Our Attorneys
Michael H. Rosenstein, Partner
Our firm’s founder, Michael H. Rosenstein, is passionate about ensuring that consumers possess the foremost legal representation against vehicle manufacturers in lemon law matters. Mr. Rosenstein has successfully represented hundreds of clients throughout the State of California against virtually every vehicle manufacturer. His practice has spanned from San Diego to the Oregon border and virtually every county in between and has included cases against Ford, FCA (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, and others), General Motors, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen, Land Rover, and most other foreign and domestic auto manufacturers. Mr. Rosenstein’s zealous representation of California consumers has allowed him to earn the respect of his colleagues and adversaries, which results in higher settlements for his clients.
Mr. Rosenstein is also one of California’s most experienced trial lawyers in the field of automotive consumer warranty litigation, having tried more than 25 cases to verdict over the last 5 years. Mr. Rosenstein’s trial philosophy is one of vigorous preparation, unfettered honesty, and direct advocacy, which has resulted in a winning track record that is second to none.
With more than 25 years of experience in the legal field, he has represented clients in a wide variety of legal matters, including business litigation, consumer warranty disputes, complex commercial matters, fraud, personal injury, and product liability cases.
Mr. Rosenstein graduated from Southwestern University School of Law. Before law school, Mr. Rosenstein obtained a degree in Political Science from the University of California Los Angeles.
Sepehr Daghighian, Partner
Sepehr Daghighian is a partner with CCA that is well-versed in all aspects of lemon-law litigation. A 2005 graduate of Loyola Law School, Mr. Daghighian has been practicing litigation throughout the state of California for over 13-years. In this time, Mr. Daghighian has advocated on behalf of California consumers in hundreds of lemon law cases throughout our great state. Mr. Daghighian has also successfully tried numerous such cases to verdict in both Federal and State Court.
Mr. Daghighian’s practice has included preparing hundreds of cases for trial against FCA (Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep, and other vehicles), Ford Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Motors America, BMW North America, Mercedes-Benz USA, and several other major manufacturers. Mr. Daghighian’s litigation philosophy is that, while the vast majority of cases settle before trial, all cases should be prepared with the diligence and thoroughness needed to prevail at trial before a jury. Therefore, all aspects of a case are handled with meticulously; knowing that the lawyer’s work may ultimately form a part of a closing argument. Mr. Daghighian is also sensitive to the human aspect of lemon-law matters – recognizing that ultimately CCA’s cases are about ordinary consumers that have been mistreated by major corporations with vastly superior resources. Mr. Daghighian’s practice is focusing on leveling the playing field by matching the Song-Beverly Act’s strong consumer protections with unparalleled advocacy to achieve exceptional results for CCA’s clients.
Prior to attending Loyola Law School, Mr. Daghighian graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics.
Brian T. Murray, Managing Attorney
Brian T. Murray is a lawyer responsible for directing the team of attorneys and paralegals at CCA, which handle lemon law matters throughout the State of California. Mr. Murray is responsible for ensuring a smooth and responsive customer experience for all of CCA’s clients. Just like every lemon law case is unique, Mr. Murray appreciates that every client is unique and strives to make sure that each client receives the utmost service from our firm.
Mr. Murray is well versed in all aspects of litigation and trial advocacy and has tried numerous cases to verdict in both state and federal court. Among other things, Mr. Murray has taken and defended hundreds of depositions throughout this career, argued a wide variety of motions in courts throughout the state, and has briefed Federal and State courts on a variety of subjects relating to the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Although the focus of Mr. Murray’s practice is in the field of consumer advocacy, Mr. Murray has experience in entertainment, complex business litigation, product liability, and class action matters.
Mr. Murray graduated cum laude from Elon University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting. Mr. Murray earned his Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law where he served as the Managing Editor of the Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal. While in law school, Mr. Murray also served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Barry Russell of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. Mr. Murray also earned a Master’s degree in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution.
Education
- Elon University
- Bachelor of Arts degree in History
- Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting.
- Pepperdine University School of Law, Juris Doctor degree
- Managing Editor of the Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal.
