Our Team Workers' compensation and personal injury team
Michael Leyva
Michael L. Leyva is a partner and founding member of LEYVA & NIGHT, APC, with law offices in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside Counties. He practices in the area of Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law representing seriously injured persons throughout the state of California. He has worked extensively with cases dealing with various types of catastrophic injuries, including head injuries, toxic exposure, automobile accidents and accidents at construction sites.
Mr. Leyva has written and lectured on legal topics dealing primarily with Workers’ Compensation rights and the State Bar of California recognizes him as a Certified Specialist.
He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and his Bachelor of Arts from the California State University in Los Angeles. Mr. Leyva is now in his 25th year of private practice with Leyva and Night, APC where he has represented thousands of satisfied clients.
Adriana Brava
Adriana Brava has a managing role in the Workers’ Compensation Department at Leyva & Night, APC. Adriana has established herself as a knowledgeable, caring, and skilled attorney. She has been with Leyva & Night, APC since 2003 and has personally litigated multiple cases to settlement or judgment with awards totaling in the millions of dollars.
Adriana received a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from the University of California at Berkeley in 1997. In 2002, she earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of Law where she was an editor of the Hastings Women’s Law Journal and was active in, and served as President of, La Raza Law Students Association. Adriana was subsequently admitted to the State Bar of California and practiced one year of civil litigation before finding her home practicing Workers’ Compensation law.
Adriana has represented injured workers with a variety of serious injuries. Ms. Brava has successfully negotiated a wide range of benefits for her clients. Thanks to her advocacy skills, Ms. Brava has been able to negotiate settlements that include a lump sum payment to the client and an additional monthly stipend for the rest of the clients’ life. She is especially skillful in identifying third party additional compensation that may be due to clients. Adriana provides her clients the care and attention that she would want provided to her because she knows that having pending legal issues is stressful. It is that personal approach that sets Adriana apart from other attorneys.
Adriana was born, raised and educated in California. She is a proud daughter of immigrants to California from Mexico. Before going to law school Adriana worked as a public school teacher in Los Angeles. In her spare time Adriana enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. Her favorite top three countries visited so far are Costa Rica, Ireland, and Italy. She also likes to periodically dabble in personal challenge sports and has completed a couple of Warrior Dashes and several half-marathons.
Our Paralegals
Our experienced legal assistants will guide you each step of the way to make sure you get to be as healthy as you can get, and to get the best reward for your pain and suffering. In our Montebello office you will be helped by Walter who has 15 years under his belt in your Workers' Comp case. Nephi will help you in your car accident or personal injury claim. Nephi Santos, a graduate of UC Irvine (BA) with over 14 years of claims experience and a former adjuster, knows what it take to help manage a successful personal injury claim. In our Santa Ana office you will have the pleasure to be helped by Carmen who has been working for the law offices of Leyva & Night, APC for over 6 years, Teresa is bringing her personal injury and workers' compensation experience to our offices in Montebello and Santa Ana, and Laura will show you the way if you reside or work near our Riverside office.
Sanford Baddin
Sanford S. Baddin has been a litigation attorney in the Southern California area for many years whose practice has emphasized automobile and other accidents where there has been injuries due to someone else's negligent behavior . He worked for many years for the best insurance companies before becoming a plaintiff's attorney. This has given him unique experience on both sides of a personal injury claim. He knows best how insurance companies evaluate claims and as the result creates strategies for collecting the maximum amounts for his clients.
Mr. Baddin is a car enthusiast and he loves the old classic V-8s especially the 1958 Chevrolet Impala, 1958 Pontiac Bonneville and 1969
Corvette Stingray. On weekends he drives his 1971 Datsun 240Z which has not been restored or modified from the time he purchased it.
Gordon Goossen
Mr. Goosen has many year of experience in Workers' Compensation law. He is very knowledgeable and a fervent advocate for his clients. Gordon spends time with each case to ensure the best outcome possible.