Small Law Firms

Former Partner Interrupts Law Firm Holiday Party And Starts Shooting

According to reports, the partner had either been fired that same day or earlier in the week.

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It’s everyone’s worst nightmare. An employee who was recently let go from the company returns to the office with a gun and starts shooting, killing his former boss and wounding others. The shooter then takes his own life, having left disaster in his wake. Thankfully, workplace violence incidents like this are rare, but just before the new year began, a nightmare situation just like this unfolded at a law firm in Long Beach, California.

On Friday, December 29, lawyers and staff members at personal injury firm Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, and Harrison (formerly known as Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza, and Harrison) were enjoying their holiday party when John A. Mendoza, a former partner at the firm who practiced workers’ compensation law, showed up and interrupted the celebration. According to reports, Mendoza had either been fired that same day or earlier in the week, and upon his return, he brought a gun with him.

Mendoza reportedly told all lower-level staff members to leave the building before he opened fired upon senior managing partner Major A. Langer and Ronald Beck, who ran day-to-day operations at the firm. Langer was shot in the upper body and died at the scene, while Beck was shot in the leg and had a bullet graze his stomach. Mendoza was found dead at the scene, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Here’s a statement the firm released after the tragic incident occurred:

We are shocked and saddened by the tragedy that occurred at the Law Offices of Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin and Harrison yesterday, leaving one of our partners dead and another injured in a senseless act of workplace violence. On behalf of our entire firm, we wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Major Langer, who was killed in this tragic incident.

Major was a big part of the Law Offices of Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin and Harrison’s success. Major leaves his wife, children, and grandchildren a legacy that was truly as special as he was. Our thoughts and prayers are with Major’s family, as well as with the family of Ronald Beck, who was injured and remains hospitalized at this time.

To Our Clients: Rest assured that your case will not be affected and we will continue to vigorously represent you.

We here at Above the Law would like to extend our condolences to Major Langer’s family, friends, and colleagues during this extremely difficult time.

1 lawyer killed, another wounded at Bixby Knolls law office; reportedly fired partner takes own life [OC Register]
Long Beach shooting: Police ID gunman, victims [OC Register]
Victim, gunman in California law firm shooting were partners [SFGate]

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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky has been an editor at Above the Law since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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