Markus Willoughby - a Santa Cruz, California (CA) Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Santa Cruz Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Updated: 03/02/2026

Areas of Practice

Medical Malpractice 95%
Personal Injury 5%

Litigation: 100%

Attorney Information

Overview

Markus Willoughby is relentless in the pursuit of excellence. He is an award winning trial lawyer who is recognized for his tenacity as an advocate and his law changing successes in the courtroom. He continually seeks to develop and refine strategies that will help achieve outstanding outcomes for his clients.

Mr. Willoughby focuses his practice on medical malpractice, personal injury and other injury-related lawsuits and has earned a reputation for success in these complex cases. Mr. Willoughby is a Trial Lawyer's trial lawyer. Other lawyers throughout California frequently turn to Mr. Willoughby for guidance on complex legal matters or seek his assistance when they need to go into a courtroom.

His medical malpractice victory in Keys v. Alta Bates Summit Medical Center created a blueprint for individuals to successfully bring claims for negligent infliction of emotional distress claims against doctors and hospitals. His formula is being taught to attorneys around the country and Mr. Willoughby has received widespread acclaim from his peers.

Some of his accomplishments include:

Nomination for Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2013 and 2014 by the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association.
Received the coveted Civil Justice Award in 2014 from the San Francisco Trial Lawyer's Association for "fighting the good fight for his clients every day."
Is repeatedly selected as a Northern California Super Lawyers "Top 5%" of Attorneys in Northern California.
Received the CLAY AWARD 2016 California "Attorney of the Year" for Medical Malpractice.
Is a member of the National Trial Lawyer's Top 100 Attorney's
AVVO 10.0 Rating "Superb Attorney in Medical Malpractice"
AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell "Peer Rated for the highest Level of Professional Excellence."
American Board of Trial Advocates Member since 2023
Elected as a Northern California Super Lawyers every year since 2014

Mr. Willoughby is a Board Member of the San Francisco Trial Lawyer's Association, which is dedicated to the education of the legal community. He has been the chairperson for the annual Mock Trial Competition for the last 5 years, mentors students and young lawyers, is a frequent author on matters relevant to the ever changing and complex legal community and lectures at continuing legal education courses. Mr. Willoughby is the 2020 President of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Markus Willoughby included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Trial Lawyer of the Year Nominee 2014 and 2015, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
Civil Justice Award, SFTLA, 2014
Top 5% Attorneys, Northern California Super Lawyers, 2015 - 2017
Member, National Trial Lawyer's Top 100 Attorneys
California Lawyer Attorney of the Year Award, California Lawyers Magazine, 2016 - Present
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
AVVO 10.0 Rated
Chairperson, Annual Mock Trial Competition
America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators
American Board of Trial Advocates Member since 2023
Elected as a Northern California Super Lawyers every year since 2014

Other Sources of Feedback About Markus Willoughby

Included on the 2026 Northern California Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2025 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2024 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2023 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2022 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2021 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2020 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2019 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2018 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2017 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2016 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2015 Northern California Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- Case Western Reserve University Law School, Cleveland, Ohio, 1995
  J.D.
  Honors: Nathan Burkan Award
  Honors: Governor's Commendation
Non Legal Education
- California State University, 1992
  Honors: With High Honors
  Major: Philosophy

Current Employment Position(s)

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Founding Partner
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Languages

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English (Primary)
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Spanish
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Classes and Seminars

Mock Trial, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2013 - Present
Mastering the Mini Opening, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2019
Seminars in retaining and using expert witnesses, Voir Dire, deconstructing the defense expert witness and trial tactics

Pro Bono Activities

President of the San Francisco Trial Lawyer's Association, 2020 - Present
Board Member of the San Francisco Trial Lawyer's Association, 2010 - Present

Representative Cases

Keys v. Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
- Citation: (2015) 235 Cal App. 4th 484
- Court: Contra Costa

Published Works

Articles

How the updated MICRA law impacts Medical Malpractice Litigation. 2023
Pinning Down the Medical Expert in Failure to Diagnose Cases, Plaintiff Magazine, 2014
Navigating Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress After Keyes vs. Alta Bates, Plaintiff Magazine, 2015
Winning the Battle of Experts, San Francisco Daily Journal, Oct.28, 2016
The Art of Selection and Use of Expert Witnesses, Plaintiff Magazine, 2017
Frequent contributor to the Trial Lawyer Magazine, Quarterly article as president, as well as commentary as Board Member

Bar Admissions

Ohio, 1995
California, 1998
U.S. District Court Northern District of California
U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio
U.S. District Court Eastern District of California

Other Affiliations

Alameda County Bar Association (Member)
San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2010 - Present (Board of Directors)
San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, 2020 - Present (President)

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Contact

Santa Cruz, CA

815 Brisa Del Mar
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Directions

Phone: 415-870-2778

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.willoughbyfirm.com

Credit Cards Accepted
Free Consultations

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Markus Willoughby - Santa Cruz, CA