PATRICK G. ROGAN

ROGANLEHRMAN LLP

A Limited Liability Partnership of Professional Corporations
Suite 200
100 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA  90401-1111
Telephone: (310) 260-6965
Facsimile: (310) 917-5677
Email: progan@roganlehrman.com

 

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BIOGRAPHY:

PATRICK G. ROGAN is a trial attorney and advocate with a wealth of trial experience in both civil and criminal matters. He has tried over 95 jury trials to verdict in California Courts, both State and Federal. Upon admission to practice in 1972, Mr. Rogan joined the Los Angeles County Public Defender=s office where he tried numerous matters, including murder cases. He joined the law firm of Lillick, McHose & Charles in 1978, becoming a partner in 1979. The firm, later known as Lillick & McHose, merged with Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP on January 1, 1991. In 2000, Mr. Rogan founded the firm of Crowe & Rogan LLP, which as of October 2008, became RoganLehrman LLP.

Mr. Rogan’s practice includes complex commercial and high risk tort litigation in state and federal Courts, with cases at both the trial and appellate levels. He has extensive experience in high exposure and complex commercial litigation, lender liability, telecommunications, product liability, aviation, maritime and environmental litigation.

 

REPRESENTATIVE CASES: 

Doe Hollywood Studio v. Roe Multinational Automobile Manufacturer
Assisted with termination of multi-year product placement advertising contract on behalf of auto company and implementation of mutual release and non-disparagement agreement.

Morris v. City National Bank
Successful defense and resolution of major lender liability action for City National Bank against restaurant chain owner.

Apollo Cable Vision & T.L. Robak v. GTE; GTE Media Ventures, et al.
Represented GTE Media Ventures, Inc., GTE California, Inc., GTE Finance Corporation and GTE Service Corporation against Apollo Cable Vision, Inc. and its principals. The case involved claim for tens of millions of dollars for business interference and contract breach alleging that GTE failed to build-out and support video on demand and other tech needs. This matter proceeded in Federal Court, State Court and the 9th Circuit. The litigation was favorably resolved through an advantageous purchase by GTE of Apollo Cable Vision=s assets as a result of mediation. The purchase of assets represented the first acquisition of a cable company by a telephone company under the new telecommunications act. In addition to this matter, Mr. Rogan handled a class action involving cell phone rates which was disposed of by summary judgment.

Public Storage v. AT&T, GTE, et al.
U.S. District Court action seeking damages and findings of non-applicability of tariffs as to numerous long distance and local carriers. Action quickly and economically resolved on behalf of GTE.

Basco v. Toyota Motor Company, et al. – Trial 6 weeks in Spring 2007
Corolla rollover. Four passenger plaintiffs, including quadriplegic and other major injuries plaintiffs claimed vehicle defective roof strength, glass, seat belt performance, etc. Defense verdict in Los Angeles Superior Court, Central District.

Directed Electronics v. Chrysler Corp.
Injunctive relief was sought by plaintiff attempting to present use by Chrysler of the name “Viper” claimed to be a proprietary trade name of plaintiff. Action was filed by plaintiffs weeks before initial launch of the Viper sports car. Action proceeded in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, the Eastern District of Michigan and on state related causes of action in Los Angeles Superior Court. Action successfully defended and findings of non-infringement obtained.

Bellinger v. Land Rover Corporation of the United Kingdom, et al.
Plaintiff passenger sustained severely crushed arm in Defender 90 rollover accident. Plaintiff alleged design defect re crashworthiness, handling, stability and restraints. Defense verdict following a five week trial in Santa Barbara Superior Court.

Janicki v. Ford Motor Company
SUV rollover. Two deaths, one brain damaged plaintiff; two injury/emotional distress plaintiffs. Successful settlement of the case in second week of trial after favorable rulings on Motions in Limine. (The case was tried with Doug Bishop, now with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.)

Studer v. Ford Motor Company
Defense verdict in six week jury trial, Los Angeles Superior Court, Central District, involving brain damaged plaintiff in roll-over product liability suit against Larry Grassini (Inner Circle of Advocates).

Lizaola v. Ford Motor Company, et al. – Trial 6 weeks in February-April 2008
Plaintiff rendered a paraplegic in F150 rollover accident and claimed vehicle defect in design of door, door latch, glass and restraint system. $100 million in compensatory and punitive damages sought in jury trial. 12-0 defense verdict in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Montoya v. Ford Motor Company
Defense verdict in major product liability case involving plaintiff rendered a quadriplegic in van rollover. Five week jury trial, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, against plaintiff attorneys Robert Keese and Tom Girardi.

