Walnut Creek Partner Brooke E. Washburn recently secured a court order sustaining her client’s demurrer to a complaint, without leave to amend.  The case concerned allegations of liability for third party torts, wherein Plaintiffs’ argued that a special relationship exists between neighbors and married persons trigging an exception to the no duty to protect rule. The plaintiffs’ complaint alleged that Ms. Washburn’s client was liable for an alleged assault that her client’s late husband committed against a female neighbor.  The Court, having considered the recent Brown ruling by the state Supreme Court, ruled that none of the plaintiffs’ claims were legally viable.

Atlanta Partner Seth M. Friedman, Chicago Partner George J. Manos, Los Angeles Partner Michael R. Velladao, & New York Partner Cristina R. Yannucci will present a webinar titled “The Duty to Defend – What Every Claim Representative Needs to Know,” on August 15, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. PT.

Atlanta Partner and Co-Leader of Lewis Brisbois’ Intellectual Property & Technology and Entertainment, Media & Sports Practices Jonathan D. Goins has been named to Savoy Magazine’s 2024 Most Influential Lawyers list. As the publication describes, the list is a “powerhouse roster” that includes attorneys “whose legal prowess and commitment to excellence inspire the highest levels of corporate and legal leadership.”

Lewis Brisbois is pleased to welcome David Hendrix to its Tampa office as a partner in the firm’s Complex Business & Commercial Litigation and Banking & Finance Practices. With 34 years of legal experience, Mr. Hendrix joins Lewis Brisbois from GrayRobinson, where he founded the firm’s Banking & Finance Practice more than 20 years ago. Mr. Hendrix focuses his practice on commercial and business litigation – including extensive trial work – as well as banking litigation. He also regularly handles regulatory and compliance matters for financial institutions. Mr. Hendrix has tried well over 100 jury trials and has successfully represented large banks in dozens of high-exposure cases, including complex class actions.

Northwest Indiana Partner Tricia Bellich recently published an article in CLM Magazine titled, “Coming Soon to a Workplace Near You,” which discusses leading trends in the area of workers’ compensation.

Los Angeles Partners Donald Forgey and Nicholas Koumoulis secured a complete defense verdict on behalf of their client, a nightclub owner/operator in Los Angeles. The case, which had been litigated for over five years, involved a then-25-year-old female patron who alleged that she was physically and sexually assaulted, battered, and falsely imprisoned by the security staff inside and outside of the venue.

New Orleans Partner James W. Hailey III will join a panel on investigating automotive cases at the International Association of Special Investigation Units' (IASIU) Annual Conference, hosted in Orlando on August 27 at 8:30 a.m. CT.

In Charlot v. City of New York, New York Associate Dean Pillarella, a member of the Appellate Practice, recently obtained an affirmance of the lower court’s dismissal of the plaintiff’s action against the City of New York (“the City”) for failure to timely serve a notice of claim. New York Partner Meghan Cavalieri, a member of the Construction Practice, and her team authored and argued the initial motion to dismiss. 

Lewis Brisbois is pleased to announce that Walnut Creek Administrative Partner Kevin J. Hermanson was recently accepted as a new member of the San Francisco Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) during the organization’s National Board Meeting in Seattle, Washington on June 29, 2024.

Madison County Partner Kathryn (“Katie”) Warren was recently profiled in The Pioneer – Highland Illinois’ community newspaper – in an article discussing her move to Lewis Brisbois. Highland is in Madison County, Illinois, where Katie practices.