Clifford & Brown

James E. Brown

James E. "Jim" Brown was born on the windswept and frigid plains of North Dakota on November 23, 1940. After receiving an engineering degree from the University of North Dakota, he attended Hastings College of the Law with his now long-time partner, Steve Clifford. Unfortunately, Mr. Brown and Mr. Clifford never met each other during their law school careers, but Steve Clifford paved the way for Mr. Brown at the firm for four years while Mr. Brown spent two years each in Uncle Sam's Army and the Kern County District Attorney's Office. On June 22, 1970, Mr. Brown accepted a position at the firm then known as Raymond, Noriega and Clifford, and he has managed to retain that position for now well over three decades. Mr. Brown is a litigator. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury and business litigation matters, and most recently acts as a mediator in a variety of litigation matters and disputes. He is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Brown is married to the former Barbara Jean "Jeannie" Ratliff, who also graduated from the University of North Dakota. The Browns have three adult children and four grandchildren, all of whom still make their homes in Bakersfield. Perhaps because he bounced around so much as a youth (he attended five high schools) he has become a model of consistency. He and Jeannie have been married for 39 years; they have lived in the same house for 31 years; they have even had the same vacation condo in North Idaho for 26 years. The Browns are avid fisherfolks and golfers. They attend River Lakes Community Church in Bakersfield and Rathdrum Bible Church in Rathdrum, Idaho.

Mr. Brown is a member of the State Bar of California and the Kern County Bar Association. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.