Nguyen v. Ford Motor Company, et al. – Trial in Orange County Superior Court 2006
Plaintiff killed by his Jaguar XJ6, which allegedly “jumped into reverse.” Plaintiff sought $6 million in wrongful death damages in jury trial. 11-1 defense verdict following a five week trial. Co-tried with Kate Lehrman.

Gustafson v. Security Pacific National Bank
Successful three month jury trial defense of bank against auto dealer represented by Browne Greene and Patrick Frega. Dealer claimed unwarranted UCC seizure of vehicle invention, slander to reputation and destroying his business and business relationships.

 

SELECTED APPELLATE CASES:

Buell-Wilson v. Ford Motor Co., 141 Cal.App.4th 525, 46 Cal.Rptr.3d 147 (2006), vacated and remanded, Ford Motor Co. v. Buell-Wilson, 127 S.Ct. 2250, 167 L.Ed.2d 1087 (2007), reaffirmed on remand. (Amicus brief.)

Buell-Wilson v. Ford Motor Co,, 160 Cal.App.4th 1107, 73 Cal.Rptr.3d 277 (2008), review granted. (Amicus brief.)

Buell-Wilson (Benetta) v. Ford Motor Company, 80 Cal.Rptr.3d 27, 187 P.3d 887 (Cal. 2008). (Amicus brief.)

Waste Management, Inc. v. Superior Court, 119 Cal.App.4th 105, 13 Cal.Rptr.3d 910 (2004)

Mel Clayton Ford v. Ford Motor Co., 104 Cal.App.4th 46, 127 Cal.Rptr.2d 759 (2002)

Mr. Rogan has handled significant commercial litigation including high exposure lender liability matters. He also has represented oil companies in bankruptcy preference litigation. One such matter involved Oasis Petroleum and its principal and was successfully resolved in the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Court. Mr. Rogan has represented manufacturers of prosthetic devices (hip implants, knee implants and pacemakers), cranes, boats, diving equipment and automobiles.

In addition, Mr. Rogan has been involved in commercial white collar crime matters. Examples include the representation of the president of a national bank on numerous felony counts of bank fraud which surfaced following the financial institution going into receivership. He has handled significant bankruptcy preference matters, federal banking fraud criminal matters, as well as environmental crime cases on behalf of individuals, foreign and domestic vessel owners, and corporate defendants.

In the product liability area, Mr. Rogan has represented many automotive manufacturers in high risk individual and class action fuel tank fire, crashworthiness, rollover and other major tort litigation.

Mr. Rogan is a member of the American Bar and Los Angeles County Bar Associations. He has been a frequent lecturer on behalf of the LACBA and has lectured as well on behalf of the Rutter Group, the State Bar of California Litigation Section, CTLA, and other trial organizations. He serves as a settlement officer for the Los Angeles County Superior Court JASOP Program and as a Judge Pro-Tem. He has served on the Los Angeles County Bar Litigation Section Executive Committee and as a Los Angeles County Bar Delegate to the State Bar Convention. Mr. Rogan also has been active in training new lawyers with lectures for Bridging the Gap, participation in firm training for associates, and was initiator of the District Attorney's office attorney loan program to provide associates with jury trial experience. He is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers. He holds the rank of Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates and has been designated a “Super Lawyer” each year since 2004. He is a member of the Chancery Club and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Constitutional Rights Foundation.

Mr. Rogan graduated from Loyola University School of Law in 1972, where he served as a student teaching fellow. His law school education was interrupted by the Vietnam conflict. Drafted into the Army in 1967, he served with the Army Special Forces (Green Berets) and First Field Forces in Nha Trang, Vietnam, receiving the Army's Commendation Medal. Mr. Rogan graduated from Claremont Men's College (now Claremont McKenna College) in 1966, with a B.A. in Government. He was a member of the Dean's List, and a letterman in varsity football and track. A lifelong skier and surfer, when not doing battle for his clients, Mr. Rogan frequents California surf breaks, particularly Malibu and Rincon.

 

Birth Date

May 4, 1944
Fifth generation resident of Los Angeles area.

