Trevor Quirk ‘03, a McGeorge School of Law alumnus and California trial attorney, recently won an $84 million verdict in a personal injury case.

The case stemmed from a head-on collision in Southern California involving a company-owned truck driven by an intoxicated and unlicensed employee. A husband and wife suffered catastrophic injuries in the crash. Following five years of litigation, a jury determined that Mowbray Tree Services, the national tree service company that owned the vehicle, was primarily responsible.

“[Mowbray Tree Services] knew he had no license; they knew he had a drinking problem, yet they allowed him to drive this truck anyway,” Quirk said.

He said the verdict reflects his long-standing commitment to representing individuals against powerful companies and holding them accountable for unsafe practices.

“It’s so fun fighting for underdogs,” Quirk said. “It truly is the David v. Goliath story.”

Quirk said trials that help make communities safer are among the most rewarding aspects of his work.

“It was one of those remarkable moments that this is why you do these things,” Quirk said. “These are the type of people that really need help.”

Quirk credited his education at McGeorge with preparing him for complex litigation and reinforcing the importance of service-oriented advocacy. He said faculty mentorship, experiential learning and leadership opportunities shaped his approach to trial work and client representation.

While at McGeorge, Quirk served as Student Bar Association president and participated in community-focused initiatives that connected legal education with hands-on service.

“Giving back to the community was to me what it was all about, and why I went to law school was because I wanted to help people,” Quirk said.

Quirk also cited faculty and staff influence as central to his development as a trial lawyer, naming Professor Kojo Yelpaala and former Director of Financial Aid, Addalou Davis.

“My evidence Professor Fred Galves, he really inspired me,” Quirk said.

The $84 million verdict ultimately forced the defendant company into bankruptcy, with related proceedings ongoing. Quirk and his team continue efforts to secure compensation for the injured family.

Quirk said that although trial work is demanding, outcomes like this confirms why he chose the profession.

When asked what advice he would give to current law students, Quirk said: “Follow your heart and your dreams because if you do, they come true.”

In addition to the recent verdict, Quirk has secured several multi-million-dollar settlements for clients in serious injury and wrongful death cases. His work includes a $26 million jury verdict in Ventura County for the wrongful death of a pedestrian struck by an intoxicated driver, a $10 million verdict in Butte County stemming from a fatal hit-and-run collision, and an $8.4 million recovery for a client injured in a car crash in Long Beach.