Karl S. Thurmond

Practice Areas

Business Litigation: Prosecute and defend a broad variety of complex business litigation, including disputes involving the Unfair Business Practices Act, unfair competition, consumer class actions, real estate, patent infringement, antitrust, insurance coverage, corporate and partnership law, franchise law, trade secrets, products liability, construction law, employment, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination.

Counseling: Advise clients on the purchase and leasing of real estate, purchase and sale of businesses, general corporate matters, antitrust matters, asbestos matters, securities, patent infringement, corporate governance, acquisition due diligence, and employment matters.

Trials: Conduct trials and arbitrations throughout the United States on a broad variety of complex business litigation matters including real estate, insurance coverage, products liability, construction, employment, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination.

General Litigation Experience

Helped resolve a police shooting case on behalf of three plaintiffs, which resulted in a settlement of $25 million.

Represented international manufacturer in defense of construction case involving in excess of $80 million in liability.

Represented international manufacturer in defense of stadium construction case involving in excess of $100 million in liability, which was resolved without litigation for less than $20,000.

Represented community development bank in defense of lawsuit by City of Los Angeles seeking in excess of $11 million in damages, which was resolved for less than $950,000.

Obtained $4 million dollar settlement for a manufacturing company in a patent infringement dispute.

Obtained $3.7 million dollar settlement against an insurance carrier involving damage to a Canadian manufacturing plant.

Resolved $9.6 million claim by an excess insurer without litigation or monetary payment, and which client recovered $2 million.

Advised national marketing firm in prosecution and defense of federal court dispute with money manager involving in excess of $5 million in damages. 

Resolved $2 million adulterated product claim by former employee against client without litigation for five figures.

Handled prosecution and defense of litigation involving the purchase of securities in a national time-share condominium company, in which client recovered nearly $1 million based upon its cross-claims.

Obtained multi-million dollar settlement against a leading publicly traded investor education company in a lawsuit based on breach of contract, conversion, accounting and constructive trust claims. 

Represented international franchisor in lawsuit against a leading paint manufacturer, which resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement.

Obtained seven-figure settlement against a national investment banking firm in the prosecution of a managing director’s employment and breach of contract claims. 

Successfully handled an appeal which confirmed summary judgement in favor of national franchisor in a multi-million dollar dispute over the sale of a manufacturing plant and alleged breach of a co-packing agreement, and resulted in the published opinion of Copeland v. Baskin-Robbins USA.et.al., (2002) 96 Cal.App4th 1251.

Trial Experience

Lead trial attorney for a defendant in a 34-day trial involving allegedly defective building products, which was resolved for less than 25 percent of the damages sought against my client.

Lead trial attorney for a client in a lawsuit against a major insurance carrier, which resulted in a verdict in excess of $9 million.

Lead trial attorney for national franchisor involving a nationwide recall of commercial blenders, which resulted in a jury verdict in favor of client for breach of warranty and negligent misrepresentation.

Lead trial attorney in defense of major franchisor in trial involving sexual harassment and retaliation claims, in which the jury returned verdict for only nominal charges.

Lead trial attorney in a binding arbitration for national third party marketing firm against a prominent investment management firm involving a dispute over the payment of commissions, in which client was awarded multi six-figures and recovered the majority of its legal fees.

Co-counsel in a complex product liability jury trial, which resulted in a directed verdict and one of the largest sanctions awards in the State of California against the plaintiff, its insurance company and its counsel. 

Class Action Defense

Obtained dismissal without payment of money for national franchise in class action involving seven-figure liability for the illegal sale of gift certificates with expiration dates.

Resolved class action for national franchisor involving seven-figure liability for the illegal sale of gift certificates with expiration dates under the Unfair Business Practices Act and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act for five figures.

Resolved class action for franchisor involving seven-figure liability under the Unfair Business Practices Act involving the purported illegal taxing of iced tea for five figures. 

Obtained dismissal without payment of money for franchisor in class action under the Unfair Business Practices Act based upon the unauthorized enforcement of parking regulations. 

Obtained dismissal without payment of money for franchise in class action brought under the Unfair Business Practices Act alleging, among other things, violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.