In an era of spiraling litigation costs, the recovery of attorney fees for a client – or resistance to a potential fee claim – can become a multi-million dollar challenge. State and federal laws governing recovery of attorney fees, and the calculation of a reasonable amount, add layers of complexity and risk. In some cases, where the law provides for fee shifting, attorney fees can even outstrip the amount at issue in the underlying litigation. For over 30 years, GMSR’s appellate lawyers have counseled clients concerning fee claims, and successfully litigated fee issues, from trial courts to the California Supreme Court.
Southern Cal. School of Theology v. Claremont Graduate University (May 3, 2021, B302452) 2021 WL1731232
Court of Appeal reverses attorney fee award against GMSR clients
Regueiro v. FCA US, LLC (Nov. 19, 2020, B301772) 2020 WL 6792378
GMSR preserves attorney fee award in Song-Beverly Act case
McKindra v. Tharaldson Financial Group, Inc. (Nov. 11, 2019, E069896) 2019 WL 6125912
Court of Appeal reverses compensatory and punitive damages and private attorney general fees in bed bug case
Court of Appeal reverses compensatory and punitive damages and private attorney general fees in bed bug case
GMSR’s client, the defendant hotel, admitted negligence after plaintiffs were briefly exposed to bed bugs in their hotel room. The jury returned a verdict awarding substantial compensatory damages and punitive damages on an intentional infliction of emotional distress claim for one plaintiff, and compensatory damages
Court of Appeal affirms damages and fee awards in favor of real estate developers and rejects neighboring homeowners association’s million-dollar counterclaim.
GMSR’s clients acquired four parcels of land and began developing residential homesites—a process that requires frequent pre-development visits by multiple contractors. Because the land was not adjacent to public streets, the developers and their visitors accessed it by driving through a guarded gate and then
Millennium-Diamond Road Partners, LLC v. Diamond Bar Country Estates Association (Sept. 25, 2019, B285539) 2019 WL 4635158
Court of Appeal affirms damages and fee awards in favor of real estate developers and rejects neighboring homeowners association’s million-dollar counterclaim
Colyear v. Rolling Hills Community Assn. of Rancho Palos Verdes (Apr. 23, 2018, B278198) 2018 WL 1905035
GMSR succeeds in reviving its client’s lawsuit and reversing a quarter-million dollar attorney fee award that had been entered against him
Rice v. Downs (2016) 248 Cal.App.4th 175
The Court of Appeal adopted GMSR’s narrow interpretation of the intended scope of arbitrable claims and reversed the order compelling arbitration
Dromy v. Assil (Dec. 22, 2015, B259489) 2015 WL 9311777
Adopting arguments urged by GMSR, the Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment and ordered that its client recover additional attorney fees
Martinez v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (2011) 195 Cal.App.4th 1038
Creating a new “bright-line rule” under Code of Civil Procedure section 998, Court affirms denial of attorney fee award to opponent of GMSR’s public entity client
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Who We Serve
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.
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.
GMSR offers corporate clients objective assessments on appeal, based on a deep understanding of the limitations and opportunities of appellate review.
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.
GMSR vigorously advocates the rights of individual plaintiffs and defendants, in both state and federal appellate courts.
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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