fields of contracts and commercial/residential real estate.

  Education:

  Link: Jerry C. Chang

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  Sean C. Vargas

  Mr. Vargas, a member of the California Applicants’ Attorney Association, focuses his practice on workers’ compensation, advocating for the rights of injured workers. Prior to joining Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison, Mr. Vargas spent time representing builders and advising on international business transactions, and advocating for the rights of growers and shippers of agricultural products. Mr. Vargas is admitted to the State Bar of California and the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Mr. Vargas is married, has three sons, and enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, surfing, and attending church. Mr. Vargas also sits on the board of directors for a non-profit organization. Mr. Vargas has successfully litigated numerous workers’ compensation claims.

  Education:

  Link: Sean C. Vargas

• Jennie Kim

  Associate

  Jennie Kim joined Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison in 2012. She focuses exclusively on representing injured workers in workers’ compensation cases. Ms. Kim obtained her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Irvine, graduating cum laude with a major in Psychology. She received her Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School. Before joining Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison, Ms. Kim practiced in the field of immigration.

  Education:

  Link: Jennie Kim

• William Carr

  Associate

  William focuses his practice on securing Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability benefits for his clients. Prior to joining Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison, William was a Supervising Attorney and Associate Director with a Social Security Disability law firm, where he helped secure SSDI and SSI benefits for hundreds of disabled clients. William received his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Emory University, graduating with High Honors in 2005. As an undergraduate, William was a member of the Varsity Baseball team and was named a Second Team All-American and South Region Pitcher of the year. William received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in 2010 where he was a member of the Public Interest Law Foundation and spent much of his time volunteering in the public interest sector for several non-profit organizations.

  Education:

  Link: William Carr

• Alexis Langer

  Associate

  Alexis Langer started working as an attorney with the Southern California Law Firm of Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza, and Harrison in 2014. Her practice areas thus far include personal injury, landlord/tenant disputes, employment civil rights and children’s rights litigation. While at the firm she has spearheaded a children’s rights department focusing on disability and special education law, discrimination and bullying, injuries arising from school or teacher misconduct and deprivation of civil rights with respect to children. Ms. Langer obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School in 2013 and was active in the Special Education Law Clinic during her time in law school. Prior to entering law school, she obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont with a degree in Spanish and Psychology. She is admitted to the State Bar of California and the U.S. District Courts for Southern and Central Districts of California. Ms. Langer is also a member of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles and the American Association for Justice, among others. Alexis is passionate about advocating for children as a way to help them overcome trauma and injury and receive a sense a justice to move on in their lives. Children who are victims of sexual abuse, discrimination and harassment, bullying and other school misconduct need an advocate and they need support through this difficult time. Having the help of an attorney can help a child come out stronger and more resilient. It is far too easy for children subjected to wrongdoing to fall through the cracks and point the blame at themselves for something that is out of their control or for simply being who they are.

  Education:

  Link: Alexis Langer