ABOUT THE FIRM

Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates is based in
San Diego, California. The firm consists of attorneys Kenneth M. Sigelman and Penelope A. Phillips, in addition to non-lawyer support staff.

Kenneth M. Sigelman

Ken Sigelman was born in Staten Island, New York, on November 30, 1952. He received his early education in the public schools of New York City. Ken then enrolled at Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1973 at the age of 20. He received his undergraduate degree cum laude, with high distinction in history, in major subject.

Toward the end of his college days, Ken decided to pursue a combined career in law and medicine. He enrolled at the University of Florida College of Law, from which he graduated with honors in 1976. While in law school, Ken served as Executive Editor of the University of Florida Law Review, and was a legal research and writing instructor to first-year law students.

After graduating from law school, Ken obtained a one-year clerkship with Justices James C. Adkins and Arthur J. England of the Florida Supreme Court. While serving his clerkship, Ken successfully completed his medical school admission test, and passed the Florida Bar Exam.

In September 1977, Ken entered the University of Miami School of Medicine, from which he received his M.D. degree in 1981.

Following his graduation from medical school, Ken completed an internship at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco. He received his license to practice medicine and surgery in 1982. While at St. Mary’s, Ken passed the California Bar Exam.

Ken began practicing law in March 1983. Since that time, he has devoted his practice to the representation of victims of medical negligence, with particular emphasis on children injured during the birth process. He has not, and does not, represent insurance companies, healthcare providers, hospitals, or HMOs.

Ken’s legal experience, medical background, and passionate commitment to fight for his clients’ rights have enabled him to resolve personally, through trial, arbitration, or settlement, many serious and catastrophic injury cases, including numerous cases in excess of $1 million.

In 1998, Ken received an Outstanding Trial Lawyer award from the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. He has been elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization whose membership is limited to lawyers who have completed at least 20 jury trials, and is a Fellow of the American College of Legal Medicine.

Since 1991, Ken has served as the Chair of the Medical Malpractice Committee of the Consumer Attorneys of California. This leadership position has given him an opportunity to testify many times before the California State Legislature on behalf of victims of medical malpractice and HMO abuse, specifically including catastrophically injured children. He has been interviewed by the media on numerous occasions in his role as an advocate for victims of medical negligence. Ken has received numerous awards from the Consumer Attorneys of California for his efforts.

Since 1984, Ken has lectured extensively at legal seminars, where he has taught other lawyers how to handle all phases of medical malpractice litigation, including cerebral palsy, Erb’s palsy, and other birth injury cases.

While Ken Sigelman is licensed to practice law in California and Florida, and before the United States Supreme Court, he has handled cases in numerous other states with the permission of the court and, where appropriate, the association of local counsel.

Penelope A. Phillips

Penelope Phillips has been associated with Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates since 1991. Penelope received her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California, and her law degree from the University of California Boalt Hall School of Law in 1982. She began practicing law in 1982. Since the mid-1980s, Penelope’s practice has focused on medical negligence. Penelope has been co-counsel with Ken Sigelman on several jury trial which resulted in verdicts above $1 million, and has been an indispensable member of the legal team on other cases in which the firm has obtained multi-million dollar settlements.