Rose, Klein & Marias is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our respected partner, colleague, and friend, Christel Schoenfelder, who passed away peacefully on November 29, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer. Read More Here
Ms. Schoenfelder spent her career representing the injured in workers’ compensation cases. Ms. Schoenfelder worked tirelessly to ensure her clients who suffered a work injury received the medical treatment they deserved and all benefits they were entitled to within the workers’ compensation system. She was involved in legislative efforts to care for those injured on the job and to expand the protections to which they were afforded. Ms. Schoenfelder took the concerns of her clients to heart and worked hard to make sure that our laws took those concerns into consideration.
Ms. Schoenfelder enjoyed practicing law as an Ontario personal injury attorney in the Inland Empire and handled hearings and trials at the San Bernardino, Riverside, and Pomona Workers’ Compensation Appeals Boards (WCABs). The Inland Empire (IE) is a logistic hub for numerous industries, including warehouses, trucking, construction, and airports. The IE is home to multiple Amazon facilities, and Ms. Schoenfelder was familiar with the strain placed on workers’ necks, backs, knees, wrists, arms, legs, and feet to meet production quotas. Ms. Schoenfelder was proud to represent union workers, including members of United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW), California School Employees Association (CSEA), Communications Workers of America (CWA), Teamsters, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and United Steelworkers (USW).
Ms. Schoenfelder obtained her BA from the University of La Verne in 1994 and received her JD from the University of La Verne College of Law in 2003. She was a partner at the Law Offices of Rose, Klein & Marias, and managed the firm’s Ontario personal injury office. Ms. Schoenfelder was a member of the State Bar of California and the San Bernardino County Bar Association. She was a certified specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law. Ms. Schoenfelder was a Past President of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA), Greater Inland Empire Applicants’ Attorneys Association, and University of La Verne College of Law Alumni Association. Ms. Schoenfelder was co-founder and co-chair of CAAA’s Women’s Caucus, a group of women lawyers who work on legislative projects, promote diversity and inclusion, and participate in community events throughout the State of California. Ms. Schoenfelder was also a member of the Board of Directors of Kids’ Chance of California, an organization dedicated to providing scholarships to children of workers who have been fatally or seriously injured on the job.
