February 18, 2015

Milbank Claims Two Spots on Daily Journal’s “Top Defense Results of 2014”

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Milbank Litigation partners Mark Scarsi and Linda Dakin-Grimm were recognized for their work on two separate cases that were named “Top 20 Defense Results of 2014” by the Daily Journal, California’s leading legal newspaper. Each year the editors of the Daily Journal select the top litigation victories in California that had major impact on individuals, industries and the larger society. The list recognizes the largest and most significant trial verdicts and defense victories of 2014.

For the second year in a row, a Milbank trial team led by Los Angeles partner Mark Scarsi secured a notable defense verdict for Apple Inc. in a patent infringement suit over Apple’s iPhone and iPad products. In this case, plaintiff Wi-LAN sued a number of device manufacturers over patents related to mobile communications. The other defendants settled, but Apple pushed forward with its defense. Milbank’s defense resulted in a summary judgment for Apple, avoiding a costly trial. The Milbank team consisted of litigation associates Ashlee Lin, Jennifer Miremadi, Miguel Ruiz, and Mike Sheen. Read more about this case in the Daily Journal article.

Linda Dakin-Grimm, a litigation partner in Milbank’s Los Angeles office, led the team representing Broadcast Music Inc. in a battle over songwriting royalties filed by Ken Roberts, the former manager of the popular funk rock musician Sylvester Stewart (known as “Sly Stone”), who alleged Stone had assigned BMI royalties to him and claimed BMI had breached a contract by paying royalties to other defendants at Stone’s direction. Milbank attorneys succeeded in various pre-trial motions and, after just one hour of deliberation, secured a favorable verdict for BMI. The Milbank trial team included special counsel Delilah Vinzon, and associates Mike Sheen and Lisa Northrup. Read more about this case in the Daily Journal article.