Romero Law, APC

08/21/2025

Firm founder and lead trial lawyer Alan Romero named one of the Top 100 lawyers in Super Lawyers Magazine's 2026 rankings.

09/26/2024

Great time at the Italian American Bar Association event last night at Casa Italiana on North Broadway. Ran into my friend, the Hon. Mark Mooney, whose known penchant for armadillos and armadillo paraphernalia makes him one of my favorite people. Now you know what to talk about when you see him!

Judge Mooney and I both missed our friend Angela Zanin, past IABA President, who could not attend last night due to her interviewing with the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation today… i.e. going through the final stages of the process to be appointed to a judgeship! 👩‍⚖️ Couldn’t hope for a kinder or more competent litigator to sit as a bench officer in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Also joining us was one of my favorite magicians, Austin Janik, who – as part of his fantastical act – unwitting participated in the theft of former District Attorney Steve Cooley’s identity by a colleague sitting to Mr. Cooley’s right. Long story. 📚

Can’t wait for the next one… the tiramisu was pretty good. 🇮🇹

09/19/2024

On Monday a Fresno Superior Court jury awarded former Parlier Police Department Chief Jose Garza $1,000,000 in his whistleblower retaliation lawsuit against his former employer, the City of Parlier. Chief Garza (presently the Chief of the Coalinga Police Department) was terminated due to his refusal to participate in the coverup of the felony embezzlement of public funds by a city employee, protected by Mayor Alma Beltran. The City Manager, controlled by Mayor Beltran, ordered Garza and an outside investigator to cease communicating with the Fresno County District Attorney about the embezzlement and to shut down the investigation. Chief Garza refused this illegal order, and the jury found that he was unlawfully fired as a direct result.

Mayor Beltran’s poorly thought-out lies imploded under their own weight at trial, as she claimed the sole reason that Chief Garza was removed was that a bond measure (Measure Q) was not certain to pass, so that it would be “financially irresponsible” to approve a contract renewal for Chief Garza that included a 5% annual increase. Having planned for this lie in open court, I then showed her the contract that was being negotiated, which contained a carve-out/safety provision that stated that Chief Garza would not get the 5% raise if Measure Q did not pass. Faced with this glaring proof that her story was a total fabrication, she then claimed that she had never read the contract. Trap sprung. My next question was whether it was her testimony to the jury that she voted to remove Chief Garza based upon what was contained in a contract that she never read. She was trapped in the lie and had to answer, “yes.” At that point, nothing Mayor Beltran had to say had any credibility. In fact, Mayor Beltran’s behavior in court was so abhorrent that multiple jurors later comment that, “everything you made us believe about her, she proved to be true on the stand.” A low point of the trial was Mayor Beltran being removed from the court – outside the presence of the jury – for disruptive behavior. I’m not joking.

The verdict was a huge vindication for Chief Garza, and proved that he was illegally fired by a cabal of three members of the Parlier City Council who were under the total control of Mayor Beltran. Chief Garza stated that his reputation earned from 40 years of unblemished law enforcement experience was completely shattered by Mayor Beltran and the City of Parlier. Hopefully this verdict can be the first step in this incredible human being getting his well-deserved reputation back.

This is the type of case I went to law school to do, and I could not feel more fortunate to have had the absolutely privilege of representing Jose and speaking truth to power on behalf of some of the most vulnerable citizens of the Central Valley. It was one of those days where all the hard work and sacrifice really felt worth it, and I will never forget it.

Some news coverage including an interview with both Chief Garza and myself:
https://abc30.com/post/former-parlier-police-chief-wins-1m-lawsuit-firing-city/15313103/

09/19/2024

This Monday, a Fresno Superior Court jury awarded former Parlier Police Department Chief Jose Garza $1,000,000 in his whistleblower retaliation lawsuit against his former employer, the City of Parlier. Chief Garza (presently the Chief of the Coalinga Police Department) was terminated due to his refusal to participate in the coverup of the felony embezzlement of public funds by a city employee, protected by Mayor Alma Beltran. The City Manager, controlled by Mayor Beltran, ordered Garza and an outside investigator to cease communicating with the Fresno County District Attorney about the embezzlement and to shut down the investigation. Chief Garza refused this illegal order, and the jury found that he was unlawfully fired as a direct result.

Mayor Beltran’s poorly thought-out lies imploded under their own weight at trial, as she claimed the sole reason that Chief Garza was removed was that a bond measure (Measure Q) was not certain to pass, so that it would be “financially irresponsible” to approve a contract renewal for Chief Garza that included a 5% annual increase. Having planned for this lie in open court, I then showed her the contract that was being negotiated, which contained a carve-out/safety provision that stated that Chief Garza would not get the 5% raise if Measure Q did not pass. Faced with this glaring proof that her story was a total fabrication, she then claimed that she had never read the contract. Trap sprung. My next question was whether it was her testimony to the jury that she voted to remove Chief Garza based upon what was contained in a contract that she never read. She was trapped in the lie and had to answer, “yes.” At that point, nothing Mayor Beltran had to say had any credibility. In fact, Mayor Beltran’s behavior in court was so abhorrent that multiple jurors later comment that, “everything you made us believe about her, she proved to be true on the stand.” A low point of the trial was Mayor Beltran being removed from the court – outside the presence of the jury – for disruptive behavior. I’m not joking.

