David L. Schrader

David’s many trial victories include obtaining a complete defense verdict in Houston, Texas, where the state and county sought to recover $1.6 billion in civil penalties; securing defense verdicts in every product liability case he has tried; obtaining complete vindication for a major auto manufacturer in a civil RICO case that Corporate Counsel magazine called the company’s “worst nightmare;” and winning a $133 million verdict representing a major oil company as the plaintiff. A trial lawyer’s trial lawyer, David also represented a prominent Los Angeles trial attorney in a high-profile jury trial involving a multi-million dollar partnership dispute.

In addition to his trial work, David has successfully argued before multiple US federal and state courts of appeal. His cases often center on complex scientific issues, and he has succeeded in excluding the testimony of numerous expert witnesses.

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has heralded David’s litigation skills, naming him one of the top water quality litigation attorneys in the United States and one of the top litigators in California, noting that clients “describe him as brilliant in front of the judge and the juries and praise his strategic approach.”

• Won a $133 million jury verdict on behalf of a major oil company against a real estate developer 
• Defeated certification of a proposed nationwide class involving more than 7 million vehicles with allegedly defective HVAC systems
• Obtained complete dismissal in the court of appeal of a class action by hundreds of businesses claiming lost revenue resulting from a massive natural gas leak in Southern California    
• Obtained a defense judgment for a manufacturer of aerospace components in a bench trial involving a groundwater contamination lawsuit brought by a water agency in Orange County, California seeking more than $100 million
• Won a rare class action trial involving alleged violations of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act and  vehicle key fobs
• Obtained a complete defense judgment in a high-profile civil RICO case  against a global auto manufacturer and won a $2.6 million judgment on cross claims against the plaintiff
• Defended an online advertising company against a $1 billion lawsuit alleging violations of the CAN-SPAM Act
• Obtained dismissal, based on federal preemption, of a national class action by boat owners alleging that gasoline containing ethanol is a defective product
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a life insurance company in a federal court lawsuit alleging RICO, fraud, and unlawful business practices and seeking $300 million in damages
• Undefeated in the defense of silicone breast implant jury trials in multiple states
• Undefeated in the defense of asbestos product liability trials
• Defended a major oil company in a jury trial in Portland, Oregon involving claims of breach of contract and fraud and an eight-figure damages claim; case settled during jury deliberations
• Defended a prominent trial attorney in a jury trial involving alleged breach of partnership agreement and fiduciary duty
• Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a class action lawsuit against a major oil company alleging false advertising of premium gasoline
• Obtained dismissal with prejudice of an unfair business practices class action against a cellular telephone manufacturer
• Obtained a defense award in the arbitration of claims by a former company founder seeking multi-million dollars in stock options
• Obtained summary judgment in a product liability lawsuit against a vaccine manufacturer
• Defended a railroad in a jury trial against 83 plaintiffs claiming personal injuries, toxic exposure, and emotional distress from a train derailment
• Defeated a petition for a writ of mandate in a bench trial seeking an award of a multi-million-dollar public contract