Jeffrey M. Judd
Founding Partner
Jeffrey Judd focuses his practice on complex litigation involving business practices, property, and products. As a partner of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Jeff successfully represented an impressive roster of Fortune 500 companies, which includes Ford Motor Company, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Merck, and Franklin Templeton Investments. He has regularly appeared before state and federal courts throughout the country and has in-depth experience guiding clients through administrative actions initiated by the US Securities & Exchange Commission, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and investigations by the US Department of Justice, the California Attorney General, and a host of other state and local regulators.
Jeff represents businesses in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, technology, real estate development, manufacturing, airlines, and pharmaceutical and medical devices. He has brought and defended a broad spectrum of claims, including business governance, investor claims, unfair competition, consumer fraud, real and intellectual property, trade secrets, product defect, environmental, and false claim act actions. His clients have frequently faced concurrent civil suits, regulatory enforcement actions, and criminal investigations arising from the same events. Jeff has extensive experience in all phases of litigation, including trial and other evidentiary hearings, arbitrations, mediations, and appeals. He frequently speaks and writes about trade secrets, FINRA arbitration claims, environmental and real property matters, e-discovery, and complex litigation.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
CONSUMER FRAUD, PRODUCT LIABILITY, MASS TORT/CLASS ACTIONS
FINRA Claim Against Registered Representative. Represented registered representative accused of violations of FINRA regulations that allegedly caused substantial investment losses. Matter resolved through confidential settlement.
Int’l Union of Operating Engineers Loc. #68 Welfare Fund v. Merck & Co., Inc. Represented Merck & Co., Inc. in a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of third-party payors (i.e., HMOs, insurers, employers, and union welfare funds) that sought damages under the NJ Consumer Fraud Act for alleged misrepresentations about the safety of Vioxx. Certification defeated on appeal to the NJ Supreme Court.
In re New Jersey Vioxx Litigation. Served as lead trial counsel representing Merck in connection with economic harm claims by over 80 third-party payors under New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act following decertification of third-party payor class.
California Vioxx Coordinated Class Action cases. Represented Merck in connection with coordinated class action cases brought in California Superior Court alleging economic harm arising from Vioxx purchases on behalf of end-user consumers and third-party payors.
Kleinman, et al. v. Merck; Martin, et al. v. Merck. Served as lead counsel representing Merck in connection with class action cases brought on behalf of end-user consumers alleging economic harm under the NJ Consumer Fraud Act arising from Vioxx purchases.
Ford Tire Cases. Represented Ford Motor Company in the first case selected for a bellweather trial in a consolidation proceeding involving thousands of personal injury and wrongful death actions alleging strict product liability, negligence and violation of various state consumer fraud statutes for damages allegedly arising from rollovers in Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone Wilderness AT tires.
Howard, et al. v. Ford Motor Company. Represented Ford in trial of class action lawsuit for alleged violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumers’ Legal Remedy Act arising from purported misrepresentations about the safety and reliability of “thick film ignition” systems, which replaced mechanical distributors in over 20 million Ford vehicles built in the 1980s.
GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMENT/WHITE COLLAR DEFENSE
SEC Investigation into Activities of Former Broker-Dealer. Represented former securities broker-dealer in connection with SEC and DOJ investigations into allegedly illegal business practices and associated civil litigation.
Federal Grand Jury Investigation Into Maintenance Operations of Major Air Carrier. On behalf of major air carrier, conducted numerous internal investigations and developed evidence and arguments in connection with NTSB investigation of an airplane crash responsible for the deaths of over 80 people, and related US Attorney investigation into whistleblower allegations of illegal maintenance record-keeping activities pertaining to crash aircraft.
In the Matter of Market-Timing Investigation. On behalf of board of directors of a major mutual fund complex, led internal investigation, and assisted in the defense and resolution of allegations of market-timing by various affiliates of a major mutual fund complex accused of engaging in market timing.
In the Matter of the Investigation of Possible Unlawful, Unfair, or Fraudulent Conduct in Connection with the Offer or Sale of Mutual Fund Shares. Represented major mutual fund complex in connection with investigations by the US SEC and the California Attorney General arising from allegations of inadequately disclosed revenue-sharing and directed brokerage practices.
Environmental Services DOJ Investigation. Defended contract operator of wastewater treatment facility against US Department of Justice allegations of falsification of operating records.
Workplace Safety Litigation. Defended an explosives manufacturer against UCL claims brought by the Solana County District Attorney for alleged violation of workplace safety laws.
Coordinated Attorneys General Investigation Into Recall of Tires Equipped on Ford Explorer Vehicles. Represented Ford Motor Company in connection with coordinated state Attorneys General investigation into allegations arising from the recall of Firestone Wilderness AT tires provided as standard equipment on Ford Explorers.
