Atty. Ben Coughlan
Ben Coughlan is an award-winning trial lawyer who has dedicated his career to fighting for individuals going through the toughest times of their lives. After spending the last decade at a large plaintiff’s firm, Ben chose to start this firm to provide every single client with personal attention.
Profile Summary
About Ben Coughlan at a glance
Ben Coughlan is a Co-Founder/Partner based in San Diego, California, practicing at Coughlan & Vinel, LLP. They have 14+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2012. Their practice focuses on medical malpractice, personal injury, employment, business, and product liability. Admitted to practice in California (2012). Educated at University of San Diego School of Law (J.D., 2012) and Northwestern University (B.S. Journalism, 2005). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serands clients in San Diego, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Ben Coughlan is an award-winning trial lawyer who has dedicated his career to fighting for individuals going through the toughest times of their lives
- After spending the last decade at a large plaintiff’s firm, Ben chose to start this firm to provide every single client with personal attention
- Ben believes that personal attention, and creativity on cases, are what achieve the best results for clients
- Ben believes his job is to tell the clients story as the client sees it, not as others might see it
- To do that, he believes in spending the time to get to know every client personally so he can best understand not only how to get the largest financial result for the clients, but also how to take as much stress as possible off the client throughout the process
- Ben is known in San Diego, and throughout Southern California, for handling some of the very biggest and most high-profile cases
- With a decade of experience litigating and trying catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, employment, medical malpractice, toxic exposure and whistleblower (qui tam) cases, Ben brings a wealth of knowledge to every case
- In addition to his experience litigating Ben is an adjunct professor at University of San Diego School of Law and an instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy in both the Trial Skills and Depositions Skills programs
- Ben is the President-Elect of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego – the Plaintiff’s Bar for all of San Diego
- He serves as the editor of the Tort Law section of the Trial Bar News
- Ben has a sub-specialty in brain injury and spinal injury cases
- He is the immediate past Vice President of the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation, and regularly works to support brain injury survivors in his free time
- He is also a published author in the field of Brain Injuries, having co-authored and edited “A Journey Towards Recovery: A Brain Injury Guide for Survivors.” He is regularly asked to speak about brain injuries around the country to lawyers, medical professionals, survivors and their families
- Prior to becoming a lawyer Ben spent four years in the media relations department of the San Diego Padres
- Ben received his juris doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law
- He received his bachelors degree in journalism from Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in Evanston, Illinois
- Ben was born and raised in San Diego
- He lives with his wife Kathleen, son Jack (3) and daughter Mackenzie (1) in Solana Beach
- Ben and his family love San Diego and believe it is their privilege to give back to their community
- Jack and Mackenzie are fifth generation San Diegans on their mother’s side
- Recognition & Awards 2021 – San Diego Reader, Top Attorneys 2021 – The National Trial Lawyers, 40 Under 40 2021 – Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2020 – The National Trial Lawyers, 40 Under 40 2020 – University of San Diego School of Law, Distinguished Alumni, Rising Star Award 2020 – Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2020 – America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys 2019 – Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2019 – America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys 2018 – Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2018 – San Diego Metro Magazine, 40 Under 40 Award 2017 – Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2017 – San Diego Metro Magazine, Top 10 Attorney Overall 2016 – Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2015 – San Diego Business Journal, Best of the Bar 2014 – San Diego Business Journal, Best of the Bar 2014 – Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, Outstanding Trial Lawyer 2013 – San Diego Daily Transcript, Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney 2013 – San Diego Daily Transcript, Top Young Attorney Publications Negligent Sexual Transmission of Disease: A Primer – Trial Bar News, March/April 2021 Anything but simple, the Taxation of Personal Injury Settlements and Judgments – Trial Bar News, September 2020 Understanding Pituitary Injuries in Brain Injury Cases – Trial Bar News, August 2020 10 Cases Every Trial Lawyer Should Know – Trial Bar News, December 2018 Intervening and Superseding Causes in California Tort Cases – Trial Bar News, November 201 Pebley v
- Santa Clara Organics, LLC: Court of Appeals Extends Bermudez Ruling to Lien Treatment – Trial Bar News, August/September 2018 A Journey Toward Recovery: A Brain Injury Guide for Survivors Keep it Confidential: How Dennis Rodman Changed the World of Personal Injury Lawsuits – Trial Bar News, January 2018 Traumatic Brain Injuries: Litigating the Not-so “Invisible Injury” Part 2 of 3 – Trial Bar News , January 2017 Traumatic Brain Injuries: Litigating the Not-so “Invisible Injury” Part 3 of 3 – Trial Bar News , February 2017 Traumatic Brain Injuries: Litigating the Not-so “Invisible Injury” Part 1 of 3 – Trial Bar News , December 2016 We Recorded the Defense Medical Examination, Now What? – Trial Bar News, November 2016 The First 48: Human Body Reaction and Emergency Treatment of Trauma – Trial Bar News , May 2016 Mini-Opening Statements: Test, Approved, Recommended – Rarely Used – Trial Bar News , February 2016 The Misunderstood World of Defamation Law – Trial Bar News, January 2016 Playing the Punies: Punitive Damages in Premises Liability Cases – Trial Bar News , April 2015
Practice Areas Explained
Ben Coughlan's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Ben Coughlan handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Medical malpractice lawyers represent patients harmed by negligent doctors, hospitals, and other providers. Free case review, no fee unless you win.
Ben Coughlan is one of 49,086 medical malpractice attorneys indexed nationally. Browse medical malpractice attorneys in California →
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Ben Coughlan is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in California →
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Ben Coughlan is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in California →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Ben Coughlan is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →
Ben Coughlan is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in California
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in San Diego are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Diego or all attorneys in California.
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