[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 118 (Friday, June 26, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. CHRISTOPHER EDMOND ANGELO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 26, 2020

  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 
life of Mr. Christopher Edmond Angelo, a beloved member of California's 
33rd Congressional District, who passed away at the age of 70 on May 
19, 2020. With decades of legal advocacy on behalf of consumer and 
patient rights, Chris helped to further the protections of the most 
vulnerable in our community.
  Born on December 19, 1949 in Los Angeles, California, Chris attended 
Hollywood High School, the University of California, Riverside, where 
he sat on the Board of Trustees for several years, and Loyola Law 
School. After graduating law school, Chris began his career as a 
defense attorney at Spray, Gould & Bowers and later moved on to 
representing plaintiffs at Gage, Mazury, Schwartz, Angelo & Kussman. In 
1988, he and his partners formed Mazurky, Schwartz & Angelo and in 
2003, he formed a partnership in Manhattan Beach with Joseph DiMonda.
  Throughout his legal career, Chris' legal work helped to expand the 
rights of patients to ensure the medical field prioritized patient care 
before profit and established duties on the part of commercial and 
industrial landowners to inspect for safety and toxic environmental 
hazards. This work also led to more oversight of insurance companies by 
expanding the ability of policyholders to discover insurer internal 
loss reserves and reinsurance records when suing for unfair claims 
practices. Additionally, Chris fought against jury nullification and 
spoliation of evidence, in order to help expand fairness and 
accountability both in and outside of the court room.
  Chris was also a fierce advocate for parents of children with 
developmental disabilities. With his legal background, he taught both 
parents and institutions how to effectuate insurance coverage for their 
children and patients with disabilities. Through innumerable hours 
counseling parents, and producing and donating a booklet called ``For 
Our Children: A Lawyer's Guide to Insurance Coverage and a Parent's 
Call to Organize'' (1998), Chris helped to educate communities on 
holding insurance communities accountable, while bolstering the rights 
of individuals and families with children with disabilities.
  Chris is survived by his wife of 40 years, Patti; son Alexander; 
sister Juliet; and brother Mark; beloved brothers and sisters-in-laws; 
13 nieces and 22 great nieces and nephews. May his compassion, 
leadership, and devotion to protecting the rights of the most 
vulnerable continue to live on in the fight for a more equitable and 
just world.

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