REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

The following cases are representative of matters litigated by Spiva & Hartnett LLP.

BUSINESS DISPUTES: Spiva & Hartnett LLP counsels and litigates on behalf of businesses, associations, and individuals on a wide range of matters.

Litigation and Arbitration: We represent parties with business disputes in federal and state court and in arbitration, including the following:

• We represent an international hospitality corporation in a variety of federal and state court matters. Among other things, we have successfully assisted the corporation in obtaining summary judgment against a nationwide class action.
  
• We represent an international telecommunications company in property, contract, and leasing disputes.
  
• We represent a large corporation in a securities arbitration against a major Wall Street investment bank/broker-dealer. In the action, our client alleges that the bank's fraud and negligence has caused over $10 million of our client's corporate cash to become frozen in illiquid student loan auction rate securities.
  
• We represent a professional corporation seeking to recoup money fraudulently taken by a former employee.
  
• We also litigate matters concerning partnership disputes and legal malpractice. We obtained a significant arbitration award of compensatory and punitive damages for our client in a law firm partnership dispute. We also successfully negotiated a settlement between our client, a real estate development LLC, and a departing member who threatened litigation.
  
• We represent subpoenaed parties in complex litigation.

Appellate: We have served as appellate and Supreme Court counsel to a variety of clients. Before the Supreme Court, we have represented major trade associations in copyright disputes, as well as an inventor in a patent dispute.

Internal Investigation: We have represented a non-profit corporation in an internal investigation.

Counseling: We provide ongoing counsel to major trade associations concerning antitrust issues, and we counsel business owners and individuals in various business and contract disputes.

PLAINTIFFS' LITIGATION: Spiva & Hartnett LLP litigates on behalf of a wide variety of plaintiffs and has obtained favorable resolutions of several significant matters.

EarthLink Early Termination Fee Litigation (Ga. Sup. Ct.): Spiva & Hartnett LLP, serving as lead counsel, obtained a comprehensive settlement for a nationwide class of past and current customers of EarthLink, an internet service provider, concerning EarthLink's allegedly unlawful practice of penalizing its customers who cancel their service by assessing substantial early termination fees. The Complaint is available here. Click here for the settlement website.

Representation of Sexual Assault Victim (D.D.C.): Spiva & Hartnett LLP represents an individual Plaintiff who seeks redress against the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, Howard University Hospital, George Washington University Hospital and other defendants, for their allegedly negligent handling of her complaint of sexual assault, including their refusal to administer a sexual assault medical forensic examination (part of which is commonly referred to as a "rape kit"). A Washington City Paper cover story about the case is available here.

Gregory, et al. v. LG Philips LCD Company LTD, et al. (D.D.C.): Spiva & Hartnett LLP represents District of Columbia consumers in this class action challenge to artificially inflated prices of flat-panel liquid crystal displays ("LCDs") found in devices such as televisions, computer monitors, and mobile phones. The Complaint is available here.

Lossada, et al. v. Union Oil Company of California (Unocal) (Cal. Sup. Ct., C.D. Cal.): Spiva & Hartnett LLP and a team of firms obtained a $48,000,000 settlement on behalf of California consumers against Unocal concerning its allegedly deceptive and anti-competitive conduct before a state administrative agency and toward industry associations concerning the standards for summertime reformulated gasoline (RFG), which resulted in higher gasoline prices for all California consumers. The Complaint is available here.

Ray, et al. v. State of Texas, et al. (E.D. Tex.): Spiva & Hartnett LLP obtained a settlement with the Texas Attorney General and Secretary of State, resulting in stricter guidelines for the State's investigation and prosecution of individuals assisting mail-in voters and significant clarification of the State's requirements for providing assistance to mail-in voters, in this constitutional challenge to unprecedented provisions of the Texas Election Code that allegedly severely restricted mail-in voting and that were allegedly enforced against African Americans and Hispanics in a discriminatory manner. The Complaint is available here.