Robert W. Armstrong has been AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell for 25 years, a Certified Specialist in civil litigation, and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the National Board of Trial Advocacy for over 20 years.  He has also been recognized as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” (top 5%) every year since 2007.  Mr. Armstrong was admitted to practice in California in 1978 and began practicing law with his mentor, Edison J. Demler, in 1979.  The two of them founded Demler & Armstrong in 1981 and were joined by trial attorney Terry Rowland in 1982.  In 1987, they formed the partnership of Demler, Armstrong & Rowland.

For nearly 40 years, Mr. Armstrong has specialized in trials and appeals of high exposure personal injury and insurance bad faith cases.  He has also written and lectured extensively on subjects of insurance coverage and bad faith.

The Armstrong family has a proud tradition of participation in the legal community and, in addition to his father (a noted criminal defense attorney and superior court judge), he counts his great-grandfather, brother, daughter, and nephew as fellow attorneys.  In addition to his legal career, Mr. Armstrong has also been actively involved in community service, serving on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of America, ChildNet, and Interval House, where he served as Board President for nearly 20 years.

Education

  • Honors graduate University of California at Santa Barbara – 1974
  • Honors and awards in California and National intercollegiate debate tournaments
  • Assistant Director of Forensics at UCSB in 1975
  • Graduated University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1978
  • Multiple scholarship awards
  • National Honors in Jessup International Moot Court competition

Bar Information

  • Admitted to California State Bar in 1978
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court; Central, Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of California
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Bar Association

  • Long Beach Bar Association
  • National Board of Trial Advocacy (1994 – Present) (Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Practice)
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Associate (1997 – Present)
  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel

Published Decisions

  • Preston v. Goldman (1986) 42 Cal.3d 108
  • Coleman v. Gulf Insurance (1986) 41 Cal.3d 782
  • Wood v. McGovern (1985) 167 Cal.App.3d 772
  • National Union Fire v. Nationwide Ins. Co. (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 709
  • Mendez v. Kurten (1985) 176 Cal.App.3d 481
  • Fortman v. Safeco (1990) 221 Cal.App.3d 1394
  • Weinrot v. Jackson & Sun, Inc. (1985) 40 Cal.3d 327