RECENT CASES OF BUSINESS LITIGATION ATTORNEY IRVINE, CA
APPELLATE LAW EXPERTS SUCCESS STORIES
American Household Products, Inc. v. Evans Mfg., Inc.
Case Citation: 139 F. Supp. 2d 1235 (N.D. Ala. 2001)
Legal Issues: Client sued in California for design patent infringement. Defendants tried to forum-shop by filing a declaratory relief action in Alabama, their home state. Successfully won motion dismissing the later-filed case.
Ali v. Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
Case Citation: 544 F. Supp. 2d 1064 (C.D. Cal. 2008)
Legal Issues: Client sued for breach of non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and theft of trade secrets. Client had patent-pending invention designed to electronically track inventory on retail shelves. Defendants allegedly began, in secret, to design, develop, and market a competing product using information acquired in confidence from client.
Kelly v. Arriba Soft Corp.
Case Citation: 77 F. Supp. 2d 1116 (C.D. Cal. 1999), aff’d in part, 336 F.3d 811 (9th Cir. 2003)
Legal Issues: Firm filed case of first impression: copyright infringement for display of thumbnail images on Internet and use of inline linking to full-size images in search results page. Established precedent on fair use under the Copyright Act.
Yelp, Inc. v. Superior Court
Case Citation: 17 Cal. App. 5th 1 (2017)
Legal Issues: Prosecuted online defamation arising from consumer review of CPA-client. Secured court ruling unmasking identity of anonymous poster based on prima facie showing of defamation.
Burnett v. Rowzee, et al.
Case Citation: 561 F. Supp. 2d 1120 (C.D. Cal. 2007)
Legal Issues: Prosecuted fraud action and obtained judgment for $66 million related to Ponzi scheme to sell unregistered securities called “PIPES,” private investments in public equities.
Murray v. Nassbridges
Case Citation: 434 B.R. 573 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 2010), aff’d 2011 Bankr. LEXIS 3163 (9th Cir. BAP 2011)
Legal Issues: Prosecuted commodities fraud action and obtained judgment for $1.5 million, plus interest. Clients misled into buying risky and highly leveraged futures contracts on margin. Client were told defendants were buying and storing actual gold bullion.
Levi Strauss & Co. v. Papikian Enterprises
Case Citation: 2011 U.S. LEXIS 126223 (N.D. Cal. 2011)
Legal Issue: Firm defended client against trademark infringement and unfair competition claims. Client sold authentic Levi’s clothing on his own website at discounted prices (close-outs, excess inventory, grey market goods).
State of Illinois v. SDS West Corp.
Case Citation: 640 F. Supp. 2d 1047 (C.D. Ill. 2009).
Legal Issue: Firm defended client engaged in debt settlement practices against Attorney General complaints alleging violations of state and federal laws.
