Los Angeles, California Mar 14, 2023 (Issuewire.com) - Patrick T. Santos was a highly respected civil and criminal attorney in Los Angeles, who passed away on February 28th, 2023 after a 10-month battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was born on July 15th, 1982, in Long Island, New York, and was a man of many talents. Prior to his outstanding law career, he was a successful fashion model, appearing in ads for brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Abercrombie, and GAP. He was also a powerful fighter, holding a black belt in BJJ. Santos graduated magna cum laude from Law School in 2009, where he was the Senior Editor of Law Review.
Santos had a remarkable legal career, spanning nearly 14 years, during which he practiced complex civil litigation, appellate law, and criminal defense in California. He was known for his exceptional talent and raw ability as a lawyer. Ronald Richards of the Law Offices of Ronald Richards and Associates APC in Beverly Hills, who hired Santos after graduating from La Verne College of Law, remembers him fondly. "He really understood a broad spectrum of law, understanding many complicated subjects and nuances," Richards said. It is no wonder for the 2009 magna cum laude law school grad, graduating as one of the top students in his class.
Throughout his career, Santos was a dedicated advocate who believed in access to justice for everyone, even those who couldn't afford to pay. He often represented indigent clients pro bono and had two published California Supreme Court opinions under his belt. Santos was a fearless attorney who never shied away from a challenge. According to his law school roommate Timothy Hobbs of Hobbs Law Group, “he was pretty close to fearless and I liked that about him. In a lot of what he did legally, he got good results because he didn't know he was supposed to be scared of it. He just went in there guns blazing.”
Santos was married to Niki Ghazian, who was also her frequent co-counsel. They complimented one another in her own legal practice. Ghazian remembers Santos as a generous and fearless attorney who helped many people, even those who couldn't afford to pay. "He was generous and believed in access to justice for everybody," Ghazian said.
Despite his terminal diagnosis, Santos continued to work from home, keeping his illness private from other attorneys. When he lost his ability to type, he used dictation to continue his work. His dedication and work ethic was unparalleled. He fought until the very end, never giving up on his clients or his passion for justice.
Santos is survived by his wife, Niki Ghazian, and his 3-year-old son, James Cyrus Santos. In addition to his immediate family, Santos is survived by his brothers Chris and Al, and sisters Kelly and Nancilee. He was a beloved member of his community and will be deeply missed by all those who knew him and loved him.
A funeral service is scheduled for March 17th at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, a Go Fund Me fundraiser account was set up. For details email Nike Ghazian at ng@ghazianlaw.com.
Santos will be remembered as a brilliant legal mind and a zealous advocate who dedicated his life to serving others. He will always be remembered as a source of inspiration at the Ghazian Law Group. His legacy will live on, and his contributions to the legal field and his community will never be forgotten.
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