PARTNER
Jordon Harlan
Jordon Harlan is a San Diego plaintiff’s trial lawyer at Harlan Hillier DiGiacco who represents employees and injured individuals in high-stakes cases against employers, insurers, and large companies. In 2024, he obtained a $9.3 million verdict for a 69-year-old occupational therapist wrongfully terminated while on family leave. He serves on the Boards of Directors of Consumer Attorneys of San Diego and Consumer Attorneys of California.
His practice focuses on employment law and personal injury litigation, particularly cases involving serious injuries, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and corporate misconduct.
Jordon’s approach is built around a simple principle: when the other side has more resources, more leverage, and every incentive to avoid accountability, results depend on preparation, strategy, and a lawyer who understands how defendants think.
Selected Result
$9.37 Million Verdict — Buron v. Concentra Health Services, Inc., et al.
Wrongful termination of a 69-year-old occupational hand therapist while on CFRA/FMLA leave caring for her disabled son. Jury awarded $1.56M in compensatory damages and $7.8M in punitive damages. The defense made no offer to resolve before trial.
More About Jordon
Before representing plaintiffs, Jordon practiced at prominent law firms defending insurance companies. That experience gave him firsthand insight into how cases are evaluated, how exposure is measured, and what drives settlement and trial decisions on the defense side.
He now uses that knowledge to help plaintiffs build leverage early, present cases persuasively, and pursue the strongest possible outcomes for his clients.
Jordon is known for direct client communication, strategic preparation, and courtroom advocacy under pressure. He is straightforward with clients about the strengths and risks of their cases, highly responsive throughout litigation, and prepared to take cases to trial when necessary.
His conviction to take on insurance companies is personal.
Before he became a lawyer, his grandmother tripped over an unmarked gray extension cord stretched across a sidewalk in front of a major retailer. She broke her hip, became ill during her recovery, and died from her injuries. The insurance company denied her claim outright.
Nobody apologized. Nobody accepted responsibility.
Jordon practices to make sure his clients are not treated the same way. He knows that serious matters deserve serious preparation, honest advice, and a lawyer who understands that, for the client, the case is personal.
Notable Cases
Employment Law
- $9,372,000 — Buron v. Concentra Health Services, Inc., et al. CFRA/FMLA leave violation, age discrimination, and retaliation.
- $450,000 — Confidential Settlement Sexual Harassment, Retaliation
Personal Injury
- $2,800,000 — Confidential Settlement Medical malpractice case involving a facility that dispensed dangerous diet pills with insufficient supervision, resulting in a severe brain injury.
- $1,350,000 — Bergstrom v. Bolger, et al. Plaintiff was an elderly woman who was hit by Defendant’s vehicle as Plaintiff legally crossed the street. Plaintiff suffered catastrophic injuries. Plaintiff obtained the policy limits of all insurance available.
- $1,200,000 — Gomez v. City of Cerritos Trip and fall at a public concert over an untaped electrical cord; permanent heel fracture with chronic pain. Case settled after the opening statement.
- $1,000,000 — Collins v. Nationwide Rear-end collision by an uninsured driver; full underinsured-motorist policy recovery.
- $925,000 — McAllister v. Mealthy, Inc., et al. Pressure cooker explosion causing severe burns.
Trial Advocacy & Leadership
- Former Adjunct Professor, University of San Diego School of Law
- Faculty, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), 2014-2015; 2025
- Board of Directors, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
- Board of Directors, Consumer Attorneys of California
Honors & Recognition
- Best Lawyers® — Personal Injury Litigation, 2020–2026
- Consumer Attorneys of San Diego Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award, 2024
- Super Lawyers, 2024–2026 | Rising Stars, 2017–2023
- California Top 10 Labor & Employment Jury Verdict, 2023
- California Top Verdicts, 2018 and 2019
- “Best of the Bar,” San Diego Business Journal
- AVVO “Superb” 10/10 Rating
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent 5.0/5.0
Education
J.D., University of San Diego School of Law
Honors: Order of Barristers; National Mock Trial Team; National Moot Court Team
B.A., Business Administration, University of San Diego
Bar Admissions
- California
- Colorado
- U.S. District Court — Southern, Central, Northern, and Eastern Districts of California
- U.S. District Court — District of Colorado
Contact
Phone: (619) 330-5120
Office: 701 Island Avenue, 2nd Floor, San Diego, CA 92101
Schedule a free consultation: hhdlaw.com/contact
Client Experience
“Outstanding employment law firm. Jordon Harlan is extremely knowledgeable about the law and was able to navigate a difficult employment matter for me. His communication was consistent throughout the case, and he brought calm and confidence to a stressful situation. I highly recommend Harlan Hillier DiGiacco.”
– Robert B. | Client
Trial team behind the $9.37 million verdict for a healthcare worker terminated while caring for her disabled son.