Thornton Davidson

ERISA Lawyer

Thornton Davidson devotes the majority of his law practice to clients seeking disability benefits and life insurance benefits from their insurance companies. As an ERISA attorney, he has developed a specialty assisting clients with claims that fall under this complex statute. His skillful maneuvering produced one of the largest discovery sanctions ever handed down against a disability insurance company (Guardian Life) in the United States.

Mr. Davidson has also represented many clients pursuing employment-related claims for wrongful denial of benefits, wrongful termination and various forms of discrimination. He is a disability lawyer known by his insurance adversaries as an aggressive litigator who can use many tactics to win a case or force an advantageous settlement.

Mr. Davidson was born and raised in Fresno, California. He graduated from Columbia University in 1979. After starting and building a number of successful business ventures, he turned his attention to law, receiving his degree from San Joaquin College of Law in 1993.

Court Admissions

• California Supreme Court: December 7, 1993.
• United States District Court of California, Eastern District: December 7, 1993.
• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: December 7, 1993.
• United States District Court of California, Central District: March 17, 2000.
• United States District Court of California, Northern District: February 18, 2004.
• United States District Court of California, Southern District: March 16, 2006.
• United States District Court of Illinois, Northern District: May 23, 2007.
• United States District Court of Colorado: September 5, 2007.
• United States District Court of Illinois, Central District: December 20, 2007.

Published Cases: THORNTON DAVIDSON, ESQ.

1. Neerdaels v. Group Short Term Disability & Long Term Disability Plan for Employees Of Akamai Techs., Inc., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18552, affirmed by Neerdaels v. Group Short Term Disability & Long Term Disability Plan, 261 Fed. Appx. 7, (2007)

3. Bernardo v. Am. Airlines, Inc., 2007 U.S. LEXIS 85305, remanded by Bernardo v. Am. Airlines, Inc., 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 22163 (5TH Cir. 2008)

5. O’Hartz v. Cal. State Auto. Assn. Inter-Insurance Bureau Group Long Term Disability Plan, 2008 U.S Dist. LEXIS 67625

7. Murphy v. Deloitte & Touche Group Ins. Plan, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32367