- Served as Judicial extern to the Honorable Barry Russell of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.
- Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
- Master’s degree in Dispute Resolution
James Martinez, Associate Attorney
James Martinez is an experienced litigator at CCA whose practice focuses on consumer warranty litigation and consumer fraud. Mr. Martinez is well-versed in all aspects of litigation arising under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the Magnussen-Moss Warranty Act, and related aspects of consumer warranty litigation. Mr. Martinez is actively engaged in all aspects of lemon law litigation, including having tried several cases in State Court.
James Martinez graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and graduated at the top of his class from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law. Prior to his admission to the California Bar, Mr. Martinez worked as a law clerk focused on consumer protection litigation. He has been admitted to practice law in California since 2016 and has devoted his practice to consumer protection and civil litigation.
Erik K. Schmitt, Associate Attorney
Erik K. Schmitt is an associate attorney at CCA who mainly practices in consumer warranty litigation and consumer fraud. As a tireless advocate for consumers, Mr. Schmitt has argued and won numerous motions in both state and federal court, as well as second-chaired many jury trials to a successful verdict.
Raised in Southern California, Mr. Schmitt obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema and Television from California State University Northridge in 2013. Thereafter, he earned his law degree in just 2 years as part of Southwestern Law School’s SCALE accelerated program, graduating magna cum laude (top 5%) while receiving many CALI awards and other accolades.
During law school, Mr. Schmitt served as a member of the Southwestern Law Review; a research assistant for his Torts professor; and a judicial extern for both Judge Philip S. Gutierrez of the United States District Court for the Central District of California and Judge Stephen A. Marcus of the Los Angeles Superior Court. Since being admitted to practice in California, Mr. Schmitt has also passed the bar exam in several other states, including New York.
Lauren C. Martin, Associate Attorney
Lauren C. Martin is an experienced litigator in consumer warranty claims, primarily involving the Song-Beverly Consumer Protection Warranty Act. Ms. Martin is results-oriented, extremely organized, and well-versed in related consumer warranty litigation and fraudulent concealment actions. Ms. Martin manages all stages of pretrial litigation, including taking and defending depositions, drafting and conferring on trial documents and pre-trial motions, trial preparation, and settlement discussions. She has tried numerous cases in both State and Federal Court.
Ms. Martin graduated cum laude from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in History. Following her undergraduate degree, Ms. Martin graduated from Southwestern Law School’s prestigious 2-year J.D. SCALE-program and was an active member of the Women’s Law Society and Criminal Law Society. Throughout law school, Ms. Martin focused on civil litigation research while also a full-time extern at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office: Hardcore Gang Division. Ms. Martin also clerked at an insurance subrogation civil litigation firm and previously worked as an associate at a real estate litigation firm where her emphasis was primarily on unlawful detainer actions. Ms. Martin was admitted to the California state bar in June 2017. She is authorized to practice law in all California state courts, as well as the Central, Northern, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California.
Jonathan Cagliata, Associate Attorney
Jonathan Cagliata is an associate attorney at CCA with a demonstrated passion for consumer advocacy. Mr. Cagliata is an experienced advocate in the realm of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, Unfair Competition Law, and other consumer-oriented statutes. Mr. Cagliata has successfully represented hundreds of California consumers with respect to their lemon law claims.
Before joining CCA, Mr. Cagliata represented various dealership entities in a range of areas, including regulatory and statutory compliance. Mr. Cagliata takes pride in assisting the citizens of California, members of one of the world’s premiere economies, with their needs as consumers. Mr. Cagliata believes educating the consumer base about its rights, while regulating businesses and enforcing their compliance with the law, promotes fairness and arms-length dealing to the benefit of everyone.
Mr. Cagliata received his dual-Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Italian in Special Fields from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his juris doctorate from Loyola Law School. During his time as a student, Mr. Cagliata externed for the Office of the Los Angeles District Attorney: Consumer Protection Division. Mr. Cagliata was admitted to practice in California in 2017, and has since gained admission to all state and federal courts in California.
