Legal Background
Mr. Fitzpatrick earned his law degree with honors from the University of San Diego School of Law. He is a licensed and practicing attorney in San Diego, California and is also licensed in Texas. In law school, Mr. Fitzpatrick was on Law Review, won “Best Appellate Brief” in his Legal Research and Writing class, and was recognized for many hours of pro-bono work related to domestic violence restraining orders. Mr. Fitzpatrick’s legal practice is focused on injury compensation, employment matters and workplace investigations. His litigation experience also includes a wide range of business disputes (e.g., breach of contract, business torts, etc.), construction litigation and civil rights cases.
Foundational Experience
Before law school, Mr. Fitzpatrick was a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot. As a helicopter aircraft commander and leader of multi-aircraft flights, he led combat missions in Anbar and Najaf Provinces in Iraq. These missions included casualty evacuations to hospitals in Baghdad and transportation of troops and prisoners throughout the war zone. He was also an instructor of other pilots on advanced night flying techniques, including how to fly with night vision goggles on and off Navy ships and in the desert.
Mr. Fitzpatrick had other responsibilities in the Marines, which required specialized training, including Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Officer and Safety Officer. In these roles, Mr. Fitzpatrick was responsible for identifying and mitigating risks to Marines, investigating serious incidents, and making written conclusions and recommendations to Marine commanders. His formal investigative training while in the military included Manual of the Judge Advocate General (JAGMAN) investigative procedures and mishap investigation fundamentals.
Professional Affiliations
Mr. Fitzpatrick holds the following additional professional licenses: FAA commercial pilot license (aka certification); California Private Investigator License; and California Real Estate Broker License. Mr. Fitzpatrick is admitted to practice law in the following Courts: all California State Courts; all Texas State Courts; the United States District Court, Southern District of California; and The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Fitzpatrick’s professional association memberships include:
- Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI)
- California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI)
- San Diego County Bar Association