New year. New activities. New voices.

One resolution.

January is the time when we all make lofty resolutions. Lose those extra pounds. Balance work and personal life. Win that big case.

Orange County and Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities have just one resolution every year – to show that trial lawyers make a difference in our communities.

For OCTLC, we have already planned another Habitat for Humanity Build, Superheroes 5k with Triumph Foundation, KidsWorks Trunk or Treat for Kids in Need, and of course, the Children’s Hospital of Orange County Walk in the Park at Disneyland, among other exciting volunteer opportunities with our partner charities including Second Harvest Food Bank, Make a Wish Foundation, Joy Jars (Never Ever Give Up) to help bring joy for kids battling cancer. So many opportunities for fun, camaraderie and generosity.

LATLC’s monthly volunteer projects for 2025 began in November with food distribution at MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity) and ended in December with the fantastic “Comfort & Joy” holiday giving event. (If you were not able to participate last month, check our website for photos and videos of that incredible day.) Next month we are hosting our 5th Day of Dignity, bringing mobile showers, manicures, haircuts, pet care and so much more to those experiencing homelessness in Hollywood. LATLC is already planning our popular annual activities like Valentine’s Day bingo party with seniors at the LA LGBT Center, Mother’s Day with Bresee Youth Foundation, KidSave projects to help foster teens find “forever homes,” and our Women’s Empowerment Day with Clare|Matrix.

OCTLC and LATLC have already set our joint Great Tryke Giveaway (May 2) where we both present adaptive tricycles to local children with disabilities. Not only will there be the incredible parade and fun activities with the families, but we will assemble 1,000 toiletry kits for U.S. Vets again.

You can support these activities by becoming Honorary Board Members of our organizations, sponsoring our fundraisers, or making automatic monthly donations as part of LATLC’s 2026 Jewel Circle and G.E.M. programs.

We are most excited about the new “voices” at both of our organizations.

Angela Belty joins the LATLC Executive Committee as Secretary, with the addition of two new board members: Will Daniels and Ryan Medler.

Neyleen Beljajev joined the OCTLC leadership as a new officer and Jonathan Dwork continued as Treasurer. If you are interested in Board opportunities, OCTLC would love to consider your application.

But the “voices” we really want to hear are from you. Volunteer with us. Support us. Learn more about us at LATLC.org and OCTLC.org.

This is one 2026 resolution that is very easy to keep – making a difference in our community.

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Griselda S. Rodriguez

Griselda Rodriguez received her B.S. from California State University, Northridge and earned her J.D. from Glendale University College of Law. She is a 2016 graduate of CAALA’s Plaintiff Trial Academy and is an active board member. Ms. Rodriguez established her law firm, Servin Rodriguez Law, in 2020. Her practice primarily focuses on representing plaintiffs in single-plaintiff employment actions and personal-injury matters. www.servinrodriguez.com.

Michelle M. West

Michelle Marie West is a partner with the law firm of Robinson Calcagnie in Newport Beach, California where she has practiced for 18 years. Her law practice is devoted to obtaining recovery for individuals who are catastrophically injured due to defective products, including vehicles, tires, skylights, machinery, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. She also handles dangerous condition cases, trucking cases, premises liability matters, and sexual assault cases on behalf of injured victims and survivors. Ms. West has been nominated as a Top 100 Southern California Superlawyer multiple times, Top 50 Orange County Superlawyer, and Top 50 Women Southern California Superlawyer, as well as being recognized by Best Lawyers. She is on the Board of the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charities, Past President of the Western Trial Lawyers Association and currently serves as President of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Charities.

In her free time‚ Ms. West enjoys weightlifting, traveling, marathons (completing over 100) as well as participating in ultra-distance running events, cycling events, and triathlons, and has completed over 10 full Ironman® triathlons. She competes in the Badwater Ultramarathon running event to raise money for charity and has finished the event five times. Her next race, the Great World Race, will take her to 7 continents in 7 days to complete 7 marathons.

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