Robert S. Gianelli: Los Angeles Insurance Attorney
Advocate for Policyholders and Pioneer in Insurance Litigation
Rob Gianelli is a highly respected California attorney known for his expertise in insurance bad faith litigation and class actions. With a career spanning decades, he has successfully represented policyholders in disputes involving health, life, disability, and property insurance, establishing himself as a leading advocate for consumer rights.
Rob’s groundbreaking work has earned him widespread recognition, including a California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award for leading a class action against Kaiser Permanente over its denial of treatments for autistic children. This important case (Arce v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan) reshaped treatment access for countless families. For his work, Rob was also named a Finalist for Consumer Attorney of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys of California.
Rob also won a $7.2 million jury verdict against a managed care group for failing to provide a timely surgical referral to a health plan member. (LaRue v. Accountable Health Care IPA.). This is believed to be a first of its kind jury verdict in California against a managed care group.
Rob also prevailed in a class action trial against Kaiser for violating California’s reconstructive surgery law, a case that resulted in thousands of Kaiser members gaining access to excess skin surgery, with an estimated benefit exceeding $150 million (Gallimore v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.).
Rob has been a tireless advocate for protecting vulnerable consumers. He represented a class of 7,700 senior citizens who were sold deceptive annuities, leading to a $47 million settlement after winning phase one of the trial (Stephens v. American Equity Investment Life Ins. Co.). For this work and other consumer-focused victories, Rob was twice named a Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist.
Rob’s dedication to justice has also earned him the Consumer Attorneys of California’s “Street Fighter of the Year” award, alongside Gianelli & Morris attorney, Joshua Davis, and co-counsel Conal Doyle, for leading a class action that ensured amputees could obtain prosthetic limbs unlawfully denied by their insurer (Trujillo, et al. v. United Healthcare Insurance Company).
As lead counsel in numerous other high-profile insurance class actions, Rob has consistently championed policyholders’ rights. His notable cases include:
- Sanchez v. Allianz Life Insurance Company
- Dion v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.
- Bodner v. Blue Shield of California Life and Health Insurance Company
- Escalante v. California Physicians’ Service
- Peterman v. North American Co. for Life & Health
- Iorio v. Allianz Life Ins. Co. of N. America
- Kavruck v. Blue Cross of California
In addition to his trial victories, Rob has shaped California insurance law through published appellate decisions, including:
- Baglione v. Health Net of California (2023)
- Hendricks v. Aetna Life Insurance Co. (2021)
- Escalante v. Blue Shield of California (2015
- Rodriguez v. Blue Cross of California (2008)
- Kavruck v. Blue Cross of California (2003)
- IT Corp. v. Borbor (1987)
These and other precedent-setting rulings continue to influence insurance litigation and consumer protections nationwide on behalf of insurance policyholders.
Through his unparalleled expertise and unwavering dedication, Rob Gianelli has cemented his place as one of California’s most accomplished advocates for policyholders, fighting tirelessly to ensure justice and accountability in the insurance industry.