The verdict was a huge vindication for Chief Garza, and proved that he was illegally fired by a cabal of three members of the Parlier City Council who were under the total control of Mayor Beltran. Chief Garza stated that his reputation earned from 40 years of unblemished law enforcement experience was completely shattered by Mayor Beltran and the City of Parlier. Hopefully this verdict can be the first step in this incredible human being getting his well-deserved reputation back.

This is the type of case I went to law school to do, and I could not feel more fortunate to have had the absolutely privilege of representing Jose and speaking truth to power on behalf of some of the most vulnerable citizens of the Central Valley. It was one of those days where all the hard work and sacrifice really felt worth it, and I will never forget it.

Some news coverage including an interview with both Chief Garza and myself:
https://abc30.com/post/former-parlier-police-chief-wins-1m-lawsuit-firing-city/15313103/

08/02/2024

During an afternoon recess walk-and-talk on the third floor mid-trial at Stanley Mosk Courthouse, I ran across some familiar, friendly faces. It was none other than the Irish-American Bar Association's (of which I am a proud member) Irish Externs, who I had the privilege of meeting at the dinner held in their honor that Judge Margaret Marrow was generous enough to host at her home a few weeks prior.

I was lucky enough to have been undertaking an interesting trial that I was able to invite them over to observe, and afterwards we discussed my love for Irish cinema and my travels from Galway up to Belfast. I joked that as they have never been photographed so many times in their lives as they have been this summer… that they should brace themselves for one more.

Good luck and hope to see those of you who choose to stay in LA around! ☘️

06/03/2024

Very lucky to have been invited by the Hon. Yvette Palazuelos to attend the Mexican American Bar Foundation's Annual Scholarship Gala at the Judicate West table. Also present are the Hon. Mark Mooney and Hon. Robert Broadbelt... making for three fine judicial officers and public servants who I have had the privilege of appearing before. Was also pleased to be joined by Elizabeth Hernandez and Angela Belty. A fantastic evening capped off with dozens of scholarships awarded to deserving law students, not least of which, Itzel Burgos, my Southwestern Law School mentee for this year.

05/07/2024

Monday night dinner with some of my favorite people from the California Employment Lawyers Association. Hosted by Young Ryu, also joining us were Joe Lovretovich, Rahul Sethi, Eric Gruzen, Shahla Moussly, and Pouya B. Chami.

11/25/2023

What a fantastic Veteran's Day 2023. Invited by General Atomics Chief Executive Dr. Vivek Lall to join hero astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin, his wife Dr. Anca Aldrin, and my dear friend Vlad Ghenciu on an unforgettable trip to Texas A&M University to attend the dedication of a statute to Dr. Aldrin at the RELLIS Chapel, where he had trained as a fighter pilot trainee when that part of the campus served as the runway for then-Bryan Air Force Base. I could not be more thankful for the absolute kindness of all involved to extend me the privilege of participating in this once-in-a-lifetime event which made me feel prouder to be an American than I have felt in a long time.

Apollo 11 was perhaps the apex point of American national unity, and I hope that we can perhaps recapture some semblance of that level of national pride again during our lifetimes.

[Repost: better version of the original photograph.]

11/11/2023

What a fantastic Veteran's Day 2023. Invited by General Atomics Chief Executive Dr. Vivek Lall to join hero astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin, his wife Dr. Anca Aldrin, and my dear friend Vlad Ghenciu on an unforgettable trip to Texas A&M University to attend the dedication of a statute to Dr. Aldrin at the University, where he had trained as a fighter pilot trainee when this part of the campus served as the runway for then-Bryan Air Force Base. I could not be more thankful for the absolute kindness of all involved to extend me the privilege of participating in this once-in-a-lifetime event which made me feel prouder to be an American than I have felt in a long time.

Apollo 11 was perhaps the apex point of American national unity, and I hope that we can perhaps recapture some semblance of that national pride again during our lifetimes.

11/22/2022

08/31/2022

New Senate Bill Could Allow California Employees to Miss Work in Emergencies

Senate Bill 1044 would allow employees to leave work or refuse to report to work if they reasonably believe the worksite is unsafe during an “emergency condition.”

07/30/2022

Properly Following Employment Law Procedures is Essential For a Successful Claim

Here is what California workers need to know about the statutes of limitations on employment law claims. Contact us now for a free consultation.