Real Estate (Easement) Trial
Represented a Malibu homeowner in a lawsuit filed by a famous actress. The actress claimed that private and public implied easements existed over the client’s real property. After a five-day jury trial in the Los Angeles Superior Court, the jury took less than one hour to return a unanimous verdict in favor of Mr. Olson’s client, finding that no such easements existed. In another matter, Client’s neighbor was encroaching onto Client’s real property but the title insurance carrier denied coverage. Mr. Olson threatened a bad faith lawsuit, prompting the carrier to pay for and conduct a land survey and then accept the tender of the matter.
Employment/WHISTLEBLOWER Litigation
After a seven-day trial, the Department of Labor ruled for Mr. Olson’s client in a whistleblower case, adopting Mr. Olson’s arguments that the claimant was not properly deemed a whistleblower or terminated for protected whistleblower activity. Another client was sued for discriminating against a disabled employee. Mr. Olson immediately propounded discovery and took certain depositions. He then used the discovery to obtain summary judgment in favor of his client, eliminating the need for trial. In another case by an employer against a former employee, Mr. Olson’s client prevailed at trial on a breach of contract claim and defeated all the employee’s cross-claims.
Breach of Contract Trial
Client was able to shift liability for injuries caused during the filming of a motion picture when Mr. Olson proved to the jury that the production company had breached its agreement with Mr. Olson’s client by permitting prohibited activities to occur and that those prohibited activities caused the injury. Following the jury verdict, the Court granted Mr. Olson’s motion to have his client awarded all of its attorneys’ fees incurred in the case.
Aviation Law
Mr. Olson has handled various aviation related matters. In one case, Client, a charter jet company, was sued in federal district court for alleged fraud arising from the purchase and sale of a private jet. Mr. Olson’s motion to dismiss that case, filed at the outset of the litigation, was granted. The plaintiff then filed a similar lawsuit against the Client, relating to another aircraft transaction, in state court. Once again, Mr. Olson was able to knock out the lawsuit early in the case by filing a motion to dismiss. In another aviation case, Mr. Olson defeated a breach of contract claim for $2.6 million in a 20-day bench trial and successfully defended the decision on appeal.
Breach of Contract Arbitration
Client manufactured apparel products for a publicly traded company. The company terminated the manufacturing agreement, claiming Mr. Olson’s client was in breach, and filed suit against Mr. Olson’s client for damages. Mr. Olson filed a cross-complaint seeking damages for termination of the agreement. The case was arbitrated before a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. After a five-day arbitration hearing, the arbitrator ruled for Mr. Olson’s client, awarding in excess of $2 million.
COVID-19, TRADEMARK, General Corporate
Mr. Olson secured his client a full refund of monies paid for an event that the defendant wanted to modify without Client’s consent due to COVID-19. After defendant refused to cancel the event and refund Client’s monies as Client requested, Mr. Olson commenced an arbitration proceeding and successfully invoked California’s law on force majeure to secure the refund and obtain reimbursement of his Client’s attorneys’ fees. Mr. Olson obtained dismissal of a federal trademark infringement case at the pleading stage. On the transactional side, Mr. Olson represented a well-known investor group in savings & loan acquisitions and has negotiated and drafted numerous leases, asset acquisition, and other transactional agreements for clients.
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