Kate S. Lehrman

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Kate S. Lehrman focuses her practice on the representation of corporate clients in commercial and products liability matters filed in state and federal court. She has been Responsible for national and regional counsel defense programs concerning consumer litigation, manufacture, design and warning defect claims. She has consulted with manufacturers in the development of policies for product litigation management, product warranties, and compliance issues. She has managed and defended complex toxic tort cases, including asbestos and other chemical exposures. She has significant experience implementing strategies for clients involved in national litigation, managing statewide, regional and national caseloads, managing discovery, and conducting expert depositions.

In addition, she has general business litigation experience, including breach of contract, business related torts and real estate broker malpractice.

She is an experienced trial attorney who has mediated over a hundred cases, and successfully tried multiple jury cases to verdict.

Areas of Practice

Bar Admissions

Education

Professional Memberships

 

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

Nguyen, et al. v. Ford Motor Company, et al.

Superior Court of California, County of Orange
Case No. 05CC10798
The Hon. Michael Brenner

Co-Trial Lead counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in products liability case, which resulted in a defense verdict following a five week jury trial.

Bellinger v. Land Rover Corporation of the United Kingdom, et al.

Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara
Case No. 01112682
Hon. James W. Brown

Co-Trial counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in this products liability case which resulted in a defense verdict following a three week jury trial.

LaMantia, et al. v. Alfa Romeo, Inc., et al.

United States District Court, Northern District of California
Case No. C 01 5191 SBA
The Hon. Saundra Brown Armstrong

Lead counsel for automobile manufacturer in this products liability matter where jurisdiction was contested and after extensive jurisdictional discovery, plaintiffs dismissed action for a waiver of costs.

Concord Express, Ltd. v. Southern Air Transport, Inc.

U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Case No. CV 95-4859 (WMB) (Mcx)
The Hon. James W. McMahon

Represented commercial air carrier in multi-million dollar commercial litigation, arising from breach of contract in failure of commercial air carrier to pay for charter flights between Hong Kong and the United States. Counterclaims included fraud, conversion, quantum meruit account stated and open book account. The action was settled on favorable terms after the depositions were taken of plaintiff’s key employees and established the fraudulent conduct of top executives.

Axiom Medical, Inc. v. Accusil, Inc.

U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Case No. CV 96-7940 GHK (Rcx)
The Hon. George H. King

Represented manufacturer of plastics in multi-party commercial litigation, arising out of sales of raw material that allegedly failed in medical device application, causing millions of dollars worth of product to be unsaleable. Causes of action included breach of contract, fraud and negligent misrepresentation. On behalf of our client, we counterclaimed against fabricator of the devices, asserting claims and defenses arising under the Commercial Code. After extensive discovery, we prevailed on a Motion for Summary Judgment, and succeeded in extricating our client from the litigation.

Sierra Pacific v. General Electric

Pre-litigation Mediation with private Mediator

Represented manufacturer of plastics in pre-litigation Mediation brought by designer and manufacturer of windows, alleging that joint venture in the design of new plastic clad windows was created and ultimately failed because design was inferior and application of material was not as represented and advertised. Claims included breach of contract, fraud, and breach of express and implied warranty. Multimillion dollars in damages sought based on the scope of and investment in the project, and projected sales of new product line. After extensive discovery, the case was mediated over a three day period and settled on terms extremely favorable to the client.

Data Trend, Inc. v. Jet Electronics and Technology, Inc., et al.

Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo
Case No. 345704
The Hon. Clarence Knight

Represented manufacturer of engine monitoring devices in lawsuit brought by entrepreneur, who alleged he formed a joint venture with client to design and manufacture engine monitoring devices for use in small aircraft. Allegations included breach of contract, fraud, negligence and negligent misrepresentation. Damages sought exceeded $2 million based on projected sales. Case proceeded to trial. Court declared mistrial after three days. The case settled on terms favorable to the client soon thereafter.

Mayer Moizel v. Fred Sands Realtors, et al.

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Case No. SC020074
The Hon. Alan B. Haber

Represented client in connection with plaintiff’s purchase of commercial property. Plaintiff claimed that the Company failed to disclose the true condition of the Property, in that it did not disclose the number of vacancies or the physical and financial condition of the Property. Plaintiff's alleged breach of contract and warranty, intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, intentional non-disclosure, negligent non-disclosure and conspiracy. We engaged in extensive discovery and ultimately prevailed on two successive motions for Summary Adjudication against plaintiff. The Court dismissed plaintiff's causes of action for breach of contract and warranty, intentional infliction of emotional distress and request for punitive damages. The case settled soon thereafter on terms extremely favorable to the client.

Orr v. Fred Sands Realtors, et al.

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Case No. SC023170
The Hon. Irving Shimer

Represented commercial broker and agents in litigation filed in California Superior Court, arising from the purchase of an eight suite commercial mini-mall located on Century Boulevard in Inglewood, California (the "Property"), View Park Estates and its president Clark Parker, the Company and its agents Paul Kenworthy ("Kenworthy") and Curtis Fralin ("Fralin"), the agents involved in the sale of the Property and the Bank of Los Angeles. The Complaint alleged causes of action for: (1) professional negligence; (2) intentional misrepresentation and non-disclosure; (3) negligent misrepresentation; (4) breach of fiduciary obligation; (5) breach of contract; (6) rescission; (7) negligence; (8) breach of fiduciary duty; (9) injunctive relief and (10) disregard of corporate fiction. Plaintiffs claimed that the agents concealed material facts about the Property and intentionally misrepresented the financial condition of the mini-mall, the quality of the tenants and the extent of crime in the neighborhood. The case was prepared for trial and immediately before picking a jury, the parties successfully engaged in lengthy settlement discussions with the trial Judge.

Dahamija v. BMW of North America, LLC, et al.

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Case No. VC044791
The Hon. William J. Birney, Jr.

Trial counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in consumer warranty case which resulted in a defense verdict following a seven day jury trial.

Grieb, et al. v. BMW of North America, LLC, et al.

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Case No. BC311368
Hon. Mary Thornton House

Trial counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in this consumer warranty case which resulted in a defense verdict following a two week jury trial.

Fant v. BMW of North America, Inc., et al.

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Case No. BC298116
Hon. David A. Workman

Trial counsel for defendant automobile manufacturer in this consumer warranty case which resulted in a defense verdict following a two week jury trial.

Wachs v. BMW of North America, Inc., et al.

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Case No. LC064032
Hon. Stanley Weisberg

Trial counsel for automobile manufacturer in this consumer warranty case which resulted in a defense verdict following a six day jury trial.