Gary Cardinal was born in Reno, Nevada, on September 18, 1951. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno (B.A., 1976), and the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific (J.D., 1980). He was a law clerk for the Hon. Peter I. Breen, District Judge, in 1980.

Mr. Cardinal was admitted to the State Bar of Nevada in 1980 and the State Bar of California, (inactive) in 1984. He was a Deputy District Attorney for the Washoe County District Attorney's Office from 1981 through 1984 and has been in private practice with Erickson, Thorpe & Swainston, Ltd., since 1984.

Mr. Cardinal is a member of the Washoe County Bar Association, the State Bar of Nevada, the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, and the Defense Research Institute. He is also a member of the Nevada Association of Defense Council for which he served as its President (1988-1989). Mr. Cardinal serves as managing partner of Erickson, Thorpe & Swainston, Ltd.

Areas of Practice: Civil Litigation, including Personal Injury and Wrongful Death, Products Liability, Premises Liability, Professional Errors & Omissions and Insurance Defense.