Education

VillanovaCollege Prep
1962

Claremont Men’s College
Bachelor of Arts (Government), 1966
Activities included membership in Student Council, Class President, Dorm President, Stags (honorary service organization), member of varsity football and track teams.

LoyolaUniversity of Law
Juris Doctor, 1972
Graduated in top 10% of class; Dean's List; Student Teaching Fellow.

TRIAL EXPERIENCE

Over 95 jury trials in State and Federal Court; numerous Court trials, Mediations and Arbitrations. Primary Professional Emphasis: Complex civil trial work -- business, tort, product liability, contracts, advertising, trademark and copyright infringement, insurance and maritime; criminal trials -- individual and corporate, State and Federal Courts.

Representative clients have included: City National Bank; Bank of America; Security Pacific Bank; General Telephone; GTE CA; GTE Mobilenet; RREEF Funds; RREEF REIT; Chrysler Motors Corporation; Bethlehem Steel; British Petroleum; Ford Motor Company; Hyundai Motor America; Honda North America, Inc.; Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; Toyota Motor Corporation; Hyundai Motor Corporation; Intermedics, Inc.; HARSCO Corporation; Sherwood Industries; Mazda Motor Corporation; Petrolane, Inc.; Union Oil Company; Texaco; Chevron; and Waste Management of California, Inc. Cases involving prosthetic devices include pacemakers, hip implants and knee implants. Cases involving motor vehicles, have included high risk design defect allegations in areas including fuel tank, alternative fuel vehicles, brake systems, transmissions, linkages and gear selector mechanisms, crashworthiness, rollover accidents, active and passive occupant restraint systems, steering controls and handling characteristics.

Maritime: Mr. Rogan has significant experience and a principal emphasis has been on the defense of ship owners and charterers under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Act, the Jones Act, OPA 90 and State and Federal civil and criminal pollution cases. Cases within the maritime area have been handled for most of the P&I Clubs.

 

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

RoganLehrman LLP, Oct. 2008-Present
 Trial Partner

Crowe & Rogan LLP, 2000-Oct. 2008
Trial Partner

Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, 1990 - 2000
Trial Partner, major litigation.

Lillick & McHose, 1978-1990
Trial Partner
First chair responsibility for major product liability, maritime and oil company litigation.  Firm merged with Pillsbury in 1990.

County of Los Angeles, Office of the Public Defender, 1972 - 1978
Senior Trial Attorney
Assigned to the Central Felony Trial Division. Primary responsibility included the management of serious felony cases from preliminary hearing through discovery, pre-trial motions and trial in the Superior Court.

Cases handled in Superior Court included eight murder trials, as well as many other serious cases involving charges of arson, forcible rape, assault with intent to commit murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, sale of heroin, perjury, fraud, forgery, burglary and grand theft.

Loyola University School of Law, 1971 - 1972
Student Teaching Fellow in Legal Research and Writing
Taught courses to first year law students.  (Selected by law school faculty)

State Bar of California, 1970 - 1971
Employed by the Los Angeles office of the State Bar as an investigative assistant on disciplinary matters.

 

Professional Activities and Associations

HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS

Lecturer

Product Liability: Tactics for Successful Defense ABA/ALI meeting, Phoenix, March, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999; lecture for automotive clients and outside counsel.

RIMS (Risk Insurance Management Society); Featured Speaker, Oil & Gas Section. April 1995

Litigation and Corporate Law Section, Los Angeles County Bar: May, 1990, “The Ins and Outs of Corporate Representation,” with Justice William J. Rea, United States District Court

Litigation Section, Los Angeles County Bar: November, 1989, “How to Prevail on Your Appeal or Writ,” with Hon. H. Walter Croskey and Hon. Arthur Gilbert, Associate Justices, 2nd Appellate District

Litigation Section, Los Angeles County Bar: September, 1989, Trial Court Delay Reduction Project: “Fast Track”

Litigation Section, State Bar of California: May, 1988, “Good Faith Settlements, The House that Tech-Bilt”

Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP -- in-firm training program development and lecturer for new associates

California Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) --Tahoe Convention, 1985, “The Defense Perspective”; Tahoe Convention, 1991 -- Expert Witness examination in the trial of a product liability action.

Top Southern California Lawyers (Super Lawyers) 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008

Rutter Group -- participant in planning and program development for lectures on Civil Procedure and Discovery, 1984

“Bridging the Gap” for new admittees, sponsored by the Los Angeles Daily Journal