Cases
Representative Matters: Lead attorney
trial counsel for several asbestos personal injury litigation dockets, including current
past representation of oil refiners, construction companies, brewing companies, utility providers, equipment suppliers, aircraft manufacturers,
hospitals.
Defends pharmaceutical distributor in action brought by plaintiff wholesalers alleging violation of the federal Robinson-Patman Act
California state laws.
Represents the Judicial Council of California, judicial officers, courts,
court employees throughout the State in litigation involving government liability
constitutional challenges to court rulings
operations.
Defends leading North American energy producer in climate change litigation brought by local governments.
Defended several commercial clients over the past few years in mass toxic tort cases involving claims of premises
products liability
alleged exposure to asbestos, talc, TCE, hexavalent chromium, silica, welding fumes,
gadolinium.
Defended heavy equipment manufacturer in product liability cases involving alleged defects with operator cabs.
Defended service station operator nationwide in toxic tort litigation alleging liability for its distribution of automotive parts.
Defended safety equipment manufacturer in action brought by order picker operator who sustained traumatic brain injury.
Represented a leading Canadian specialty mussel farm in obtaining a complete dismissal with prejudice of an action claiming trade secret misappropriation under both the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act
California Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
Obtained voluntary no-pay dismissals for a pharmaceutical distributor after filing summary judgment motions establishing that our client's over-the-counter talcum powder was not contaminated with asbestos
that the plaintiffs' personal injury claims were preempted by the Federal Food, Drug
Cosmetics Act.
Obtained a defense award for a major national franchisor in a two-week commercial arbitration brought by franchisees alleging wrongful termination of their franchise,
defeated efforts to vacate the award in the district court
Ninth Circuit.
Defended a utility company in numerous
substantial personal injury
real property claims following catastrophic explosion event.
Obtained an adjudicated dismissal for an aircraft engine maintenance provider in an action brought by employees seeking to avoid the exclusive remedy of workers' compensation based on allegations that concealment of workplace hazards exacerbated their injuries.
Defended a major construction company in a mass tort action filed by dozens of its employees arising from their exposure to welding fumes while working in confined spaces.
Defended a pesticide applicator in toxic exposure case brought by 84 residents of neighboring field where our client applied metam sodium. The case resolved by mediation one month before trial for a nominal sum.
Obtained a voluntary no-pay dismissal for a major oil refining company in a benzene-related personal injury action brought by a 49-year-old woman suffering from acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
Worked with a major oil company to develop practices
procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory st
ards concerning employee exposure to benzene.
Served as regional trial counsel for a major general merch
ise retailer, h
ling a vast array of public liability matters throughout California.
Favorably resolved a complex first party property reinsurance claim shortly after commencement of arbitration proceedings related to the insured's due diligence
the applicability of policy exclusions, sublimits,
deductibles. The claim followed a l
slide that deposited approximately one million tons of debris on the insured's railroad track
disrupted service for several months.
Obtained adjudicated dismissals of bad faith claims against professional liability
D&O insurers which, along with subsequent appellate victories affirming most of the dismissals, eliminated approximately $15 million out of $17 million in claims.
Represented international insurers in multi-million dollar recovery action, successfully defeating anti-SLAAP motion to strike (in trial court
on appeal),
obtaining a ruling which established the crime-fraud exception to our opponent's claims of attorney-client privilege.
Represented reinsurers in the investigation, adjustment,
resolution of other large commercial property claims related to floods.
Represented an insurance company in a federal gr
jury investigation of agency fraud.
Defeated putative class
declaratory relief actions against the judicial branch protesting the constitutionality of jury fee deposits.
Defeated a putative class action (in trial court
on appeal) against a state court
its employees alleging due process violations related to the imposition of civil assessments associated with traffic citations.
Defeated a malicious prosecution
racial discrimination action filed against a state court judge for her alleged role in a scheme among other local prosecutors
law enforcement officials to manufacture criminal charges against an attorney
derail his efforts to fill a judicial vacancy.
Tried several cases to verdict while working pro bono with the San Francisco Public Defender's Office.
