Joseph Crusham focuses on complex commercial, environmental, and criminal litigation, managing all aspects of a case for a wide variety of clients. Mr. Crusham has written numerous dispositive briefs, presented oral argument before multiple federal district courts, and managed all phases of discovery. He previously served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, where he acted as lead counsel defending the United States and its agencies in federal district court cases across the country. Prior to his role at the U.S. Department of Justice, Mr. Crusham worked as an associate at Hueston Hennigan and served as a law clerk to the Hon. Josephine L. Staton of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
During law school, Mr. Crusham served as a legal intern for the U.S. Department of the Interior and was a senior publishing editor for the California Law Review.
*Mr. Crusham is not yet admitted to practice in New York.
Experience
Represented the United States and federal agencies as lead counsel in more than 20 complex environmental cases in federal district courts, involving statutes including the Endangered Species Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.
Represented Southern California Edison and Edison International in civil litigation arising out of the 2018 Woolsey Fire. Secured a declination from the California Department of Justice for Southern California Edison in connection with the fire.
Secured more than $40 million in settlements for the Navajo Nation in an action against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private parties for damages in connection with the environmental disaster caused by the Gold King Mine spill.
Defeated emergency attempts to enjoin Kaiser Permanente’s COVID-19 vaccination policy for employees.
Represented a leading fitness technology company in arbitration disputes and federal court litigation.