|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Michael Olecki's practice focuses on business litigation, with a particular emphasis on unfair competition, misappropriation of
trade secrets, "business divorces," breach of contract, and fraud.
He also represents clients in entertainment and real property disputes. Michael's clients include large and small businesses
as well as individuals. Among his clients are communications companies, producers/directors, medical groups and doctors, architects, photographers, lawyers, software designers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and investors.
Michael has taught California unfair competition law to California Superior Court Judges at the California Center for Judicial
Education and Research, and has spoken on litigation
techniques at Association of Business Trial Lawyers seminars.
He co-authored the Continuing Education of the Bar treatise, Competitive Business Practices (trademark infringement chapter).
He has also lectured on the use of focus groups in preparing for
trial and on preparing witnesses for videotaped depositions.
Michael received his law degree from the University of Virginia (J.D. 1986) (Notes Editor, U. Va. L. Rev.; Order of the Coif) and his undergraduate degree from Haverford College (B.A. 1981). He clerked for the Hon. Edward N. Cahn, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Michael’s representative cases include: |
|
|
|
 |
|
Vita-Herb v. en-N-tech. Vita-Herb sued for misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition, seeking up to $7 million in damages. Representing en-N-tech, a biotechnology company that develops health products, Michael cross-claimed for conversion and intentional interference with business advantage. After a five-day arbitration, Michael’s client prevailed on every claim and recovered damages and punitive damages against Vita-Herb and its principal. Referring to Michael’s cross-examination, the Arbitrator’s ruling stated, “I cannot recall a more devastating barrage of impeachment via cross-examination than what I observed in this case. (Having been in practice for nearly 30-years that is saying something.)” |
|
|
| |
|
|
Ramirez v. County of Los Angeles. Along with two colleagues, Michael won a record-setting $18 million verdict against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for violation of civil rights. Michael’s client was a young school teacher who was falsely arrested and jailed for a crime committed by someone else. Despite the victim’s belated “identification” of Michael’s client as the “perpetrator” of the crime, the jury agreed with Michael’s team that the Sheriff’s Department had egregiously violated both policy and procedure in pursuing an innocent man. |
|
|
| |
|
|
Thoroughbred Horse Syndication Litigation. Michael represented parties to a thoroughbred horse syndicate who were accused of defrauding and breaching their fiduciary duties to a syndicate member. The plaintiff sought millions of dollars in damages and punitive damages. Through aggressive argument and motion practice, Michael persuaded the trial judge to bifurcate the case, trying the “equitable” claims before the jury was selected. The trial judge ruled on behalf of Michael’s clients, finding that they were entitled to recoup their attorneys’ fees. The case immediately settled, with no payment by Michael's clients. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
David v. Gold. Essentially a partnership dispute among producers of the Agent Cody Banks films and The Mary Tyler Moore Show DVDs, each side claimed the other had breached fiduciary duties and the partnership agreements. Michael disproved the multi-million dollar claims against his client and obtained an arbitration award of $700,000 in damages and costs against the cross-defendants. |
|
|
| |
|
|
Goodman, v. Aris Vision, Inc. Goodman sought to rescind his contract to provide physician services through a physician practice management group while retaining money paid to him under the contract. Goodman also claimed an additional $1.2 million for alleged contractual breaches. In arbitration, Michael won $1.57 million for the Aris parties - the value of the assets and funds improperly appropriated by Goodman as well as all Aris' attorneys fees. |
|
|
| |
|
|
Leeds v. Sheinfeld. Investors who developed a golf resort and hotel brought an arbitration proceeding against a former partner for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Michael obtained an arbitration award of more than $12 million for the investors. The award was confirmed by the Superior Court and later upheld on appeal. Sheinfeld's attempt to avoid the award through bankruptcy was also thwarted. |
|
|
| |
|
|
Chagall Communications v. City of Torrance: Michael filed a $168 million claim against the City, seeking to enforce its earlier promise to renew Chagall's radio transmitter lease. Relying on the City's promise that the lease would continue, Chagall had sold the station to another broadcasting group, which had in turn sold the station to another. Each of these transactions was at risk if the lease was not renewed. Appearing on behalf of Chagall at several City Council meetings, Michael persuaded the Council to approve the new lease, thus permitting Chagall's sale -- and all the related sales -- to close. |
|
|
| |
|
|
Vital International Freight Services, Inc. v. Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. A freight forwarder and customs broker sued its customer, a high-end manufacturer of
leather products and jewelry, to collect on disputed invoices. Representing Leegin, Michael cross-claimed to recover the value of raw materials unlawfully detained by Vital, as well as the value of lost sales resulting from the detention of the materials. In a jury trial, Michael obtained a judgment of more than $1.7 million for Leegin. |
|
|
| |
|
|
Bonwit v. Chicago Title Co. Bonwit, a former sales executive with Chicago Title, filed a $10 million suit against his former employer claiming that Chicago Title had hired him in order to usurp his book of business, and that he was fired once Chicago Title had obtained the desired information. Michael pursued an aggressive discovery and motion practice strategy, which led to the court's granting Chicago Title's motion for terminating sanctions. Michael also obtained an award of substantial attorneys’ fees for Chicago Title. |
|
|
| Michael’s Published cases include: |
|
| |
|
|
McMahon v. Superior Court, 106 Cal. App. 4th 112 (2003). |
|
|
| |
|
|
Marketing West, Inc. v. Sanyo Fischer (USA) Corp., 6 Cal. App. 4th 603 (1992). |
|
|
| |
|
|
Ramirez v. County of Los Angeles, |
|
|
| |
|
|
231 F.R.D. 407 ( |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
