Daniel M. Hodes Honored with the Joseph D. McNeil Civility Award

The Orange County Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) has selected Daniel M. Hodes as the recipient of its prestigious Joseph D. McNeil Civility Award, recognizing an attorney whose career exemplifies the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism in the practice of law.

This award is reserved for lawyers who lead by example, those who consistently demonstrate fairness, courtesy, and dignity in their dealings with clients, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and the judiciary. For colleagues who have worked alongside or across from Hodes in the courtroom, the honor comes as no surprise.

Throughout his career, Hodes has earned a reputation not only as one of California’s most accomplished medical malpractice trial lawyers, but also as one of its most respected. His professional accolades are extensive: a four-time OCTLA Top Gun honoree, inductee into the OCTLA Hall of Fame, and a three-time finalist for CAOC Trial Lawyer of the Year. He served as President of OCTLA in 1999, spent ten years on the CAOC Board of Governors, and has been an ABOTA member since 1995. Today, he serves as ABOTA’s National Board Representative, further underscoring his peers’ trust in his judgment and leadership.

Those accomplishments sit atop an extraordinary record of results, with more than 150 seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements on behalf of patients and families harmed by negligent medical or hospital care. Yet those who know Hodes best say his legacy cannot be measured by verdict totals alone.

Dennis Ames, an attorney who knows Dan well, said “I’ve been litigating with Dan Hodes for probably 30-40 years, and I can only say Dan Hodes is the consummate professional. I always consider litigating with him (as opposed to opposing him) because his ethical standards are limitless, the work that he does is always fully prepared, appropriate and I have nothing but the highest regard for Dan both professionally and personally.”

Hodes’ path to plaintiff-side advocacy was shaped by perspective. He spent the first six years of his career representing physicians and hospitals, an experience that gave him a deep understanding of medical systems and defense strategy. In 1987, he made a pivotal decision to represent those most impacted by medical errors. That calling has guided the rest of his career, including the founding Hodes Milman, the firm he established 18 years ago.

Throughout that journey, he has remained a tireless educator and mentor and is a frequent lecturer on medical malpractice trial practice. He combines technical mastery with practical wisdom and emphasizes professionalism as a strategic and moral imperative.

That philosophy is perhaps best captured in Hodes’ own words:

“Civility and integrity are not ornamental virtues of the law, they are its operating system. When we treat opponents, courts and clients with respect and honesty, we preserve not only our credibility, but the public’s faith in justice itself.”

This reflects a worldview that aligns squarely with the purpose of the Joseph D. McNeil Civility Award. Named for a lawyer revered for his grace and ethical leadership, the award honors those who understand that how cases are litigated matters as much as how they are resolved.

Outside the courtroom, Hodes’ discipline and resolve are no less remarkable. He holds multiple Guinness World Records for water walking across some of the world’s most challenging channels. He has also completed eight marathons and a half Ironman, feats that mirror the endurance, preparation, and focus he brings to his legal practice.

In honoring Daniel M. Hodes, ABOTA’s Orange County Chapter is recognizing more than a distinguished career. It is celebrating a lawyer who has shown that excellence and civility are not competing values, but complementary ones, and that the highest calling of the profession is to advance justice with skill, humility, and respect.

About Hodes & Milman
For more than 30 years, the attorneys at Hodes Milman have worked to improve safety in Southern California by holding negligent truck drivers, medical professionals, and other responsible parties accountable on behalf of individuals harmed through no fault of their own. For more information go to VerdictVictory.com or call 949-640-8222.