Attorney Wendy C. York
Wendy
C.
York
- Founder
- Elder Law and Wrongful Death
- Wrongful Death
- Elder Abuse and Neglect
- Elder Law
Biography
Wendy C. York is a is a pioneering leader and nationally recognized subject matter expert in elder law litigation, representing individuals and families with a focused expertise in elder abuse, nursing home abuse and neglect, and wrongful death. She successfully handled the first ever elder abuse case to go to trial in Sacramento County, California in 2002 and has been a leader in elder abuse and neglect cases ever since. Wendy is the founding attorney and lead trial counsel at York Law Firm whose mission is to make an impact on the long-term care industry for the benefit of seniors and families.
Wendy has extensive experience litigating high-stakes cases and securing significant results for clients. She has served as co-lead counsel in major class actions, including a statewide wage-and-hour class action against UPS that resulted in an $87 million settlement on behalf of over 10,000 drivers. She also served as co-lead counsel in a nationwide class action/mass tort matter and as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in litigation against Johnson & Johnson / Ethicon.
Her work as an elder abuse lawyer and nursing home neglect attorney and subject matter expert has led to meaningful accountability for negligent care providers. Wendy obtained the first nursing home neglect trial verdict in Sacramento County, securing a $3,000,000 recovery on behalf of an 84-year-old victim of abuse and neglect. She has also achieved multiple settlements exceeding $1,000,000 in elder abuse cases, helping families obtain justice and financial recovery after devastating loss.
In addition to her elder law practice, Wendy has secured notable results in personal injury and employment litigation, including a $1,150,000 verdict in a race discrimination case, a $1,100,000 verdict involving a dangerous road condition, and multimillion-dollar settlements in catastrophic injury matters. These include a $4,550,000 amusement park injury case and a $2,750,000 motorcycle accident case.
Wendy has been recognized for her excellence in advocacy, earning selection to Northern California Super Lawyers® every year since 2007, including 2026. She has also received numerous honors, including Sacramento Advocate of the Year (CCTLA) and multiple Consumer Attorney of the Year finalist recognitions (CAOC).
She is routinely invited to educate fellow attorneys at mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) programs, including presentations at the annual Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) convention and other prominent forums.
Wendy remains actively involved in leading legal organizations, including the Consumer Attorneys of California, Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, and California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. She earned her law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and is admitted to practice in California and multiple federal courts.
Education
- McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, California
- J.D. - 1993
- Law Review, McGeorge School Law Review, Board of Editors
- California State University, Sacramento, California
- Bachelor of Science - 1989
- Major: Criminal Justice
- Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College
Past Positions
- Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee against Johnson & Johnson / Ethicon, Member
Professional Associations
- Anthony M. Kennedy Inns of Court, Member
- American Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- California Employment Lawyers Association, Member
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Member
- California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, Member
- Consumer Attorneys of California, Member
- Women Lawyers of Sacramento (WLS), Board Member
- Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Officer and Board Member
- Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association (CCTLA), Officer and Board Member
Bar Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
Honors
- Northern California’s Super Lawyers consistently from 2007-2026
- 2023 California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) awarded Wendy York the William E. Taylor Memorial Award for Ms. York’s work to promote access to justice for California’s elders and long-term care consumers.
- 2019 California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) recognized York Law Firm as an Aging Policy Champion
- 2008 Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) Wendy York awarded Presidential Award of Merit
- 2007 Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) Wendy York Finalist for Consumer Attorney of the Year Award in the case of Cornn v UPS wage and hour class action case brought on behalf of the UPS drivers
- 2006 Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) Wendy York Finalist for Consumer Attorney of the Year Award in the case of Ahrens v Somer Park Special Living Centers, an elder abuse case against an assisted living facility
- 2006 Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association (CCTLA) Advocate of the Year Award










