Wins

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

Finding serious discovery misconduct, the Court of Appeal orders new trial and requires automaker to pay trial and appellate attorney’s fees to GMSR’s client

GMSR’s consumer client sued an automaker under California’s lemon law and alleged that his car had engine defects.  During discovery, the consumer demanded production of documents about the automaker’s internal investigations and communications with government agencies regarding alleged engine defects.  The automaker swore that it

Court of Appeal embraces GMSR’s statutory analysis, reinforcing consumer protections under the Song-Beverly Act

Two consumers purchased a defective new car, and the manufacturer failed to repair it.  The consumers requested repurchase under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, which establishes a precise statutory formula for repurchases and mandates prompt manufacturer compliance.  The manufacturer refused.  Then, an accident occurred.  The

GMSR persuades California Supreme Court that economic loss rule doesn’t bar all fraudulent concealment claims between contracting parties

Courts have split over whether a plaintiff can assert a tort claim for fraudulent concealment during the performance of a contract, or whether such claims are barred by the common-law economic loss rule.  The California Supreme Court accepted the Ninth Circuit’s request to resolve the

Court of Appeal’s published opinion holds that California lemon law protects used car buyers with active new-car warranties

GMSR’s clients discovered that their used vehicle was defective, but the manufacturer refused to repair or replace it.  They sued the manufacturer under California’s lemon law, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, which requires manufacturers to either replace defective cars or offer the consumer a refund. 

California Supreme Court: GMSR’s consumer client is entitled to full statutory restitution under California’s lemon law—without offset

GMSR client Lisa Niedermeier gave the manufacturer of her defective Jeep Wrangler more than a dozen chances to fix the vehicle before asking the manufacturer to buy it back under California’s Lemon Law, the Song-Beverly Act.  The manufacturer refused her buy-back request, willfully violating the

Court of Appeal reverses order denying settlement enforcement and interprets settlement under CCP 998 in favor of GMSR’s clients

GMSR’s clients leased a vehicle that proved to be a lemon and sued the manufacturer under California’s lemon law, the Song-Beverly Act.  The manufacturer sent the clients a Code of Civil Procedure section 998 settlement offer, and they accepted.  Under the settlement agreement, the manufacturer

GMSR secures another Court of Appeal win holding that manufacturers cannot offset their Song-Beverly Act damages by amounts the plaintiff receives for trading in a “lemon” vehicle

The Song-Beverly Act requires car manufacturers to promptly buy back defective cars without the consumer having to sue.  Consumer advocates have long argued that manufacturers may not offset damages for amounts that plaintiffs are credited when they sell or trade in a defective car under

GMSR secures reinstatement of client’s fraudulent inducement claims

Owners of a Nissan Sentra sued Nissan, alleging that Nissan fraudulently induced them to buy their car by concealing the fact that the transmissions in the Sentras were defective.  The trial court sustained Nissan’s demurrer based on the “economic loss rule,” which bars certain tort

GMSR secures split in authority before the California Supreme Court weighs in: Court of Appeal agrees with GMSR that manufacturers are not entitled to offsets for a car consumer’s resale of a “lemon”

The Song-Beverly Act requires car manufacturers to promptly buy back defective cars without the consumer having to sue.  Consumer advocates have long argued that manufacturers may not offset damages for amounts that plaintiffs are credited when they sell or trade in a defective car under

Judgment Reversed: The Ninth Circuit Rules That GMSR’s Clients Did Not Abandon A Favorable Jury Verdict Merely By Arguing That Post-Judgment Proceedings Were Unnecessary

GMSR’s clients, two retirees who unwittingly leased a defective car, secured favorable jury verdicts on two claims under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act: one for breach of express warranty and another for breach of implied warranty.  Recognizing that they were not entitled to a double

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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