Michael J. Gleason is an experienced litigator who builds upon his extensive legal knowledge to meet individual client needs. As Partner-in-Charge of the San Diego office and co-chair of Hahn Loeser’s San Diego Litigation Practice group, Mike prides himself on both understanding the law and knowing each individual client. This enables him to understand each client’s expectations, keep the client informed, ensure expectations are met and deliver a compelling narrative for the case tied to every unique client and case.
As a commercial litigator, Mike has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including escrow, title insurance, real estate, oil and gas, consumer credit, food, entertainment, manufacturing, retail and insurance. These representations include issues related to product liability, business tort, unfair competition and consumer protection statutes, bad faith insurance, the Song Beverly Credit Card Act, Proposition 65 (California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.
Mike’s experience defending class actions includes class-action lawsuit trials, eliminating proposed class actions on the merits prior to the certification decision, successfully opposing class-certification motions, decertifying previously certified classes, negotiating settlements of class claims and obtaining necessary court approval of class settlements. Throughout his career, Mike has gained extensive skills in investigating class-action allegations, identifying the key issues to attack the merits and class claims, efficiently handling large amounts of discovery and e-discovery, and addressing the variety of complex issues that may arise in a class action.
Professional History
• Partner-In-Charge, San Diego Office, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, 2012-present; Partner, 2010-present; Associate, 2007-09
• Attorney, Jones Day, 2001-07
• Research Assistant to Professor Faust F. Rossi, Cornell Law School, Summer 1999
Experience
• Held v. LBH National Corporation, California Superior Court, County of Orange, No. BC580791, in which Mike successfully defeated a motion seeking certification of a class alleging claims based on breach of fiduciary duty and violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law, Bus. & Prof. Code 17200.
• Pifer v. Pifer, California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, 2018 WL 5833257, in which after Mike obtained the dismissal of all claims asserted against corporate directors and officers, he successfully argued before the appellate court to affirm the judgment.
• Dierenfield v. Commonwealth Land Title Company, California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, 2018 WL 4178510, in which after Mike obtained the dismissal of a putative class action against his clients, he successfully argued before the appellate court to affirm the judgment.
• NNN Parkway Corporate Plaza B v. Hirschler Fleischer, APC, Court of Appeal of California, fourth Appellate District, 2017 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1927, in which Mike successfully argued before a California Appellate Court to affirm a dismissal obtained for the client.
• Hutton v. Fidelity National Title Company, Superior Court of California, Kern County, 213 Cal. App. 4th 486, in which Mike successfully argued before a California Appellate Court to affirm a summary judgment obtained for the client in a class action.
• Bergman v. Fidelity National Financial, United States District Court, Central District of California, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171334. Summary judgment granted in proposed RESPA national class action.
• Henson v. Fidelity National Financial, United States District Court, Central District of California, 300 F.R.D. 413. Class certification denied in proposed RESPA nation-wide class.
• Kingsberry v. Chicago Title Insurance Company, United States District Court, Western District of Washington, 258 F.R.D. 668. Class certification denied in proposed state-wide class.
• Villanueva v. Fidelity National Title Company, No. 1-10-CV-173356, in which after successfully eliminating claims and certain class allegations via motion practice, Mike was part of a trial team that defeated plaintiff’s claims seeking over $35 million.
Publications & Speaking Engagements
California’s Proposition 65: New Requirements for Alcoholic Beverages Purchased Over the Internet or Through Mobile Apps Effective April 1, 2021
February 01, 2021
California’s Proposition 65: New Requirements Effective August 2018
May 18, 2018
Awards & Distinctions
AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell
Top 50 Influential Leaders, The Daily Transcript, 2019
"Top Lawyer," Civil Litigation, San Diego Magazine, 2017-19
Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers®, 2015-16
“2015 Multi-State Class Action Defense Attorney of the Year in California,” Global Law Experts and CorporateINTL, 2015
Rising Star, Ohio Super Lawyers®, 2010-11
Memberships & Affiliations
California Bar Association
San Diego County Bar Association
Association of Business Trial Lawyers
ProVisors
California Land Title Association
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Board Member
