Lisamarie McDermott

Experience

• Secured a court judgment of $5.1M after a roughly 24-day trial as second-chair representing a Chinese citizen defrauded by a California attorney and others over two gas station sale transactions, one in California and the other in Washington. Prevailed completely on all claims set forth in the complaint and cross-complaint.
• Negotiated a settlement exceeding $1M for a cannabis company in a Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection action against a city and lobbyist following the denial of a business license due to an alleged pay-to-play kickback scheme, after prevailing against two anti-SLAPP motions and two appeals.
• Informally resolved a $780K declaratory relief action filed in District Court of Nevada on behalf of an equipment rental company for immediate payment under a payment bond for work performed on the construction of Allegiant Stadium.
• Secured a court judgment of $3.25M after a judicial reference in an action brought on behalf of a minor against a construction company and school district for negligent hiring, retention and supervision and failure to report sexual abuse as a mandated reporter. The case was heavily litigated and later became the subject of a 2018 California Superior Court opinion addressing an insurer’s duty to defend in the negligent hiring context, even when the employee’s conduct was willful.
• Obtained judgment in favor of a residential landlord on an anti-SLAPP motion against eight of twelve causes of action brought against based upon unlawful eviction claims, leading to dismissal of the action and a $59K award for attorneys’ fees. 
• Secured a judgment in favor of a commercial real estate owner as second chair in a jury trial on a strategic cross-complaint in a breach of contract action brought against it by a construction supply company which significantly reduced the judgment entered against it on the complaint.

Recognitions