John J. O’Brien

Practice areas

Business Litigation, Personal Injury – General: Plaintiff

Focus areas

Personal Injury – Plaintiff, Premises Liability – Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse – Plaintiff, Slip and Fall, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death

John J. O’Brien, an experienced litigator in federal and state matters, passionately advocates for the rights of individuals and businesses impacted by the negligent or reckless conduct of others. Operating from the Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire LLP law firm, he offers personalized and empathetic legal representation to clients in San Diego, California.

With a legal career spanning over 16 years, Mr. O’Brien has navigated a diverse range of lawsuits encompassing personal injury, commercial litigation, business disputes, sex trafficking, human trafficking, and real estate conflicts. He has achieved favorable outcomes for plaintiffs in cases involving fraudulent activities, unfair business practices, breaches of fiduciary duty, contractual disagreements, emotional distress claims, trade secret misappropriation, and more.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Mr. O’Brien’s inclination toward a legal vocation developed after he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics with a minor in philosophy from Boston College in 2003. Subsequently, he acquired his Juris Doctor degree in 2007 from the California Western School of Law, where his academic excellence earned him a place on the dean’s list and a role on the Moot Court Honors Board.

Mr. O’Brien’s legal journey includes a tenure as a law clerk at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, as well as partnerships with multiple law firms in San Diego before his association with Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire LLP. He is authorized to practice law in the state courts of California since 2007, and he holds admission to the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of California.

Dedicated to principles of diligence, integrity, and professional distinction, Mr. O’Brien has achieved groundbreaking verdicts and settlements in various precedent-setting cases. Notably, in the Jane Does v. GirlsDoPorn.com case, which entailed an extensive legal battle involving 99 days of trial and over 100 motions, he secured nearly $13 million in damages for the victims, along with an additional $8 million designated for attorneys’ fees.

Beyond his client-centered legal work, Mr. O’Brien directs his energies toward community service. He holds memberships in the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, the Louis M. Welsh American Inn of Court, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, the Consumer Attorneys of California, and the San Diego County Bar Association. His involvement includes serving as the president of the Irish American Bar Association of San Diego, as well as aiding human trafficking survivors through the San Diego nonprofit organization, Free to Thrive.

Accompanied by a “Superb” rating, Mr. O’Brien garners numerous five-star reviews from content clients on Avvo. His professional accomplishments include receiving the 2021 Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award from the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego.