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.