Complex Commercial Litigation

Los Angeles Business And Commercial Litigation Lawyers

Sophisticated Litigation Services For Clients Across The United States

Lysaght Law Group LLP provides individuals and corporations legal counsel in areas of complex litigation. Our success is based on our ability to recognize the underlying issues in a dispute and move quickly to resolve the matter without the need of costly trial, whenever possible. Our founding attorney, Brian Lysaght, leads our firm with more than 30 years of sophisticated, complex litigation experience.

Firm lawyers have won more than $77 million in jury awards and hundreds of millions of dollars in court trials and settlements. Our plaintiff’s jury verdicts include such clients as producer/director Ron Shelton, real estate developers, LCS Inc. and Baldwin Properties. On the defense side, we have obtained zero-liability verdicts for such major corporations as Lockheed Martin Corporation and Republic Industries. In white collar cases, we have obtained acquittals in major bank fraud trials and directed verdicts in Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) prosecution
Securities, banking and residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS)

Countrywide v. Ryland Homes: LLG represented Ryland in RMBS litigation. CW claimed that Ryland, a national homebuilder, must repurchase hundreds of loans sold to CW because of claims by third parties against CW.
National Integrity Life Insurance Co. v. Bank of America, Countrywide, et al.: LLG represents National Integrity in RMBS litigation against B of A, CW and multiple others in MDL proceedings in federal court in Los Angeles. In a landmark victory for NI Judge Pfaelzer denied defendants’ Rule 12 motions to dismiss and held that NI’s state law fraud claims may proceed.
Western & Southern Life Insurance v. Bank of America, Countrywide, et al.: LLG represents W&S in major RICO litigation against defendants in another MDL proceeding pending before the U.S. District Court.
United States v. Hedberg: Obtained directed verdict after close of government’s case for bank official in quasi-criminal civil penalties action under FIRREA.
In Re World Development Center: Obtained $165 million judgment against bank and bank official in federal court in Los Angeles.
In Re World Industrial Center: Represented former bank president as debtor in possession in Orange County bankruptcy case involving 100 acre parcel in Carson, California, site of planned NFL franchise. Obtained dismissal of bankruptcy and ownership of property for client.
GI Industries v. Republic Industries: Represented defendant Republic Industries in trial in United States District Court for the Central District of California in failed merger case seeking $50 million in damages. Obtained zero-dollar defense verdict for Republic.
Konvitz v. Merrill Lynch Canada, et al.: On behalf of individual plaintiff, obtained $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages for securities fraud following jury trial in United States District Court for the Central District of California against Merrill Lynch Canada (2002).

Entertainment

Hermit Glen v. Twentieth Century Fox: Obtained $9.88 million jury verdict in Los Angeles Superior Court for producer/writer/director Ron Shelton over back-end profits dispute re: White Men Can’t Jump. Top 10 California verdict for 1997.
Doe v. Disney: Obtained favorable eight-figure confidential settlement against studio over back-end profits dispute on major motion picture.
Doe v. Twentieth Century Fox: Obtained nine-figure confidential eve of trial settlement over dispute re: syndication royalties owed on network television series.
Doe v. Universal: Obtained favorable monetary settlement and ancillary rights allowing major motion picture to be produced and distributed.
L.A. Effects v. Fox: Obtained favorable monetary settlement and credit for special effects on Alien II. Client received Academy Award for special visual effects.
Doe v. Fox: Obtained immediate seven-figure cash payment plus ongoing participation in ancillary rights for eight (8) motion pictures on behalf of actor.

Antitrust

City of San Jose, City of Fremont, et al. v. Electrical Contractors: Represented numerous Northern California cities in civil actions against major electrical contractors for bid rigging on traffic signal jobs in Silicon Valley. Eight-figure settlement.
In Re Post-Tension Concrete Antitrust Litigation: As a trial lawyer for the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department was lead prosecutor in successfully criminally prosecuting major steel companies operating in Colorado for bid-rigging the airport and university as part of a nationwide post-tension concrete bid rigging conspiracy.

Intellectual property

Pokemon litigation: Represented holder of intellectual property rights against Pokemon Japanese owners in federal district court and Ninth Circuit.
Alien II litigation: Represented copyright holder of special effects sculptures against Fox, James Cameron and others.
Laurel & Hardy: Represented Laurel family in litigation against claimed current rights holders.

Real estate and construction disputes

LCS, Inc. v. Irvine Company: Obtained $42.5 million state court jury verdict in Orange County Superior Court against Irvine Company in property dispute. Fourth largest California verdict in 1994.
Village Properties v. California Conservancy Council, et al.: Obtained $11.5 million Los Angeles Superior court jury verdict in property dispute in Westlake, California. Top 10 California verdict.
Summa Corp. v. Echo Bay: Represented Summa Corporation and successors Rouse Corporation and General Growth Partners before Nevada Supreme Court and trial court in dispute over Nevada mining royalties.
SONY CORP Earthquake Litigation: Represented owner Filmland Corp against insurance companies over Northridge earthquake damage caused to Sony building in Culver City. Obtained $7 million jury verdict for client.

Family law litigation, probate and domestic relations

In Re Taubman Trust: Represented defendant U.S. Bank as trustee of Taubman Trust in suit by beneficiary seeking $30 million in surcharges against trustee. Following nine-month trial in Los Angeles Superior Court, obtained zero-dollar defense verdict for client.
Botach Litigation: Represented Yoav Botach in palimony/contract action arising from Orthodox Jewish ceremony that was not recognized as marriage in California. Sum of $30 million dollar sought. After two month trial obtained defense verdict for Yoav.

Legal malpractice and partnership dissolution litigation

Dickson, Carlson & Campillo v. Brobeck, Phlegar, et al.: Represented DCC in Jewel v. Boxer trial after DCC partner defected to Brobeck. Opponent: John Kecker, Kecker & Van Nest. After multiple jury and nonjury trials and published Court of Appeal opinion obtained jury verdict entitling DCC to share in future profits from breast implant nationwide litigation.

White collar federal criminal defense

  • Government bid and contract fraud
  • IRS tax fraud
  • Federal Medicare and Medicaid fraud
  • Mail and wire fraud
  • Embezzlement
  • Internet prescription fraud
  • Money laundering

Aerospace and military

Semtech v. Lockheed Martin Corp (2003): On remand from United States Supreme Court, obtained directed verdict for Lockheed Martin Corporation in jury trial in Baltimore County Superior Court in dispute concerning rights to transponder time on Russian Loutch satellites. Affirmed in Maryland appellate courts.

In re Miltope Litigation (2005): During jury deliberations in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, obtained high eight-figure settlement from defendants in theft of trade secrets trial concerning electronic battlefield equipment for U.S. Army.