Representative Experience
Single-Plaintiff Litigation
Employee v. Charter Communications LLC
Won summary judgment in wrongful termination case involving claims of disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and retaliation on behalf of fourth-largest cable and internet provider in the U.S. Employee-plaintiff had dyslexia and was terminated after refusing to return from medical leave. Court found plaintiff’s complaint failed on all seven claims. (C.D. Cal. 2013)
Weaver v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Southern California Permanente Medical Group
Won full defense award after two-week arbitration of case brought by a former partner physician alleging nine causes of action related to his partnership and service as a physician with Southern California Permanente Medical Group. (2013)
Porteous, Teri v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Southern California Permanente Medical Group
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of various Kaiser entities and an individual defendant in a wrongful termination case alleging claims for age discrimination, retaliation, defamation, violation of Business and Professions Code § 17200, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. (2011)
Winston v. Countrywide Home Loans, Bank of America
Lead trial counsel for defendants a month-long trial for fraud and wrongful discharge claims brought by former Countrywide executive. Obtained defense verdict at trial on all but one claim. The Court of Appeals found for the defense on the final claim and reversed the judgment in full finding no record for evidence supporting the jury’s verdict. Plaintiff’s petition for review to California Supreme Court pending. (LASC 2011, Ct. of Appeals 2013)
Velarde v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, et al.
Lead defense counsel in action alleging disability discrimination and failure to accommodate. (2008)
Aboseif v. Southern California Permanente Medical Group et al.
Lead defense counsel in an arbitration case brought by a former partner physician alleging nine causes of action related to his partnership and service as a physician. (2012)
Williams v. Sony Pictures Entertainment
Lead defense counsel in case alleging disability discrimination, wrongful discharge, and failing to accommodate. (2011)
Farmer v. Searles Valley Minerals Operations
Defense counsel in action alleging disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and interference with alleged union-organizing. Obtained summary judgment on all claims. (2011)
Class Action and Multi-Plaintiff Defense
Chullino v. Prospect Mortgage
Lead counsel in wage and hour class action alleging meal period, overtime and off-the-clock violations. Class claims dismissed before certification. (2012)
Long v. Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
Obtained summary judgment for defendant in Unruh Act and Gender Tax Repeal Act class action brought on behalf of all males in California alleging gender price discrimination. Lead partner in drafting motion for summary judgment and appellate briefing. Appeal before the 9th Circuit currently pending. (C.D. Cal. 2012, 9th Cir. Ongoing)
Campbell v. American Express, Conde Nast Publications, et al.
Obtained summary judgment as lead defense counsel in class action brought on behalf of all males in California against eight corporate defendants alleging violations of the Unruh Act (gender discrimination) and Gender Tax Repeal Act in connection with a "Women's Golf Month" event. (2012)
Lucarini v. Dresser, Inc.
Lead defense counsel in wage and hour class action brought on behalf of oil industry technicians alleging violations of alternative work week, meal period, on-call time, and off the clock rules. (SBSC 2010)
Henson v. Searles Valley Minerals Operations, Inc.
Lead defense counsel on wage hours class action alleging meal period, pay stub, overtime, and “off-the-clock” violations. Obtained favorable settlement before class certification. (2010)
In re KPMG overtime litigation
Defended KPMG in nationwide consolidated wage and hour class actions alleging improper classification of unlicensed accounting employees. (2012)
Mayfield v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Inc.
Lead defense counsel in action involving breach of contract, unfair competition and labor code violations.
Schrader et al. v. adidas Promotional Retail Operations, Inc.
Defense counsel in wage and hour class action alleging improper classification of retail store managers. (2010)
Rojas v. Shell Oil et al.
Lead defense counsel in wage and hour class action brought against nine petroleum refinery defendants alleging violations of Labor Code section 2810 and related wage statutes. Motion to Dismiss under FRCP 12(b)(6) granted, and case dismissed on pleadings in 2009. (CDDC)
Bartlett et al. v. Diamond Parking; Teruel et al. v. Diamond Parking
Achieved successful settlement on behalf of employer in related wage and hour class actions. (N.D. Cal. 2008)
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Roberts v. Anderson News Company
Lead defense counsel and obtained dismissal (before class certification) in a wage and hour class action alleging claims for overtime, meal periods and 'off the clock' work. (2005)
Trade Secrets and Unfair Competition
Windsor Capital Group v. Cryan, et al.
Lead defense counsel in action alleging misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, and breach of contract. (2011)
World Financial Group v. HBW Insurance Services
Lead defense counsel in action alleging misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, and breach of contract. (Ventura Cnty. (Cal.) Super. Ct. 2011)
U.S. Trust Company v. Lehman Brothers
Plaintiff's counsel in action alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and employee raiding against Lehman Brothers and individual defendants recruited by Lehman Brothers. Achieved favorable settlement on all claims, including injunctive relief. (Orange Cnty. (Cal.) Super. Ct. 2008)
U.S. Trust Company v. Morris Noble
Plaintiff's counsel in action alleging misappropriation of trade secrets against a senior-level employee who left U.S. Trust to join Morgan Stanley. Case resolved on favorable terms. (San Francisco (Cal.) Cnty. Super. Ct. 2008)
Latin World Entertainment v. H&M Communications Group
Lead defense counsel in action alleging misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition and breach of contract. Obtained dismissal with prejudice on all claims. (2007)
Claus Ettensberger Corporation v. Lorinser North America
Plaintiff's counsel in action alleging misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of exclusive distributorship agreement. Obtained a favorable settlement of nearly $1 million against Lorinser North America, a Germany-based performance automotive parts supplier. (2006)
Cantata Technology v. Visger
Lead trial counsel for plaintiff in trade secrets action resulting in $3 million judgment on behalf of Cantata Technology (aka Brooktrout Technologies) against former executive. (2005)
ERISA Litigation
Fan, et al. v. China Eastern Airlines
Lead defense trial counsel for China Eastern Airlines in a multi-plaintiff ERISA case. Obtained favorable judgment exonerating client from bad faith violations of ERISA. (2007)
Trang v. China Eastern Airlines
Obtained summary judgment in multi-plaintiff ERISA case. (2007)