REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Trial and Arbitration Experience
Served a lead trial counsel and obtained a $17.3 million verdict against Donald Sterling (former owner of L.A. Clippers) after six-week jury trial regarding his unsafe apartment building. The verdict was named a “Top Verdict of 2012” by the Recorder.
Served as lead trial counsel and obtained substantial seven figure verdict after four-week jury-trial in apartment fire case.
Second-chaired three-week age-discrimination trial brought by an aerospace engineer who was terminated as part of a reduction in force. Obtained defense verdict.
Obtained defense verdict for employer in race discrimination action after a week-long arbitration.
Obtained defense verdict for employer in wrongful termination action brought by a structural engineer who claimed race discrimination and that he was terminated for being a whistleblower. Also successfully defended employer in the appeal of the action.
Obtained defense verdict for employer in race discrimination and retaliation action after a ten-day arbitration.
Represented employer in racial discrimination and overtime pay action. After obtaining summary judgment on several claims, awarded defense verdict on the remaining claims after a five-day arbitration.
Obtained arbitration award for bank and credit card issuer in unfair competition and breach of contract action relating to collection agreements.
Intellectual Property, Sports, and Entertainment Litigation
Served as lead counsel for former NFL players in a highly-publicized dispute with Electronic Arts Inc. ("EA") over its unauthorized use of retired NFL players' likenesses in the "historic team" feature of the Madden NFL video game franchise. After obtaining a published opinion before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals holding that EA’s unauthorized use of retired players’ likenesses in its simulation video game is not protected by the First Amendment or incidental use defenses (Davis v. Electronic Arts, Inc., 775 F.3d 1172 (2015) obtained a favorable settlement.
Obtained favorable settlements in two separate actions for A-list Hollywood actors in right-of-publicity matters against a bicycle manufacturer over its unauthorized use of their photographs and images in marketing materials.
Obtained seven-figure settlement for software client in a trade secret misappropriation action involving customer lists misappropriated by former sales representative who was hired by a competitor.
Obtained favorable settlement for actor Ed Begley, Jr. in right of publicity action against a Chinese LED manufacturer for its unauthorized use of his name and photograph in marketing materials.
Obtained favorable settlement for the owner and promoter of the of the Baja 1000 Off-Road Race in a trademark dispute with a toy manufacturer.
Represented Campari America in a series of actions enforcing its branded beverage trademarks.
Business Litigation
Obtained favorable settlement in a partnership dispute for the widow of a technology company’s founder after the discovery referee granted terminating sanctions against the defendants. Also obtained more than $30,000 in monetary sanctions against the defendants in four successive discovery motions prior to the termination sanctions order.
Obtained multimillion dollar settlement for retailer in antitrust action against credit card company regarding over charges on interchange fees.
Represented media company defendants in a case involving a mid-air collision at the 2018 Baja 500 between a race truck’s support helicopter and a drone providing video of the race for the defendants. After extensive discovery and motion practice obtained settlement dismissing all claims and payment of defendants’ attorneys’ fees and costs.
Defended retailer and its online subsidiary in an attempted nationwide class action concerning alleged unlawful rebates. Obtained order determining that the plaintiff’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act claims lacked merit and dismissal of the entire action after multiple successful demurrers.
Replaced a large national firm as retailer’s counsel in a UCL representative action related to alleged unlawful rebates in case that had been pending for 18 months and where the plaintiff had just rejected a six-figure settlement offer. After taking and defending key depositions, obtained summary judgment and dismissal of the case in just four months.
Obtained summary judgment for retailer in an action for intentional interference with prospective economic advantage based on allegations that it drove a competitor out of business by employing unfair business practices.