Meet our team! 
We take pride in building a team of experts who take the time to listen and help those affected by defective drugs and faulty medical devices or other personal injury situations. Whenever you call us we're here to help.
Real People - Real Legal Solutions.
Take a moment to learn about our staff.
Martin Schmidt, Attorney /Owner of Schmidt National Law Group
Attorney Martin Schmidt is a trial lawyer licensed to practice law in Kentucky and California. His law firm, Schmidt National Law Group, focuses on representing victims in local personal injury claims, and national mass tort cases.
Although Mr. Schmidt finished law school in the top 10% of his class at Northern Kentucky, his first-hand understanding of his real purpose began after he was a victim himself.
“I was badly injured in a car accident. Lying strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance and wondering what was happening to me, I thought about all the clients I represented in similar situations. Did they feel this way? Where am I going? How hurt am I? Will I be able to work, pay the bills, or take care of my family?”
Mr. Schmidt’s battle to restore his health took several years of intense physical therapy. The battle to restore other aspects of his life proved even more taxing, as the insurance company refused to do the right thing. It was an insult to his injuries, and required his special set of legal talents to prevail. Since the incident, every client he has had the privilege of representing puts him back in their shoes. Martin Schmidt truly empathizes with his clients, as he knows first-hand the fear of losing everything and having the insurance company turn its back.
After several years of litigating local personal injury cases, Martin Schmidt began investigating claims against large pharmaceutical companies in product liability cases which led to him researching the off-label use of Zofran to treat morning sickness in pregnant women. This research developed into the first failure to warn cases against Zofran’s manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline in the United States and caught fire after getting attention from several other large law firms. Schmidt currently represents more than 1000 Zofran claimants nationwide.
Mr. Schmidt then began investigating new claimants injured by the then-popular permanent contraceptive device, Essure, and filed the first California case against Bayer. After Schmidt broke ground on the case against Bayer’s Essure device, other law firms followed suit and thousands of new Essure cases were filed. Although these cases are still pending, Martin Schmidt has already won a small victory for women as the FDA began putting pressure on Bayer, who eventually pulled Essure from the market.
Martin Schmidt represents thousands of claimants nationwide in a variety of dangerous drug and defective medical device cases, including cases against JUUL’s e-cigarettes, Bard’s IVC filters, Stryker’s hip implants, Depuy’s knee implants, and many others.
Mr. Schmidt serves in a leadership role on the Essure Steering Committee. He has been awarded Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Top Trial Attorneys, and is currently a member of the Kentucky Bar Association, American Association for Justice, State Bar of California. San Diego County Bar Association and San Diego Consumer Attorneys.
Attorney Martin Schmidt is a true consumer advocate, willing to fight for what is right, even against insurmountable odds.
Matt Scaffa, Director of Operations
Matt Scaffa is an accomplished professional with a proven track record in the legal services industry since 1999. His core expertise lies in business development, operations management, IT management, and marketing.
Throughout his career, Matt has leveraged technology to enhance law firm efficiency. He has extensive experience in transitioning firms from paper-based systems to databases and CRM systems, improving both client satisfaction and retention. Additionally, he has assisted firms in migrating to VoIP phone systems for enhanced call control and routing, developed a specialized phone system for legal case intake, and established call centers for intake and client communications.
Matt also possesses a strong background in advertising and marketing. He has successfully managed media buying, lead generation campaigns, and client acquisition for numerous law firms. Over the past 10 years, he has implemented integrated performance marketing and lead generation campaigns for over 200 personal injury and mass tort law firms nationwide. Utilizing search marketing, social media marketing, email, and SMS, he has generated and delivered over 80,000 leads of potential claimants to law firms for various legal cases.
Leveraging his technology and operations experience, Matt co-founded Schmidt National Law Group, where he serves as the COO, managing the firm's administrative staff, technology, and marketing.
