David L. Schrader

David’s many trial victories include winning a $133 million jury verdict in Los Angeles, California, for a major oil company; obtaining a defense verdict in a certified class action in Miami, Florida, involving alleged defects in thousands of automobiles; and obtaining a defense verdict in Houston, Texas, where the state and county sought $1.6 billion in civil penalties from our client. David has also tried multiple product liability cases and obtained defense verdicts in every one of them. In a civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) case against a major automobile manufacturer that Corporate Counsel magazine called the company’s “worst nightmare,” he not only defeated all of the claims against the client but also obtained a multi-million dollar award against the plaintiff.

In addition to his trial work, David has successfully argued before multiple federal and state courts of appeals. He has obtained summary judgment and defeated class certification numerous times. His cases often center on complex scientific issues, and he has successfully excluded the testimony of numerous expert witnesses.

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has heralded David’s litigation skills, naming him one of the top litigators in California, noting that clients “describe him as brilliant in front of the judge and the juries and praise his strategic approach.”

• Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a major automotive company in a class action involving claims of deceptive practices for allegedly concealing a vehicle defect
• Won a $133 million jury verdict on behalf of a major energy company against a real estate developer
• Defeated certification of a proposed nationwide class involving more than 7 million vehicles with allegedly defective HVAC systems
• Obtained dismissal in the court of appeal of a class action by hundreds of businesses claiming lost revenue resulting from a massive natural gas leak in Southern California
• Won a defense verdict on behalf of paper manufacturer in jury trial involving claims for $1.6 billion in civil penalties based on alleged contamination of San Jacinto River in Texas
• Obtained a defense judgment for a manufacturer of aerospace components in a trial involving a groundwater contamination lawsuit brought by a water agency in Orange County, California seeking more than $100 million
• Won a precertification class action trial involving alleged violations of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act relating to vehicle key fobs
• Obtained a defense judgment in a high-profile civil RICO case against a global auto manufacturer and won a $2.6 million judgment on cross-claims against the plaintiff
• Defended an online advertising company against a $1 billion lawsuit alleging violations of the CAN-SPAM Act
• Obtained dismissal, based on federal preemption, of a national class action by boat owners alleging that gasoline containing ethanol is a defective product
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a life insurance company in a federal court lawsuit alleging RICO, fraud, and unlawful business practices and seeking $300 million in damages
• Undefeated in the defense of silicone breast implant jury trials in multiple states
• Undefeated in the defense of asbestos product liability trials
• Defended a major oil company in a jury trial in Portland, Oregon involving claims of breach of contract and fraud and an eight-figure damages claim; case settled during jury deliberations
• Defended a prominent trial attorney in a jury trial involving alleged breaches of partnership agreement and fiduciary duties
• Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a class action lawsuit against a major oil company alleging false advertising of premium gasoline
• Obtained dismissal with prejudice of an unfair business practices class action against a cellular telephone manufacturer
• Obtained a defense award in the arbitration of claims by a former company founder seeking multi-million dollars in stock options
• Obtained summary judgment in a product liability lawsuit against a vaccine manufacturer
• Defended a railroad in a jury trial against 83 plaintiffs claiming personal injuries, toxic exposure, and emotional distress from a train derailment
• Defeated a petition for a writ of mandate in a bench trial seeking an award of a multi-million-dollar public contract