Louanne Masry joins firm

Louanne Masry, lawyer and daughter of attorney Edward Masry of "Erin Brockovich" fame, has joined the law firm of Taylor & Ring in Los Angeles.

Masry, an Agoura Hills resident, started practicing law at her father's firm, Masry & Vititoe in Westlake Village, in 1997. Ed Masry, a former Thousand Oaks City Council member, became a household name in the late 1990s after he successfully pursued a toxic tort case at the urging of his assistant, Erin Brockovich. That case ultimately was settled by Pacific Gas & Electric for more than $300 million.

Masry practiced law at Masry & Vititoe from 1997 to 2007. The firm was founded by her father and James Vititoe in 1982. Ed Masry passed away in 2005 from complications caused by diabetes.

"My father relished representing individuals who didn't have a powerful voice in a courtroom in cases against large insurance companies and businesses," Masry said. "I intend to carry on that tradition."

Like her father, Masry's experience as an attorney has been wide-ranging. She has litigated a diverse collection of cases over the years, including Pamela Anderson Lee's stolen sex tape case, toxic tort cases, invasion of privacy cases against tabloids, elder abuse and medical malpractice cases, and product liability cases involving tainted vitamin and herbal supplements.

Masry received her bachelor's degree from UCLA and her law degree from Whittier Law School, magna cum laude.

Taylor & Ring was formed in 2002 by John C. Taylor and David M. Ring. The firm specializes in serious personal injury and wrongful death litigation. The firm also has a niche practice in representing victims of sexual abuse and misconduct.