We understand that litigation is often a last resort.  We recognize that litigation is a means to an end, not an end in itself.  Accordingly, our litigators zealously defend and enforce our clients’ interests through high quality, efficient and aggressive representation focused entirely on results. 

Greenberg Glusker’s litigators have extensive experience representing individuals, partnerships and companies of all sizes in federal and state court, before arbitration tribunals and in other dispute resolution forums.  We have an unmatched reputation in handling high-profile and high-stakes litigation arising in entertainment, real estate and intellectual property. 

Our trial lawyers practice in a broad range of industries and disciplines.  These include motion picture and television, music, interactive media and gaming, sports, software and technology. Additional litigation practice areas are real estate development, leasing, construction, land use and eminent domain, environmental, employment, trusts and estates, probate and tax. 

We have the knowledge, skill and experience to handle all stages of litigation, from the outset of the dispute through and including trial and any appeal.  As our representative matters illustrate, our Litigation Group is practical, smart, tough and knows how to try a case.

Representative Experience

• Currently representing the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien in a profit participation case against New Line Cinema arising from the “Lord of the Rings” film franchise.
• Represented a real estate developer in obtaining a settlement in excess of $15 million, on the eve of trial, in a dispute with his partner and a major luxury resort operator over the ownership and redevelopment of a luxury hotel in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
• Obtained complete defense verdict after a multiweek trial, on behalf of entities controlled by the Pritzker family, in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit brought by SunAmerica arising out of a right of first refusal in connection with real estate investments.
• Obtained $13.2 million arbitration award for Ubisoft Entertainment, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, in dispute against licensor of the Bratz doll property for wrongful termination of the license. 
• Currently representing best-selling author Clive Cussler in a dispute relating to the motion picture version of his novel “Sahara.”
• Represented Joel Silver, a major Hollywood producer, in obtaining $2.45 million settlement and a referee’s award in excess of $2 million, resulting from construction defect claims against the general contractor and architects involved in the design and construction of a multimillion- dollar residence.
• Represented Apple Corps. Ltd., the holder of the rights to The Beatles, in a trademark dispute with Apple Computer over the right to use the mark “Apple” in connection with Apple’s iTunes and iPod businesses.
• Obtained a multimillion dollar judgment in favor of The Beatles after a six-week trial in the landmark action against the producers of the stage show “Beatlemania” for invasion of publicity rights in performance, name and likeness. 
• Obtained summary judgment for Classic Media, Inc. in two separate lawsuits involving attempts by authors' heirs to recapture copyrights in “Lassie Come Home" under the Copyright Act's statutory termination provisions.
• Represented Michael Flatley, best known for his role in the “Lord of the Dance” and “Riverdance” productions, in prosecuting a civil extortion, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress case.  We obtained an $11 million judgment in the defamation and emotional distress portion of the case, and persuaded the California Supreme Court that a lawyer who threatened to sue Mr. Flatley was guilty of civil extortion.
• Represented Jeffrey Katzenberg, a founding principal of DreamWorks SKG and the former head of Walt Disney Studios, in his lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company. The litigation arose out of Disney’s failure to pay Mr. Katzenberg the employment bonus owed to him upon his leaving the company. The bonus included a participation in all of the films produced during his tenure.
• Defended Paramount Pictures against the antitrust class action brought by the Estate of Jim Garrison against all of the major Hollywood studios.  Plaintiffs attacked the studios’ net profit definition as being unconscionable on behalf of all profit participants.  The court afforded the studio defendants a total victory when it dismissed the class action.
• Obtained an over $3 million award on behalf of our client Newmarket Films, the distributor of “The Passion of the Christ,” in a suit against Mel Gibson’s company, Icon Productions, for nonpayment of Newmarket’s distribution fee.
• Successfully represented Warren Beatty in litigation against Tribune Media Services concerning rights in and to the character Dick Tracy, and involving the issue of who, as between Mr. Beatty and Tribune, had the right to make future “Dick Tracy” motion pictures and television programming.
• Represented the principals of Maverick Records, Madonna, Guy Oseary and Ronnie Dashev in litigation with Warner Music Group over partnership issues.  Lawsuits pending in both Delaware and Los Angeles were resolved with a buyout of our clients’ partnership interests.
• Successfully defeated accused murderer Jesse James Hollywood’s request for a preliminary injunction seeking to prevent the distribution of the 2007 feature film “Alpha Dog.”
• Represented Tom Cruise in action against Philips for unauthorized use of Mr. Cruise’s name and likeness in television advertising.
• Represented DreamWorks SKG against Barbara Chase-Riboud, who claimed that DreamWorks had lifted numerous themes and portions of her book “Echo of Lions” for the motion picture “Amistad.”  The court rejected plaintiff’s request for an injunction to keep the film from opening and plaintiff eventually dropped the case.
• Represented Subafilms, Ltd. (The Beatles) against MGM/UA in connection with the unauthorized distribution of “Yellow Submarine.”
• Represented Oscar De La Hoya in defense of claims for idea theft concerning a reality-based boxing series.  The matter was favorably settled.
• Represented Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the founders of A&M Records, in action against Universal Music Group for breach of agreements relating to the sale of A&M Records.
• Defended Jerry Bruckheimer Television against frivolous claims of infringement or breach of implied contract arising from his highly successful television shows “The Amazing Race,” “CSI” and “Without a Trace.”
• Successfully defended CGI animation studio against subsidiary of Sony Pictures in a breach of contract and fraud dispute over an animated television version of “Starship Troopers.”
• Successfully represented a partner in Stone Stanley Entertainment, a television production company which produced such hits as “The Mole,”  “The Man Show” and “Shop Til’ You Drop,” in actions to recover damages and for dissolution.
• Represented Spark Unlimited, the developer of video games “Call of Duty Finest Hour,” “Turning Point: Fall of Liberty,” and “Legendary: The Box,” in a multimillion-dollar dispute against Activision Publishing for breach of development contract and fraud.
• Represented Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer in a multifaceted dispute with his longtime business partner.
• Obtained the dismissal, which was affirmed on appeal, of defamation and other tort claims against television executive Aaron Spelling resulting from publication of an autobiography.
• Represented the Estate of George Harrison in a conversion action for theft and subsequent attempt to sell personal items from Mr. Harrison’s home.  After we obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction prohibiting the sale of the memorabilia, the case resolved via settlement, which included a permanent injunction mandating the return of all of Mr. Harrison’s personal property.
• Successfully obtained the return of the “Alvin & The Chipmunks” characters to the original owners from a major motion picture studio.
• Represented DreamWorks Animation, Inc. in an action for underpayment of royalties against a worldwide publisher of materials that utilized the animated characters from the “Shrek” films.

 For more information, please contact Aaron J. Moss, Chair of Greenberg Glusker's Litigation Group.