Litigation

We successfully concluded a bankruptcy proceeding after a 15-year-long battle that involved numerous related legal disputes for a family that had farmed the land for generations.

We assisted a class member in recovering Social Security survivor’s benefits following the district court decision that the Social Security Administration violated the U.S. Constitution in denying survivor’s benefits to same-sex couples who were unable to marry under discriminatory state laws.

Following a lengthy discovery period involving dozens of depositions and expert discovery that took place against a backdrop of unique COVID-19 protocols, we filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings to eliminate Sunfarms’ equitable claims and a Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiff’s contract claims. The Court granted both motions and entered judgment in Eurus’ favor on all of Plaintiffs’ claims.

On May 19, 2022, in three separate opinions, the California Court of Appeal for the Second District ruled that our client had not violated the anti-Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (“anti-SLAPP”) statute.

We won a five-year, $100 million legal battle for our clients. We defended the Alameda County Employees' Retirement Association (ACERA), ACERA’s Board of Retirement, and its Chief Executive Officer (ACERA Respondents) against allegations the retirement system had overcharged a participating employer in violation of their fiduciary responsibilities.

After a seven-year legal battle, we obtained a successful monetary settlement for our client, the Goleta Water District.

In 2016, our client, the City of Los Angeles Harbor Department (the Port), entered into negotiations with Harbor Performance Enhancement Center (HPEC) concerning the possible development of a terminal support facility. In 2018, after years of unsuccessful negotiations, the Port ended negotiations. Since June 2019, HPEC has sought to contest that determination in three different cases in two different courts. The dispute centers on the validity and parties’ performance of a number of agreements–including an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA), Amendment to the ENA, and two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).

We successfully defended the County of Los Angeles against a $20 million lawsuit brought by a Malibu landowner embroiled in a quiet title action.

The California Third District Court of Appeal recently affirmed dismissal of a class action brought against our client, the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association.

We achieved a Court of Appeal victory upholding the requirement that cities obtain a local coastal program amendment or coastal development permit before regulating short-term vacation rentals in the coastal zone.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court order granting summary judgment to Travelers Insurance Company and ordered instead that our client, the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA), receive a full defense under the carrier’s policy.

We represented a water agency in a matter involving groundwater contamination.

On July 16, 2020, California’s Fourth Appellate District Court issued a published decision in favor of firm client Imperial Irrigation District (IID) in a dispute between a farmer in the district and IID over IID’s rights to Colorado River water. The published opinion can be found at Michael Abatti, et al. v. Imperial Irrigation District (2020 S.O.S. 3585).

We obtained summary judgment from San Joaquin Superior Court in an over $200 million class action lawsuit brought against the San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association and its Board of Retirement by a certified class of nearly 1,800 people.

We recently prevailed in a trial in the Western District of Washington regarding a claim against State Farm.

The California Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District recently handed down a unanimous decision in Greene v. Marin County Employees’ Retirement Association, denying the petitioner’s request for issuance of a writ of mandate on the ground of disqualifying bias. Nossaman LLP represented MCERA through the trial and appellate court proceedings.

We successfully fought opponents both in court and via the political process to keep Sharp Park Golf Course in business while protecting two listed species.

We successfully represented a client in the first formal hearing involving a disputed starting allocation under California’s South Coast Air Basin’s emissions cap and trade program.

Confronted with an IT vendor refusing to return passwords and data, our oil and gas producer-client had two untenable choices.

Using some creative litigation strategies, we helped LSI Corporation turn the tables and receive a six-figure recovery from a "winning" plaintiff.

We successfully represented the County of Los Angeles in two significant election challenge cases.

We successfully represented the FDIC in obtaining a federal jury verdict against three former officers of the failed bank IndyMac.

We achieved a settlement that could result in changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's administration of the National Flood Insurance Program throughout California.

No stranger to the rough and tumble nature of California water disputes, we secured $50 million in water rights for an investor-owned water utility.

We brought big-firm style litigation infrastructure to support a small firm in a big breach of contract case.

We disarmed a potentially large class action and, on the eve of a motion to dismiss, secured a small, confidential settlement.

We used sophisticated courtroom strategy to champion the truth throughout a long jury trial and ensure our clients were able to reclaim over $1.3 million and a company that had been stolen from them.

Our California trial experience helped win a complete defense verdict and attorneys' fees for a technology client on securities fraud claims of more than $12 million.