Consumer Watchdog honored Michael A. Kelly, a shareholder at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, with its prestigious Lifetime Legal Achievement Award at the organization's annual Rage for Justice Awards Celebration held June 13 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The award recognizes distinguished attorneys and public-interest advocates whose careers have advanced consumer protection, challenged corporate misconduct, and improved public safety.
Kelly was honored alongside Citizens Advocate of the Year recipient Joy Chen and Phillip Burton Public Service Award recipient Ro Khanna. For more than four decades, Kelly has been one of California's leading trial lawyers and consumer advocates, representing individuals and families harmed by dangerous products, catastrophic accidents, medical negligence, utility-caused wildfires, and corporate wrongdoing. His work has resulted in billions of dollars in recoveries for injured consumers, including his leadership role in the historic $13.5 billion settlement arising from the 2017 Northern California wildfire litigation against PG&E.
"Receiving this award from Consumer Watchdog is an incredible honor," said Michael A. Kelly. "Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of representing people whose lives were forever changed by negligence and corporate misconduct. This recognition reflects not only my work, but the dedication of my colleagues, co-counsel, and the courageous clients who trusted us to fight for accountability. The most meaningful part of this profession is helping families find justice and driving changes that make our communities safer."
Kelly's recent work has included litigation against some of the nation's largest corporations, including Amazon, Tesla, Kaiser, Uber, Pfizer, and Southern California Edison. He currently serves on the plaintiffs' steering committee in the Los Angeles Eaton Fire litigation and continues to advocate for wildfire victims throughout California. This ongoing work underscores the importance of holding powerful interests accountable, particularly as climate change increases the frequency and severity of wildfires.
"Mike's career exemplifies what it means to be a consumer advocate," said Doug Saeltzer, President of Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and a Shareholder at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger. "For more than 40 years, Mike has fought tirelessly on behalf of injured individuals and families, helping shape the law while holding powerful interests accountable. We are proud to see his contributions recognized with this well-deserved honor."
Kelly's numerous accolades include repeated recognition among Northern California's Top Ten Super Lawyers, designation as San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in both 2023 and 2024, and induction into the National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame and LawDragon Hall of Fame. He also serves as a longtime appointee to the California Judicial Council's CACI jury instruction task force.
This award matters because it highlights the critical role consumer attorneys play in ensuring public safety and corporate accountability. Kelly's work, particularly in wildfire litigation, has direct implications for California residents facing increasing wildfire risks. The recognition from Consumer Watchdog underscores the importance of legal advocacy that challenges corporate misconduct and drives systemic change. For the industry, Kelly's career demonstrates how plaintiff law firms can effect large-scale settlements that compensate victims and incentivize safer practices. For consumers, it reaffirms that there are advocates dedicated to fighting for justice in the face of powerful corporate interests.
