The Lien Project was conceived by founder and principal John Rice. A trial lawyer with more than 30 years of litigation experience, John quickly recognized that medical liens and reimbursement claims often drained significant amounts of client settlements and awards. Further, the laws surrounding reimbursements and liens under both state and federal laws comprised a complex web, with lienholders and health plans seeking reimbursement aggressively, pursuing their interests and competing claims often threatening to drain the clients of their net recoveries.
Thus, the Lien Project was born.
It became clear that defending settlements and recoveries needed to be pursued with the same aggressive level of advocacy applied to the underlying plaintiff claims. John, a nationally recognized speaker and expert in liens, realized that dual expertise in litigation and lien negotiation positioned him uniquely to address the multifaceted challenges that arise in personal injury cases. As more and more of his fellow trial attorneys sought his expertise to help them resolve their clients’ liens, John’s practice shifted towards applying his considerable legal expertise and experience as a trial lawyer and litigator exclusively to resolving liens and reimbursement claims on behalf of trial lawyers and their clients.
The Lien Project, PC specializes in assisting plaintiffs' attorneys and their clients in resolving medical liens and reimbursement issues within personal injury cases across California. The firm is dedicated to safeguarding the financial interests of injury victims by effectively navigating the complexities of medical liens, ensuring that clients retain a fair portion of their settlements or awards. Its principals, John Rice and Jim Pantone, are both experienced and accomplished trial lawyers and bar leaders, with over 65 years of combined litigation experience. Both John and Jim are AV rated preeminent (5.0) by Martindale Hubbell, the highest peer-review rating, denoting the pinnacle of professional excellence and ethical standards.
The Lien Project, PC is a law firm dedicated to pursuing lien resolution with the same fierce advocacy applied by its trial lawyer clients in pursuing and achieving the awards and settlements threatened by lienholders and plans seeking reimbursement claims.
The Lien Project, PC is your trusted partner in protecting your clients hard won awards and settlements. We are available to identify liens, coordinate and establish litigation and settlement strategies, and negotiate the final resolution of all lien and reimbursement claims a busy trial lawyer may confront. Let our expertise protect your clients’ awards and settlements, and mitigate their lien and reimbursement exposure.
The Lien Project's commitment to excellence and client advocacy makes it a trusted partner for attorneys seeking to navigate the intricate landscape of medical liens in personal injury cases.
The Lien Project, PC: Lien Reduction by Trial Lawyers, for Trial Lawyers.
Meet the Team
John
John is the principal at Lien Project Network, bringing over 30 years of dedicated focus on liens in his legal practice. Recognizing the pressing need for comprehensive resources and support for plaintiff attorneys navigating the complex realm of liens, he founded Lien Project Network to address this gap.
As the principal attorney at The Lien Project, PC, John specializes in assisting plaintiff attorneys and their clients in resolving medical liens and reimbursement issues within personal injury cases. His expertise extends to active representation of plaintiffs in personal injury matters, often collaborating with fellow plaintiff counsels to address medical special damage issues. Additionally, John holds a special interest in advocating for disabled Californians in disability rights actions.
A graduate of the University of Redlands with a degree in Political Science and History (1986), John went on to achieve academic excellence at California Western School of Law, graduating Magna Cum Laude (1992). He has been a member of the California Bar since 1992, maintaining active involvement in esteemed legal associations such as the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, where he served on the Board of Directors from 2001 to 2018. He remains a lifetime member of the organization and is actively engaged with the Consumer Attorneys of California. John is a Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional (CMSP).
Recognized as a highly regarded speaker, John has shared his insights at over 150 continuing legal education seminars for plaintiff attorneys across California. Notably, he has chaired the annual CASD Lien Update Seminar since its inception in 2002. John's dedication to consumer advocacy has earned him Achievement Awards from Presidents of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego in 2000, 2009, and 2013. In January 2010, he received the prestigious Consumer Advocate of the Year award from the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego for his outstanding contributions on behalf of consumers. Committed to ensuring that every case receives the same level of meticulous attention, regardless of size, John brings a steadfast commitment to representing the interests of consumers. Beyond his legal endeavors, he finds joy in pursuits such as rock climbing and restoring old Volkswagen buses.
Jim
Throughout his over 33 years of practice, Boyden James Pantone has dedicated his entire legal career to advocating for and protecting the rights of injured individuals. With extensive litigation experience in complex litigation, mass tort, product liability, wrongful death, governmental liability, personal injury, and insurance bad faith, Jim has built a distinguished career advocating for those who have suffered harm due to negligence or wrongdoing and fighting for civil justice. Jim is a recipient of the prestigious AV Preeminent (5.0) Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer-review rating, denoting the pinnacle of professional excellence and ethical standards.
Jim’s comprehensive understanding of personal injury law, litigation and trial experience empowers him to approach lien reduction with the applied skills and advocacy of a seasoned trial attorney, crafting unique and innovative legal strategies tailored to the unique circumstances and facts of each case.
JIm is licensed to practice before all California State Courts, the Southern and Central Federal District Courts of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In addition to decades of litigation and trial work, he has argued on behalf of clients before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals at the federal level, and both the Appellate and Supreme Courts of California. Jim is a Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional (CMSP).
Jim’s fight for civil justice extends well beyond the courtroom. He is actively engaged in multiple legal associations dedicated to advancing plaintiffs' rights, including American Association of Justice, Consumer Attorneys of California, and Orange County Trial Lawyer’s Association. Jim is a past president of the Orange County Trial Lawyer Association. In addition to serving as a speaker on continuing legal education panels on subjects such as liens and creative presentation of evidence at trial, he has also been an invited guest speaker at the University of San Diego School of Law and Western State College of Law.