MISCELLANEOUS (IP, EMPLOYMENT/WHISTLEBLOWER, REAL PROPERTY, OTHER)
Allen v. Scios, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Inc. Represented a division of Johnson & Johnson as lead counsel against allegations by former employee/whistleblower that Scios, Inc. had engaged in the sale and marketing of mislabeled/adulterated pharmaceutical product.
Cell Genesys, Inc. v. GenPharm International, Inc. Represented Cell Genesys in the prosecution of a misappropriation of proprietary trade secrets case involving genetic technology for mice capable of producing fully human antibodies.
GenPharm International, Inc. v. Abgenix, Inc. Defended Abgenix against allegations of patent infringement.
Providian Bancorp. Inc. v. Irwin Financial Corporation. Represented Providian in trade secrets action involving proprietary home equity loan products.
Liotine v. Alaska Airlines, Inc. Defended major airlines as lead counsel against allegations that purported whistleblower had been wrongfully terminated and libeled.
Chiron Corporation v. Ortho Diagnostics. Represented Chiron in arbitration to enforce biotechnology licensing and marketing agreement against joint venture partner.
Arthrex, Inc. v. Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. Defended Mitek in patent infringement action involving patents for suture anchors used in arthroscopic surgical repair of rotator cuff injuries.
Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd. v. Scitex Corporation Ltd. Prosecuted patent infringement action for Dainippon Screen pertaining involving patents for desktop publishing technology.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Walnut Creek Manor LLC v. Mayhew Center LLC, et al. Represent landowner in post-trial proceedings following adverse verdict in jury trial and in connection with California Regional Water Quality Control Board remedial investigation of PCE contamination.
Former GTE Government Systems, Inc. Site, Mountain View, CA. Represented successor to owner of electronics manufacturing site in connection with voluntary clean-up under RCRA of contaminated groundwater plume. Issues included remediation and testing associated with infiltration of TCE vapors into residential housing built on former industrial manufacturing property.
Beazer, Inc., et al. v. Crompton Mfg. Corp. Defended operator of white oil refinery against allegations of environmental contamination (groundwater) and personal injury arising therefrom.
Lanoux, et al. v. Crompton Mfg. Corp. Defended successor to chemical manufacturer against allegations of environmental contamination (groundwater) and personal injury arising therefrom.
Ex rel. Parsons Engineering, Inc. Represented environmental engineering services firm against California False Claims Act case based on allegations that engineers had falsified engineering report assessing Stockton’s future wastewater treatment needs.
Airline Waste Disposal EPA Investigation. Defended major airline’s maintenance operation as lead counsel in EPA investigation into alleged violation of hazardous waste labeling and disposal requirements under RCRA.
State v. Retech Corporation, Inc. Defended a division of Lockheed Martin Corporation against UCL claims brought by the Mendocino County District Attorney for alleged violations of environmental laws.
Del Amo Superfund Site. Served as joint defense counsel representing a group of owners (including major hotel operator) of land adjacent to Del Amo Superfund Site against allegations that upstream landowners had contributed to contamination of groundwater plume underneath the Del Amo site.
Cooper Drum Site. Represented major hotel operator as lead counsel in connection with allegations that the dry cleaning operations at hotel located near LAX had contributed to groundwater contamination by improper disposal of dry cleaning fluids.
Lorentz Barrell Site. Represented major airlines as lead counsel against claims for contribution arising from allegations that the SFO maintenance operations center had improperly disposed of industrial solvents allegedly contained in drums sold to barrel recycler.
In the Matter of Air Toxics Hot Spots Disclosures. Represented major airlines in California Attorney General investigation into allegations of violation of air emissions statutes at SFO maintenance operations center.
EDUCATION
University of California – Hastings (JD, 1988), cum laude, Order of the Coif, Hastings Law Journal (Sr. Res. Ed., 1986-88)
Harvard College (AB, 1976) – Rudolph Arnheim Prize, Dudley House Master’s Award
CLERKSHIP
Hon. Marcus M. Kaufman (dec.), Associate Justice, California Supreme Court, 1988-89
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (1/2011- present)
Environmental Law 360 Editorial Board, Member (2010)
California State Bar Association, Member, Litigation Section (2000-present)
California State Bar Association, Vice Chair, Real Property Section (1997-98)
California State Bar Association, Executive Committee Member, Real Property Section (1995-97)
California State Bar Association, Managing Editor, Real Property Journal (1993-95)
California State Bar Association, Articles Editor, Real Property Journal (1991-93)
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