About Justin Schmidt

Justin concentrates his practice on aviation liability claims and litigation, representing foreign and domestic air carriers and aircraft manufacturers, component manufacturers, owners and operators of commercial, business, and general aviation aircraft, aircraft rental, leasing, and repair facilities, airports, and insurance carriers. Justin also has significant experience in handling accident investigations, complex liability issues, and cases involving claims for wrongful death and personal injury, and product liability.

Justin has worked on several major aviation disaster cases, including assisting in defense litigation arising from the American Airlines Flight 587 accident in November 2001; the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; and, Colgan Air in wrongful death litigation in connection with the February 2009 crash of Flight 3407.  Justin has also represented military aircraft and helicopter manufacturers in aviation accidents (often involving the government contractor defense) and in product liability litigation.

Justin served as a United States Marine Corps Officer from 2001 through 2005. He was stationed with the Marine Air Wing in Okinawa, Japan as an Aircraft Logistics Officer. Justin was next stationed at Camp Pendleton, California with a Marine Infantry Battalion as an Infantry Logistics Officer.  He also served a seven month combat tour in Fallujah, Iraq.

Justin worked in the New York office of Condon & Forsyth from 2008 to 2013, and rejoined the firm in its Los Angeles office in 2019.

Justin is an active member of the Defense Research Institute (Member, Aviation Law Committee), the American Bar Association (Member, Forum on Air and Space Law and the Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) on Aviation and Space Law), and the State Bar of Michigan (Member, Aviation Law Section).  He is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Association, and the Washtenaw County Bar Association.  Justin was honorably named a Super Lawyers magazine Michigan Rising Star for 2016, 2017, and 2018.

He is a graduate of Rutgers University School of Law, where he was Managing Editor of the Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Review, Winner of the 2007 Nathan Baker Moot Court Trial Competition, a Member of the Rutgers National Moot Court Team, and Recipient of the Hudson County Bar Foundation Scholarship.  Justin earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.