Joseph Bias

Senior Attorney

Joe Bias represents clients in complex civil litigation appeals and in high stakes trial court litigation. He has argued appeals and motions in federal and state courts across the country in a variety of matters, including mass torts, class actions, regulatory proceedings, toxic torts, and contract disputes. Joe regularly practices before the California Supreme Court and the California Courts of Appeal. He also consults and assists trial teams with complex issues of law, strategy, and briefing in cases that have not yet reached the appellate courts. Joe is a member of the firm’s Appellate and Class Action Working Groups.

Joe has assisted clients in diverse business fields, including automotive, healthcare, labor and employment, energy, financial services, products liability, privacy, retail, real estate, discrimination, tax, and patents.

He has an active pro bono practice and has represented clients in asylum cases, elder abuse, landlord tenant, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act litigation before agencies, trial courts, and courts of appeal.

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Civil Enforcement

  • Represented a large retailer in pricing litigation before the Los Angeles County Superior Court and Court of Appeals in an action brought by the City of Los Angeles against several major retail chains
  • Represented high tech manufacturer in litigation with the California Civil Rights Department in the California Court of Appeal regarding the scope of the agency’s investigatory jurisdiction
  • Represented a nationwide quick-service restaurant in Fair Workweek Act enforcement litigation with the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection 
  • Represented retailers in criminal court on charges of unlawful price labeling

Environmental

  • Represented a working group of potentially responsible parties in Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) litigation for the recovery of the costs to close and remediate a landfill
  • Represented a large electronics manufacturer in class action litigation over groundwater contamination
  • Represented utility in mass action and class action litigation before the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s Complex Division, Courts of Appeal, and Supreme Court in litigation related to a large natural gas leak
  • Represented a paint manufacturer in CERCLA litigation related to contaminated river claims

Labor & Employment Class Action

  • Represented a large bakery company in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) litigation in federal district court and the Second Circuit Court of Appeal
  • Represented a healthcare management company in wage-and-hour and misclassification class action and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) litigation in the California Court of Appeal
  • Represented a lumber manufacturer in wage-and-hour class action and PAGA litigation in the California Court of Appeal
  • Represented large retailer in litigation over employee thefts, subsequent detentions, and demands for recompense

Products Liability Class Actions and Mass Actions

  • Represented large automotive manufacturer in high exposure, complex products liability litigation in cases across the country, focusing on claims regarding automated driving capabilities and crash worthiness
  • Represented pipe fitting manufacturer in multijurisdictional class action litigation with homeowners and derivative litigation with plumbing contractors in multiple federal and state trial courts as well as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Represented large manufacturer in class action litigation over CPAP machines in multidistrict litigation

Consumer and Retail Class Action

  • Represented online advertiser in petition for review in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals of a denial of class certification
  • Represented multiple large online and brick and mortar retailers in consumer class action litigation over price advertising
  • Represented large retailer in a wiretap class action regarding the use of software to track consumers’ interactions with retailer’s website
  • Represented pharmacy chain in class action litigation in federal district courts in California and Pennsylvania as well as the Ninth and Third Circuit Courts of Appeal over claims of improper processing of prescription drug claims
  • Represented pharmacy chain in class action litigation in the California Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court over allegations of unlawful sales tax collection
  • Represented consumer product manufacturers and distributors in class action litigation regarding label claims
  • Represented retailers in class action litigation regarding violations of California’s gift card statutes
  • Represented retailers in class action litigation in California state and federal trial courts and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding violations of California’s statutes regulating consumer privacy in retail transactions
  • Represented large retailer in a wiretap class action regarding the use of software to track consumers’ interactions with retailer’s website
  • Represented phone carrier operating in prisons in class action litigation regarding rates and fees

Antitrust 

  • Represented a large healthcare provider against allegations of monopolistic practices in the Washington State Court of Appeals and Supreme Court  
  • Advised a national banking association on several aspects of home lending mortgage servicing, including compliance with OCC and DOJ regulations.
  • Georgetown University Law Center, 2007, J.D.
  • University of San Diego, 2002, B.A.
  • California
  • US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • Clerkship to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Administrative Law Judges (2007 - 2010)