Author: Jason Armstrong

Hueston, Kaba Score Am Law ‘Litigators of the Week’ Honor for Boeing Win

As the publication noted, they and their team helped Boeing “wipe out a $72 million verdict handed down in May by a Seattle federal jury in litigation brought by defunct electric airplane company Zunum Aero Inc.” The American Lawyer’s column with the Q&A is here.

Law360 also recognized the Boeing team in its “Legal Lions Of The Week” column, which is here.

In addition to Mr. Hueston and Mr. Kaba, the team includes Sourabh Mishra, Yegor Fursevich, Emily Michael Munson, Justin M. Greer, Karen Ding, Tate Harshbarger, Cassidy O’Sullivan, Samantha Fidler, Melanie Hess and Chandler Matz.

Hueston Hennigan Advises on Historic $4B-Plus Hawaii Wildfire Settlement

The state turned to Hueston Hennigan to assist with its enormous responsibilities and litigation defense strategies in the wake of the deadly fires, which destroyed the historic town of Lahaina and killed over 100 people. The team has worked hand-in-glove with Gov. Green and AG Lopez over the past year and worked very closely with the mediators and litigants to drive the four-month mediation process leading up to the settlement filed Aug. 2.

The deal also stands out because it’s one of the unusual occasions in recent history that both sides of the political aisle worked together to quickly assist people in dire need of relief. Hueston Hennigan partner Michael Purpura, who has served as counsel to two Republican presidents, was sought by Gov. Green’s Democratic administration to help ensure the negotiation process flowed seamlessly both legally and politically.

“We are honored to have advised on this historic settlement that will help move the state forward and help compensate survivors and their families following this unprecedented disaster,” Mr. Purpura said. “It is a privilege for us to provide counsel to Gov. Green and execute his vision for Hawaii.”

Under the settlement, the seven defendants—the State of Hawaii, County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, West Maui Land Co., Hawaiian Telcom and Spectrum/Charter Communications—will pay $4.037 billion to provide compensation to all those who have brought claims arising from the windstorms and wildfires on Maui, including the approximately 2,200 affected parties who filed lawsuits. The State of Hawaii would contribute to the settlement in addition to its $65 million contribution to the One ʻOhana Fund, which the governor established with the help of Hueston Hennigan to create a unique mechanism to resolve wrongful death and personal injury claims on an expedited basis.

The settlement is subject to final documentation and court approval. The agreement is conditional on the resolution of the insurance companies’ claims that have already been paid for property loss and other damages, with no additional payments from the defendants.

In addition to Mr. Purpura, the Hueston Hennigan team includes Rajan Trehan, Stephanie Xiao, Emerson Bursis and Erik Savitt.

In May 2024, the firm was also selected to serve on Gov. Green’s Climate Advisory Team. The committee was formed to tackle the challenges of climate disasters and provide a comprehensive roadmap for Hawaii’s strategy to mitigate the financial impact of climate change.

The settlement has received media coverage in outlets including the Daily Journal, Law.com and Law360.

Chou and Libeu Honored Among Daily Journal’s Top Women Lawyers

The Daily Journal noted that Ms. Chou represented Bill McGlashan, the founder of a private equity firm, in the Varsity Blues college admission cases, and was able to get her client a rare plea deal that allowed him to appeal several legal issues. Among other victories, she won an 18-month home confinement probationary sentence for a former USC dean charged in connection with a bribery scheme, the publication said.

Ms. Libeu was recognized for winning a $293 million false advertising and trade secrets verdict for Monster Energy Co., which is believed to be the largest award ever under the Lanham Act. A judge recently tacked on another $43 million in fees and costs. The Daily Journal also noted that Ms. Libeu secured a $175 million arbitration award for Monster and co-claimant Orange Bang in a trademark case, among other recent wins.

Their profiles are here and here (subscription required).

Nine Attorneys Named Southern California Rising Stars

  • Karen Ding
  • Yegor Fursevich
  • Brittani Jackson
  • Lauren Johnson
  • Sourabh Mishra
  • Joseph Reiter
  • Samantha Schnier
  • Michael Todisco
  • Rajan Trehan

To be eligible, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. While up to 5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list.

Hueston Named to LABJ’s LA 500 List

This is Mr. Hueston’s seventh time on the list, which features 500 of the “most powerful, most influential and most impactful business leaders in the Los Angeles region.” The publication noted that Mr. Hueston has been called “the best trial lawyer of his generation” by Chambers, and has represented Fortune 500 companies and governments as lead counsel against high-profile and high-dollar clients.

In Mr. Hueston’s Q&A profile with the Los Angeles Business Journal, he said the “best advice” he ever got was to “seek positions that will keep your learning curve as steep as possible” for the first decade of your career. His favorite movie of all time, in any category? “Gladiator.”

His full profile can be found here (subscription required).