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Biography – Zachary Zwerdling

Mr. Zwerdling has lived in Humboldt County, California since 1959. He attended local schools and graduated from Arcata High School in 1969. He then attended Stanford University, graduating in 1973 with academic honors. Thereafter, he attended the University of Santa Clara School of Law and graduated in 1976. While a law student, Mr. Zwerdling competed in The Traynor Moot Court Competition – a nationally recognized competition. Mr. Zwerdling was also a member of the Santa Clara Law Review and authored several published articles.

After passing the bar exam in 1976, he began working in the Humboldt County Public Defender’s office where he handled many complex criminal matters. After he left the Public Defender’s office in 1978, Mr. Zwerdling went into private practice. He was court-appointed to represent three criminal defendants charged with homicide. Mr. Zwerdling was also retained by two defendants to represent them in homicide cases. He obtained acquittals in three of those homicide cases. One defendant was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Shortly thereafter, Mr. Zwerdling began working solely as a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney. He has represented well over 1,000 injury victims. He has had many notable court victories including Hart v. Berryman in which he obtained a verdict for $9.3 million. The defense pre-trial offer was $10,000. This is the second highest single plaintiff verdict in Humboldt County history.

Mr. Zwerdling has been inducted into The American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL). He is the only member of this organization on the Northcoast.

Mr. Zwerdling is also the only practicing attorney on the Northcoast inducted into The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

He has also been recognized as a Northern California Superlawyer.

Mr. Zwerdling is rated as “AV-pre-eminent” by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest rating from the oldest and most respected peer-review rating service in the United States.

Mr. Zwerdling also has a 10/10 ranking (highest) on Avvo.com, another well respected national lawyer peer rating association.

Mr. Zwerdling is honored to have won “Best Attorney in Humboldt County 2020” and “Best Attorney in Humboldt County 2021” in The North Coast Journal. Voting was open to all residents of the North Coast. The Zwerdling Law Firm LLP was also awarded “Best Law Firm in Humboldt County 2019” and “Best Law Firm in Humboldt County 2021”.

One of Mr. Zwerdling’s greatest sources of satisfaction is that he is frequently consulted by other attorneys and judges on legal matters. He serves as a mediator primarily in personal injury matters. He is one of the most senior practicing attorneys in Humboldt County.

Mr. Zwerdling is married to Margery Frago Zwerdling, a retired school psychologist. He has two children. Nathaniel Zwerdling, a partner at The Zwerdling Law Firm, and Dr. Maya Zwerdling, a physician at Open Door Clinic in Arcata. Maya’s husband is Dr. Michael Mangahas, pediatrician.

Mr. Zwerdling is a founding member of Ghost Train, Amber Soul, and Savoy Truffle, three popular local rock bands. He also is founder and CEO of Mercury Sky Records, a local music label that produces music from some of Humboldt County’s finest original singer-songwriters. In his free time, Mr. Zwerdling loves to backpack, cook, garden, and travel.

Here is a selection of news regarding some of Mr. Zwerdling’s high profile cases:

Sund Murders

Northcoast Journal’s coverage of the Sund Murder case

Kitchen Wrongful Death Case

What it Takes to Get a Hit and Run Conviction

Tsurai Ancestral Society v. City of Trinidad

Channel 3 News video reporting on the Tsurai Study Area Settlement

Times Standard’s Reporting

Mad River Union – Trinidad Blamed for Failing to Protect Tsurai Sacred Land

Ingomar Club Sexual Harassment Case

Times Standard’s Reporting