Aaron C. O'Dell
Partner
Aaron focuses his practice on complex, commercial, business, and employment litigation, as well as internal investigations and white collar criminal defense.
Key Matters
Some of the experience represented below may have been handled at a previous firm.
Business Litigation
- Co-tried a three-week California Voting Rights Act trial on behalf of a municipal corporation and drafted the subsequent appellate briefs.
- Won summary adjudication for an international corporation in a multimillion-dollar environmental contamination matter.
- Won complete summary judgment for a manufacturer of dental devices in a product liability action.
- Won complete judgment in a breach of contract action brought by a nationally chartered bank.
- Won dismissal with prejudice and an award of attorneys’ fees through an anti-SLAPP motion for a Hollywood producer in a breach of joint-venture agreement action.
- Assisted in successfully arbitrating breach of contract and related claims for an international wind turbine manufacturer, which resulted in a favorable result for the client and a global settlement of remaining arbitrations.
- Assisted in successfully arbitrating breach of contract and royalties-related claims for private equity-backed clothier, which resulted in an award for the client and a global settlement of remaining litigation between the parties.
- Successfully litigated a products liability action on behalf of international appliance manufacturer, which resulted in an extremely favorable settlement on the eve of trial.
- Obtained a quick and favorable settlement for national telecommunications company by removing an improperly filed state action to federal court near client’s headquarters.
- Obtained a full judgment for an individual creditor against a defrauding party and assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigations in investigating the defrauding party, resulting in a guilty plea.
Employment Litigation
- Co-tried a 14-day whistleblower and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) gender discrimination and retaliation trial for a municipal corporation that resulted in a complete defense verdict for the client.
- Successfully mediated a favorable settlement for a municipal corporation in a FEHA age discrimination matter on the eve of trial.
- Successfully litigated million-dollar vicarious liability suits on behalf of an international non-profit, which resulted in favorable settlements for the client.
- Successfully litigated vicarious liability lawsuits in California and Oklahoma on behalf of rehabilitation centers, which resulted in favorable settlements for the client.
Investigations
- Conducted an independent investigation for the City of Pasadena into Cannabis Ordinance and retail license-approval process.
- Conducted investigation for a multinational engineering firm into potential improper benefits in hiring executives from the government sector.
- Conducted an investigation for the South Coast Air Quality Management District into alleged conflicts of interest.
- Assisted in conducting an internal investigation for the Board of Directors of a corporation into alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and contract related to the Los Angeles Auto Show.
White Collar
Represented an individual in an investigation of an allegedly fraudulent healthcare billing scheme brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Criminal Division, Fraud Section.
- Assisted in representing principals and employees of a corporation in a criminal investigation by NASA’s Office of Inspector General and a related civil action.
- Assisted in representing an executive in the financial industry in investigations brought by the DOJ and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Assisted in representing an executive of an international financial institution in an internal investigation and subsequent criminal investigation.
Legal Malpractice
- Represented an Am Law 50 firm in a multimillion-dollar malpractice action that resulted in a favorable settlement for the client.
Appellate Work
- Drafted appellate briefs resulting in favorable published opinions in federal and state court – Butler v. Nat. Comm. Renaissance of California, 766 F.3d 1191 (9th Cir. 2014); Jauregui v. City of Palmdale, 226 Cal. App. 4th 781 (2014).
- Drafted a successful petition for writ of mandate to preserve client’s attorney work product from disclosure.
Expert Opinion
- Assisted in providing expert opinion on reasonability of fees charged by Am Law 200 firm and litigation boutique firms in litigating parallel criminal and civil trials.