Advocacy Beyond Individual Cases

At Battle Born Injury Lawyers, leadership doesn’t stop at the courtroom door. While representing injured people one case at a time is essential, some problems require broader solutions. When laws fail to protect everyday Nevadans—or actively disadvantage them—we believe attorneys have a responsibility to engage.

Our attorneys have participated directly in Nevada’s legislative process, helping draft, advocate for, and defend laws that impact public safety, consumer protection, and access to justice. This work is grounded in firsthand experience representing real people harmed by unsafe practices, corporate misconduct, and regulatory gaps.

Our Attorneys Get to Know Us

Battle Born Injury Lawyers | Justin L. Watkins

Justin L. Watkins

Managing Partner

Justin L. Watkins

Managing Partner

Born and raised in the Nevada desert, Justin built his firm to provide better service and results for his community.

  • Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney in NV, NAOPIA
  • Top 150 Lawyers in Southern NV, NV Business Journal
  • Nevada Assemblyman from District 35
Read Justin’s Bio
Battle Born Injury Lawyers | Matthew W. Hoffmann

Matthew W. Hoffmann

Managing Partner

Matthew W. Hoffmann

Managing Partner

Growing up on a farm in rural North Dakota, Matthew puts in the work to achieve top results for his clients.

  • Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney in NV, NAOPIA
  • Top 150 Lawyers in Southern NV, NV Business Journal
  • Citizens for Justice Member
Read Matthew’s Bio
Battle Born Injury Lawyers | Kathleen S Villatoro

Kathleen S Villatoro

Attorney

Kathleen S Villatoro

Attorney

A Las Vegas native and dedicated advocate, Kathleen Villatoro combines courtroom training, clinical legal experience, and empathy to represent injured clients across Nevada.

  • UNLV Boyd School of Law graduate
  • Former correctional officer turned dedicated injury advocate
  • Focused on personal injury litigation
Read Kathleen’s Bio
Battle Born Injury Lawyers | Steve Yeager

Steve Yeager

Attorney

Steve Yeager

Attorney

A respected trial lawyer and Nevada legislative leader, Steve Yeager combines courtroom experience, public service, and principled advocacy in injury cases.

  • Cornell Law School graduate
  • Former Chief Deputy Public Defender
  • Nevada Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore
Read Steve’s Bio
Battle Born Injury Lawyers | Tyler M. Crawford

Tyler M. Crawford

Attorney

Tyler M. Crawford

Attorney

Raised in Nevada, Tyler Crawford uses his defense litigation background and courtroom discipline to advocate for injured clients facing powerful institutions.

  • AV Preeminent-rated Nevada trial attorney
  • Former defense counsel for major hospitals
  • Personal injury and malpractice litigation
Read Tyler’s Bio
Logo media

Legislative Work That Made a Difference

Battle Born attorneys have been involved in legislative efforts that resulted in meaningful, measurable changes to Nevada law. Notable examples include:

AB 404 (2023)

This bill became law and significantly increased limitations on recovery in certain injury cases, more than doubling caps and indexing them annually. It also extended the statute of limitations, giving injured people more time to seek justice.

Watch Video

SB 303 (2025)

Although ultimately vetoed, this bill sought to limit the expansive use of “recreational immunity,” which had been used to extinguish the rights of injured Nevadans in unfair ways. Advocacy around this bill helped spotlight the issue and influence future reform.

Watch Video

AB 183 (2017)

This law required hospitals to bill a patient’s health insurance instead of attaching medical charges directly to personal injury claims, preventing injured people from being financially trapped during recovery.

AB 140 (2017)

Sponsored to ensure the enforcement of Canadian domestic violence restraining orders in Nevada, strengthening protections for survivors.

Watch Video

In addition, Justin changed a law making it a felony for personal injury attorneys to solicit somebody that’s been involved in an accident within 30 days of the accident. Before that, people were breaking this rule regularly. He also pushed a law that gives restitution for those clients that have been taken advantage of (i.e. they can recover attorney fees that they paid to that attorney times 2). 

Lawmaking Informed by Real People

What distinguishes Battle Born’s legislative involvement is its grounding in lived experience. Client stories, not abstract theory, have been brought directly to lawmakers to demonstrate how policy decisions affect real families.

In some cases, clients have testified themselves, helping legislators understand the real-world consequences of legal loopholes, caps, and procedural barriers. This approach ensures that reform is rooted in reality, not ideology.

Why State Leadership Matters to Clients

For clients, this leadership translates into tangible benefits:

  • A deeper understanding of how laws are written and applied
  • Insight into how insurers and institutions navigate regulatory systems
  • Advocacy that extends beyond individual outcomes to systemic change
  • Representation informed by both courtroom and legislative experience

Few firms can say they not only practice under Nevada law, but also helped shape it.

Banner media

Civic Responsibility, Not Politics

Battle Born Injury Lawyers’ involvement in state leadership is not about partisanship. It is about responsibility. When laws affect safety, fairness, and access to justice, silence is not neutrality; it’s abdication. We engage because the people we represent deserve a system that works as intended.

Learn More About Our Broader Mission

Community Involvement:

Learn how advocacy connects to local impact.

Leaders in Litigation:

Discover how legislative insight strengthens courtroom strategy.

Logo media

“This is a law firm you actually speak to when you call.”

—Martino M.

Reach Out to Our Team Today

This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.
Submit

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy (opens in a new tab) and Terms of Service (opens in a new tab) apply.

Logo media
Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at (888) 396-9003.
Contact Us