Christopher Nedeau is a skilled trial lawyer with more than three decades of courtroom experience. He has tried as lead counsel approximately 100 criminal and civil cases to verdict. Mr. Nedeau has first-hand experience navigating the complexities of antitrust and corporate criminal defense. He served as lead counsel defending a global manufacturer of LCD products in the nation's largest criminal antitrust trial in United States District Court for the Northern District of California before the Hon. Susan Y. Illston. This eight-week trial involved a team of seven co-counsel for individual and corporate defendants and resulted in the acquittal of the CEO, business unit manager, and a mistrial on a marketing executive. The convictions of the former CEO, Executive Vice President, and two corporations are currently on appeal. In addition, Mr. Nedeau is lead counsel defending two consolidated antitrust class actions, and numerous opt-out plaintiffs' cases.
Throughout his career, Mr. Nedeau's practice has included work in areas of products liability, class actions, complex civil litigation, and intellectual property. He has won prosecution verdicts, summary judgments, and class action dismissals for clients and defense verdicts at trial in a variety of industries including, major manufacturers, insurers, healthcare providers, and utilities.
Mr. Nedeau's judgment is informed by his experience as an Assistant District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Department of Justice in the Organized Crime and Labor Racketeering Strike Force. Mr. Nedeau is a member of the American Bar Association's Antitrust, and Criminal Justice Sections and has also been recognized as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
Representative Work
Lead counsel defending a global manufacturer of LCD products in an eight-week multi-defendant criminal cartel trial in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, resulting in acquittal or mistrial for three out of five company executives.
Lead counsel in an international antitrust action defending a global manufacturer of LCD products in the United States, the European Union, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Canada. The domestic litigation includes 143 consolidated civil class actions, and investigations by the United States Department of Justice, and States of California, Washington, Illinois, Missouri, and Florida.
Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of an automotive manufacturer on claims of product liability after trial in Shasta Superior Court.
Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a national insurance carrier after trial in United States District Court for the Eastern District in Sacramento on claims of bad faith denial of disability benefits.
Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a California utility after trial in San Francisco Superior Court on claims of product liability and negligence.
Obtained a defense verdict after trial in San Francisco Superior Court on behalf of a Mississippi-based shipyard on claims of product liability in a mesothelioma asbestos case.
Obtained a defense verdict on claims of premises liability, false imprisonment and assault on behalf of a regional California supermarket chain after trial in Sonoma Superior Court.
Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a national property management company on claims of premises liability after trial in San Francisco Superior Court.
Prosecuted a Wall Street Securities firm for fraud and theft of trade secrets in connection with venture capital financing in a five-month trial in Sacramento Superior Court.
Obtained dismissal of a class action against national healthcare provider alleging Medicare fraud and unfair competition.
Defended against claims of conspiracy to breach contract, fraud and tortious interference with prospective economic advantage on behalf of a national insurance carrier against an employee leasing organization (PEO).
Represented manufacturer of a commonly used preservative in responding to a DOJ subpoena in a price-fixing investigation.
Lead counsel in defense of a registered investment advisor before the NASD in an SEC enforcement investigation and in the SEC's subsequent civil enforcement action filed in the United States District Court, District of Rhode Island.
Obtained summary judgment dismissal of an aircraft and components manufacturer, from a serious and procedurally complex friction asbestos claim.