Matt's dedication not only to client acquisition but also to client retention. He takes great pride in Schmidt National Law Group's high client retention rate. Our co-counsel firms consistently acknowledge the low attrition rate of the referrals they receive from SNLG. This success in retaining clients stems from Matt's focus on building rapport, trust, and maintaining consistent communication with clients on behalf of both SNLG and our co-counsel firms. He also trains his intake staff to be compassionate and empathetic during the intake process, ensuring a positive client experience from the outset.
"We are the gatekeepers to the legal system, acting as a crucial component in ensuring individuals can access justice and pursue their rights. Particularly when facing powerful opponents like large corporations, we provide legal representation even when clients might not be able to afford it on their own. By working on a contingency fee basis, where we only get paid if we win the case, we make legal representation more accessible to those with limited financial means. We are committed to leveling the playing field and ensuring everyone has a fair chance at justice."
Matt holds a Computer Science degree from the New York Institute of Technology, where he graduated cum laude with a 3.7 GPA. He also co-founded and directs Empower Vets, a San Diego-based nonprofit organization that assists veterans with PTSD through recreational therapy. He has been married for 19 years, has three children, and enjoys spending his free time with his family and his dogs. To decompress from it all, Matt enjoys fishing, golfing, and watching sports.
Howell Gillogly, Director of Digital Marketing/SEO
Much of what you see online related to National Injury Advocates comes under the direct actions of Howell Gillogly.
Not only does he perform all of the companies search optimization, he’s also a savvy legal content writer who specializes in creating powerful content on defective medical devices and defective pharmaceutical drugs.
Howell created his own search engine marketing business in 1999 called NP-Strategies, a San Diego based Technology Company that helped non-profit organizations adapt technology and optimize their online presence and help them perform the way they envisioned.
While running NP-Strategies he was recruited by Wise Law Group of San Diego in the role of Director of Search Optimization, where he lead a team of content writers, web developers and SEO assistants.
This is where he learned about the problems with “Big Pharma, and “Big Medical” corporations that put profits over people. Helping people who’ve been hurt from these “bad drugs” and problematic medical devices became his passion.
In his spare time he enjoys both mountain and gravel biking. He’s also climbed most of the mountain peaks in California, including the highest peak in the Continental U.S., Mount Whitney.
Monica Alaniz, Senior Support Manager
When you call into Schmidt National Law Group your first contact will be with Monica. Monica has been an integral part of our team since the firm's inception and will likely be your first point of contact when you call Schmidt National Law Group.
Monica's educational background includes studies at Southwestern College, a Desktop Support certificate from Foundation College, and multiple Business Math certificates from San Diego Educational Complex. Her commitment to continuous learning is evident in her invaluable contributions to our daily operations.
Monica is a highly competent and passionate office assistant dedicated to providing exceptional support throughout your journey with our firm. Her responsibilities include ordering CT scans, generating campaign reports, and maintaining the organization and confidentiality of your data. She is particularly adept at promptly obtaining your medical records, aiming to alleviate stress during challenging times. Above all, Monica is committed to supporting both you and the Schmidt National Law Group team.
During her free time, she enjoys volunteering at The Salvation Army and at her church. She also loves spending time with her granddaughter. Additionally, she enjoys crocheting, sewing, and reading.
Drew Taylor, Senior Intake Staff Member
Mr. Taylor has been assisting injured people nationwide for more than 5 years as a Case Manager with Schmidt National Law Group (SNLG)
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business & Communication and has a background in real estate finance, sales, and marketing. Drew collaborates closely with attorneys and support staff to help injured claimants and plaintiffs recover damages and obtain justice.
Mr. Taylor has been involved in numerous complex pharmaceutical and medical device mass torts, as well as cases involving injuries caused by non-medical products from large corporations. He finds it rewarding to advocate for individuals against large corporations after they've experienced a major tragedy.
In his free time, Drew enjoys spending time with family, friends, and his dog Tyson. He is also an avid sports fan and supports the Commanders and Celtics.
Robert Moody, Senior Case Manager
Team Page updated February 12 , 2025