Reiter and Behl Promoted to Counsel

“Joe and Varun are exceptional lawyers who deliver outstanding service to our clients,” said managing partner, Brian Hennigan. “They are among the very best associates, who have a string of victories for our clients both before and after trial.”

Mr. Reiter is a trial and appellate lawyer with broad experience and success litigating high-stakes disputes. He has had a key role in a number of significant trials, including obtaining a complete defense verdict for the California Institute of Technology in a tortious interference and whistleblower retaliation case and a victory for the State Bar of California in a breach of contract and wrongful termination suit. Mr. Reiter was also part of the team that prevailed 9-0 before the United States Supreme Court in a class action appeal, and he recently secured the dismissal of all claims against Deloitte in a False Claims Act dispute.

Mr. Reiter clerked for the Honorable Andrew J. Kleinfeld of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He earned his J.D. from University of Michigan Law School.

Mr. Behl has extensive experience handling complex disputes. He has succeeded in jury and bench trials including on behalf of the California Institute of Technology after a month-long jury trial, and on behalf of the State Bar of California in a high-profile arbitration. He recently obtained a preliminary injunction on behalf of our client in a case impacting the pharmaceutical industry.

Mr. Behl clerked for the Honorable Jerry E. Smith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He earned his J.D. from University of Michigan Law.

Deloitte Consulting Dismissed From False Claims Act Dispute

“We strongly believed that the Plaintiff’s allegations were wrong on the facts and law,” said John Hueston. “We are pleased that the court accepted our arguments and thrilled to obtain this early dismissal for Deloitte Consulting.”

The case arose out of a project the City of San Diego began in 2014 to overhaul its enterprise asset management system. The City hired Deloitte Consulting to provide professional consulting services, including the implementation and integration of software designed by SAP America, Inc.

Plaintiff Thomas Rocco, a former SAP employee, brought this qui tam lawsuit in 2017, alleging that Deloitte Consulting and SAP had violated numerous conflicts of interest laws and conspired to defraud the City out of public funds. Rocco claimed, among other things, that Deloitte Consulting had billed the City for work it did not perform, exchanged illegal kickbacks with SAP, intentionally concealed conflicts of interest, and rigged the City’s bidding system. Rocco sought to invalidate the entire contract between Deloitte Consulting and the City and treble damages and fines in excess of $75 million.

Hueston Hennigan aggressively and strategically moved to obtain early dismissal of Rocco’s 118-page complaint. After several rounds of demurrers, an Orange County Superior Court judge granted Hueston Hennigan’s third demurrer with prejudice on all remaining claims against Deloitte Consulting.

Deloitte Consulting is represented by John Hueston and Joseph Reiter of Hueston Hennigan LLP.

Freedom for Immigrants Seeks to Declare ICE’s Actions Unconstitutional and Reinstate Its National Immigration Detention Hotline

“ICE’s shutdown of the Hotline violates FFI’s First Amendment rights to speak freely and the rights of detained immigrants to speak with FFI,” explained lead counsel Moez M. Kaba, a partner at Hueston Hennigan. “We filed this lawsuit on behalf of FFI in order to protect these core First Amendment rights, and to reinstate an important lifeline for persons held in immigrant detention.”

Freedom for Immigrants is represented pro bono by Moez M. Kaba, Rajan Trehan, and Ashley Artmann of Hueston Hennigan LLP.

Media coverage includes the Houston Chronicle, Washington Post, The New York Times, US News,  The Hollywood Reporter, The Recorder, and others.

Click here to read the full press release.