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David E. Hackett

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Biography

David Hackett has a broad-based appellate practice and has served as lead counsel for numerous appeals, writ petitions, and dispositive pre-trial and post-trial motions in state and federal courts.  He frequently helps trial counsel, businesses, insurers, and individuals to navigate appellate and post-trial issues and consults with clients and trial teams regarding record preservation and critical briefing in all phases of litigation.  He has substantive experience across a wide variety of topics, including: agency and partnership, anti-SLAPP motions, arbitration, civil procedure, contracts, constitutional law, employment, family law, health care, intellectual property, probate, real estate, secured transactions, state and federal regulations, and tax, among many others.

David received his law degree from Loyola Law School, where he was the class valedictorian.  He then served as a law clerk to Judge Gary A. Feess of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and to Judge Alfred T. Goodwin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  Between clerkships, he was an associate in the Los Angeles office of Latham & Watkins, where his practice included complex civil litigation, international arbitration, internal corporate investigations, and white-collar defense.

David graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA and he is still a dedicated Bruins fan.  One of his prized possessions is an autographed copy of Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success.

Outside the courtroom, David is a proud husband and father of two children.

Some of David’s appellate victories include:

High-Impact Wins

2022

Tufeld Corporation v. Beverly Hills Gateway, L.P. (2022) 86 Cal.App.5th 12

Clarifies existing law involving 99-year term limits governing city-lot leases

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2021

Carachure v. Scott (2021) 70 Cal.App.5th 16

Clarified existing law regarding a court's power to (1) grant partial nonsuit on an affirmative defense and (2) unilaterally approve a settlement agreement

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2021

Southern California School of Theology v. Claremont Graduate University (2021) 60 Cal.App.5th 1

Analysis of what constitutes an equitable servitude and when it can be enforced

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2017

Kanno v. Marwit Capital Partners II, L.P. (2017) 18 Cal.App.5th 987

Court comprehensively analyzes the governing principles and application of the parol evidence rule under both California and Delaware law

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2015

Novak v. Fay (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 329

Court establishes procedure for enforcing attorney liens against decedents’ estates

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Speaking and Involvement

2024
"Year in Review" – Case Highlights of 2023, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel Annual Seminar
2023
2022 Year in Review: A Summary of Recent Cases, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel Annual Seminar
2022
Writing and Arguing Winning Motions, Rossdale CLE
2021
Keeping The Lid On The Policy, American Property Casualty Insurance Association
2019
CYA (Coach Your Attorneys): How to Help Your Outside Counsel Preserve the Record for an Appeal, American Property Casualty Insurance Association
2019
Is Dynamex Dynamite? Evaluating Dynamex’s Potentially Explosive Effects On Tort Defendants, Employers, And The Gig Economy; Association of Southern California Defense Counsel Seminar
2019
MCLE: Fighting Non-Economic Tort Damages, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office
2018
The Write Stuff: How To Win Your Case With A Compelling Style And The Tools Of Rhetoric, December 12, 2018, ProLawCLE
2018
Stop Controlling Me! Recent Legal Developments In Employee/Independent Contractor Classification In The Gig Economy, 29th Annual PCI Western Region General Counsel Seminar
2017
Experts: Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them, 28th Annual ACIC General Counsel Seminar
2016
Reptiles, Picassos, And Stealth Bombers: Tips For Combating Aggressive Efforts To Inflate Non-Economic Tort Damages, 27th Annual ACIC General Counsel Seminar
2015
Secret Agents: The Coverage You Didn’t Think You’d Be Providing, ACIC’s 26th Annual General Counsel Seminar

Professional Associations

Friends of the Los Angeles County Law Library, Board Member
Family Violence Appellate Project, New Leadership Council
Beverly Hills Bar Foundation, Board Member (2017 - 2018)
Law Student Mentor, The Appellate Project (2021)
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Appellate Courts Section
Federal Bar Association, Los Angeles Chapter
Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL)
Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (ASCDC)