Steve Coopersmith Attorney

First Admitted: 1996, California

Professional Webpage: http://www.stevecoopersmithlaw.com/profiles/coopersmith/

Bar/Professional Activity:

Member of U.S. District Courts, Eastern District of California, 2000 - Present
Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2022
Member of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 1999 - Present
Member of U.S. District Courts, Central District of California, 2000 - Present
Member of California Bar, 1996 - Present
Member of U.S. District Courts, Southern District of California, 2000 - Present
Member of U.S. District Courts, Northern District of California, 2000 - Present
Member of U.S. Supreme Court Bar, 2004 - Present

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

Representation of sports business broker responsible for purchase and sale transactions of interests in major national sports franchises. Representation included resolution of mutual claims against brokerage arising from dispute about compensation and deal direction issues. , 2018
Representation of Fortune 500 insurance company arising from claims that carrier did not properly administrate workers' compensation claims for plaintiff company, which increased risk ratio and premiums. After significant discovery efforts, obtained highly favorable result for client., 2019
Settlement of massive case which will affect all permitting and planning in downtown San Diego. After four years of litigation against the City of San Diego and Civic San Diego, the Firm's clients, Dr. Murtaza Baxamusa and the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, reached a resolution of its claims against the City and Civic San Diego to involve the withdrawal of the delegation of permitting and planning authority to Civic, a non-profit organization which had been performing these actions in downtown since Redevelopment authority from the State of California was rescinded in 2012. Through a dozen depositions, discovery of 100,000 pages of documents, and thorough investigatory and litigation efforts, we learned that Civic had become corrupt, including sole-sourced contracting, conflicts of interest, pressure to otherwise independent hearing officers, and in general, approval of development projects without regard to good City planning efforts like transportation, parking, public parks and art, and other infrastructure. This settlement will change the way that downtown is permitted and planned, and although certainly some may grouse about the potential effect this may have on development in downtown San Diego, it has been acknowledged as a significant, and positive change, for the City. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/growth-development/story/2019-03-29/san-diego-downtown-planning-agency-stripped-of-powerSettlement approved June 4, 2019 by San Diego City Council. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/growth-development/story/2019-06-04/its-official-san-diegos-downtown-planning-agency-is-finished, 2019
Highly favorable defense settlement of fraud, misrepresentation and other similar claims against C-Level client made by inside investor who blamed client for failure of company notwithstanding plaintiff's knowledge of insider status of company and active recruitment of investors. Case resolved for a fraction of the large amount demanded against client after significant, years-long litigation involving multiple depositions and tens of thousands of documents produced. , 2017
Settlement on behalf of a number of investors in a substantial entity which had misrepresented matters involving the interests held by management, value of shares, and intent for future business. Investor clients received their entire investments back. , 2017

Pro bono/Community Service:

Serve on the Advisory Board of the Lux Art Institute from 2015 to 2017., 2018
Served on the Board of Trustees for the San Diego Museum of Art, 2020
Member, San Diego Rotary Club 33. Member of this distinguished downtown Rotary Club since 2011. Significant community service work with various aspects of Rotary, including club, local community, and international Rotary service. , 2011

Honors/Awards:

Peer-Review Rated as "AV-Preeminent" by the Martindale Hubbell International Law Directory since 2011., "AV -- Preeminent" Rating from Martindale Hubbell International Law Directory, Martindale Hubbell International Law Directory, 2011
Listed as one of the Top 50 Influential Business Leaders in San Diego County by the San Diego Daily Transcript. , Top 50 Influential Business Leaders in San Diego, San Diego Daily Transcript, 2017
Listed as one of the Top 50 Influential Business Leaders in San Diego County by the San Diego Daily Transcript. , Top 50 Influential Business Leaders in San Diego, San Diego Daily Transcript, 2018
Listed in the prestigious Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Attorneys for each year since 2014., Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Attorneys, Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, 2015
Selected as one of the Top Ten "Top Attorneys" in the area of Corporate Litigation for 2012 by the San Diego Daily Transcript Newspaper, San Diego Daily Transcript, San Diego Daily Transcript, 2012
Selected as a "Top Lawyer" in the area of Business & Commercial Litigation in 2013 by San Diego Magazine. , San Diego Magazine "Top Lawyers," Business and Commercial Litigation, San Diego Magazine, 2013
Listed in the prestigious Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Attorneys for each year since 2014. , Bar Register of Pre-eminent Attorneys, Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, 2017
Listed in the prestigious Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Attorneys for each year since 2014. , Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Attorneys, Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, 2014
Selected as one of the Top Ten "Top Attorneys" in the area of Corporate Litigation for 2013 by the San Diego Daily Transcript newspaper., San Diego Daily Transcript,, San Diego Daily Transcript, 2013
Selected as one of the Top Ten "Top Attorneys" in the area of Corporate Litigation for 2014 by the San Diego Daily Transcript newspaper., San Diego Daily Transcript, , San Diego Daily Transcript, 2014, Top Attorneys, Corporate Litigation, San Diego Daily Transcript, 2014
Listed in the prestigious Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Attorneys for each year since 2014. , Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Attorneys, Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, 2016
Listed in the prestigious Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Attorneys for each year since 2014. , Bar Register of Pre-eminent Attorneys, Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, 2018, Bar Register of Pre-Eminent Lawyers, Martindale Hubbell, 2018

Educational Background:

University of Pennsylvania, B.A. in International Political Science, 1992

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Dolan King II: Fourth District Adds Another Chapter to Dispute Between Homeowner and Community Association, Trial Bar News, April 2004
Pleading Requirements in "Substantial Factor" Products Liability Cases, Trial Bar News, April 2000
Fourth District Court of Appeal Solves Circuity Of Liens Problem, Trial Bar News, October 2001
U.S. Supreme Court Permits Restriction Of Developing Land Without Compensating Owners, Trial Bar News, November 2002

Other Outstanding Achievements:

Participation in Catalina Channel Swim Relay -- overnight, open water swimming relay from Catalina Island to Long Beach, 2018
Participation in Catalina Channel Swim Relay -- open water swimming relay from Catalina Island to San Pedro, officially sanctioned by the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation. Participation in this event for the 5th time in 2018, 2017

Industry Groups:

Automotive Dealers
Banking
Contractors
Corporate Litigation Work
Fortune 500 Insurance
Health Care Organizations and Services
Labor Unions
Real Estate Development

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