(Last Updated on: January 16, 2026 )
In October 2025, Daniel M. Hodes, Founding and Managing Partner of Hodes Milman, was honored with the prestigious Joseph D. McNeil Civility Award by the Orange County Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). The award recognizes an attorney whose career exemplifies the highest standards of ethics, integrity, professionalism, and civility in the practice of law.
Reserved for lawyers who lead by example, the Joseph D. McNeil Civility Award honors those who consistently demonstrate fairness, courtesy, and dignity in their dealings with clients, colleagues, opposing counsel, and the judiciary. For attorneys who have worked alongside or across from Dan in the courtroom, the recognition comes as no surprise.
Dan’s legal career spans nearly four decades, during which he has built a reputation as one of California’s most accomplished and respected medical malpractice trial lawyers. His professional accolades are extensive and include being a four-time OCTLA Top Gun honoree, an 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 a member of ABOTA since 1995. Today, he serves as ABOTA’s National Board Representative, reflecting the trust his peers place in his judgment and leadership.
Throughout his career, Dan has secured more than $100 million in life-changing verdicts and settlements, including over 150 seven- and eight-figure results on behalf of patients and families harmed by negligent medical or hospital care. Yet those who know him best agree that his legacy cannot be measured by verdict totals alone.
As longtime colleague Dennis Ames noted, “I’ve been litigating with Dan Hodes for probably 30-40 years, and I can only say Dan 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.”
Dan’s path to plaintiff-side advocacy was shaped by experience. He spent the first six years of his career representing physicians and hospitals, gaining invaluable insight into medical systems and defense strategy. In 1987, he made the pivotal decision to represent those most impacted by medical errors, a calling that guided the remainder of his career, including the founding of Hodes Milman 18 years ago.
In addition to his trial work, Dan is a tireless educator, mentor, and frequent lecturer on medical malpractice trial practice. He emphasizes professionalism not only as a moral obligation, but as a strategic imperative. As Dan has said, “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.”
Outside the courtroom, Dan’s discipline and resolve are equally remarkable. He holds multiple Guinness World Records for water walking across some of the world’s most challenging channels and has completed eight marathons and a half Ironman, feats that mirror the endurance, preparation, and focus he brings to his legal practice.
Dan’s work continues to inspire the next generation of attorneys, and his recognition is a reminder that true advocacy is not just about winning cases. It’s about standing up for clients, elevating the profession, and leading by example in every facet of legal practice.
