Wins

GMSR has a stellar track record and reputation as writs and appeals attorneys. Below is a sample of recent wins for our clients.

Ninth Circuit reverses judgment against GMSR’s client and reinstates its $25.7 million verdict

GMSR’s client EchoSpan alleged that a competitor willfully and maliciously appropriated multiple trade secrets and sought more than $23 million in damages based on the competitor’s unjust enrichment.  A federal jury unanimously agreed regarding one of the trade secrets and awarded $11.7 million in unjust

GMSR prevents compelled disclosure of privileged documents via writ review

Writ petitions can provide valuable relief when a trial court issues an erroneous order in the middle of litigation.  This proved to be the case recently for a GMSR client. During discovery, the client faced an order to produce several documents that it had asserted

GMSR wins insurance contribution case in Oregon Supreme Court

GMSR’s client Continental Casualty Company paid over $25 million in defense costs for an industrial insured facing environmental claims at the Portland Harbor Superfund Site.  Continental sued its co-insurers for contribution.  A few months before trial, one of the defendant insurers moved for dismissal, claiming

Court of Appeal affirms judgment in favor of GMSR’s clients, rejecting fraud and misrepresentation claims stemming from a $30+ million commercial real estate deal

Two plaintiffs—a cosmetics company and a related entity—sued GMSR’s clients, a large property developer and two other defendants.  Plaintiffs alleged fraud and misrepresentation arising from a multimillion-dollar commercial property sale in the City of Corona. The trial court granted summary judgment against one of the

GMSR wins reversal of defense judgment and remand for new trial of carrier’s $5 million fraud claim

Federal Insurance Company and GMSR client Truck Insurance Exchange were liability insurers for the same insured.  In a previous lawsuit, Federal sued Truck for reimbursement on the premise that Federal’s duty to defend under the insured’s excess policy depended on the exhaustion of the primary

Ninth Circuit affirms summary judgment for GMSR’s insurer client

GMSR represented Steadfast Insurance Company on appeal in a dispute with another insurer suing on the assigned rights of Steadfast’s insured.  Steadfast’s insured, a construction company, allegedly built defective roofs.  Its insurance broker failed to timely report one of the claims to Steadfast—so the broker’s

Court of Appeal affirms judgment confirming arbitration award, holding that the appellant failed to provide a sufficient appellate record

GMSR’s client, Porch.com, is an online marketplace that connects homeowners with home-service providers.  Porch.com agreed to acquire Kandela, a moving services company, and the parties signed an acquisition agreement with an arbitration clause.  Eventually, Kandela claimed that Porch.com had committed fraud and the parties submitted

Court of Appeal reverses demurrer based on plea of abatement, allowing GMSR’s client’s lawsuit to proceed

The owner of a car dealership sued his former business partner, seeking to collect on a promissory note.  The former business partner sought to abate the action under Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10(c), arguing that it involved the same claims and parties as in

Ninth Circuit agrees with GMSR that LA County’s COVID-19 commercial eviction moratorium did not violate the Contracts Clause

A commercial landlord sued the County of Los Angeles claiming that the County’s commercial eviction moratorium imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic violated the Contracts Clause in the U.S. Constitution.  Although other COVID-19 eviction moratoria cases have asserted Contracts Clause challenges, this one was fairly unique: 

GMSR wins reversal of $5.3+ million judgment (damages plus attorney fees) in whistleblower retaliation action

A surgeon formerly employed at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center sued the County of Los Angeles, claiming that County employees retaliated against him and fired him after he reported what he believed to be an unnecessary surgery.  The court concluded before trial that his termination from

Who We Serve

PUBLIC ENTITIES

Whether on appeal, assisting trial counsel, or advising government officials contemplating legislative action, GMSR provides unique insight into the complex laws that impact public entities.

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INSURERS

GMSR represents insurers on appeal effectively and efficiently.  We also collaborate with our clients and trial counsel on strategy for coverage, contribution and bad faith litigation before appeals begin.

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BUSINESSES

GMSR offers corporate clients objective assessments on appeal, based on a deep understanding of the limitations and opportunities of appellate review.

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TRIAL COUNSEL

The firm’s lawyers are team players, collaborating with trial counsel at any level from legal strategy to writing or editing trial court motions and appellate briefs.

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INDIVIDUALS

GMSR vigorously advocates the rights of individual plaintiffs and defendants, in both state and federal appellate courts.

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COMMUNITY PRO BONO

As part of GMSR’s long-standing commitment to social justice and equality, GMSR provides pro bono appellate services to individuals and to community organizations on issues of concern.

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