Firm News & Information

The firm was engaged to defend the former CEO of a Singapore technology company in a complex fraud action filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The company, which is in liquidation, alleged that the CEO misappropriated more than $15 million in corporate assets by transferring funds to entities controlled by his wife and other affiliates. After filing a demurrer that exposed severe weaknesses in the plaintiff’s case theory, the client was able to negotiate a highly-favored settlement amounting to considerably less than ‘nuisance value’ and the action settled without either side engaging in discovery.

Heath Steinbeck prevailed in successive arbitrations brought by the Screen Actors Guild against its clients, a film production company and an affiliate distributor. SAG sought awards of $250,000 and $350,000, respectively, alleging that the clients owed, in connection with two motion pictures, ‘step-up’ compensation and residuals under SAG’s collective bargaining agreement. Following contested hearings and the submission of closing briefs, the arbitrator entered successive written rulings which adopted all of the arguments advanced by Heath Steinbeck, dismissed all of SAG’s claims, and ruled that SAG was not entitled to any recovery from our clients.

The firm was engaged as counsel on behalf of a real estate developer in a fraud case arising out of a $3.5 million residence in Beverly Hills. The action involved claims against the developer of the property, the sellers, and the brokers representing the seller. We secured a favorable cash recovery for our client, as well as a resolution of all counter-claims, through mediation.

Heath Steinbeck was retained to defend claims for copyright infringement and breach of contract brought against a distributor of Bengali-language motion pictures. Upon retention, we secured the dismissal with prejudice of the plaintiff’s key copyright, with the plaintiff agreeing to dismiss the claim after we exposed major flaws in its case theory. The firm went on the offensive, filing cross-claims for fraudulent inducement and breach of contract, and engaging in aggressive investigation and discovery that confirmed the viability of the client’s fraud claim. The client is now seeking an award of punitive damages against the plaintiff.

A leading sports nutrition and health supplement company has hired Heath Steinbeck to defend a lawsuit recently brought by a competitor in federal court in the Central District of California, in which the plaintiff alleges trade dress infringement in violation of the Lanham Act, and unfair competition. Steven Heath has prior experience representing companies in the sports nutrition industry, having previously been part of a litigation team that successfully dismissed a class action brought against a sports energy drink manufacturer under California’s consumer protection statutes.

Heath Steinbeck obtained a prompt and favorable resolution on behalf of our client, an award-winning film and commercial director, in a partnership dispute involving a Hollywood production and design company. The settlement ensures our client permanently retains key publicity and promotional rights to the creative portfolio developed during his tenure with the company.

Heath Steinbeck obtained a dismissal with prejudice of all claims against our clients, a film production company and its executives, in a breach of contract and fraud lawsuit brought by a screenwriter. The case was originally filed in the San Francisco Superior Court and, after the firm successfully transferred the venue to Los Angeles, the court entered judgment for our client after granting the firm’s motion to dismiss and motion to strike the complaint. The dismissal was subsequently upheld by the California Court of Appeal.

The firm obtained an order from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana to allow its client, a Beverly Hills-based film financing company, to continue its prosecution of a fraudulent transfer action against an international film distribution company in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The action also involves coordination with related insolvency proceedings before the High Court of England & Wales and arises out of several multi-million dollar investment and gap financing loans for motion pictures.

Representing a film production company and its principals, Heath Steinbeck secured a highly-favorable settlement in a sexual harassment and unlawful termination lawsuit arising out of alleged events taking place during principal photography of a motion picture in Michigan. Following aggressive discovery and investigation, the case was resolved for less than 2% of the plaintiff’s original settlement demand.

The firm secured a seven-figure settlement for its client, an investment funds based in the British Virgin Islands, in a complex legal malpractice action against its former counsel. Our client recovered all of its economic losses, which exceeded $1 million, as well as its attorney’s fees and costs, with the settlement yielding a highly favorable cash-positive outcome. The dispute arose of out a failed green energy transaction and involved two law firm defendants, an asset recovery firm, and a state county, with all claims litigated in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.