David L. Schrader

David’s many trial victories include winning a complete defense verdict in Houston in which the state and county sued for civil penalties of $1.6 billion. As national trial counsel for a defendant in silicone breast implant litigation, he secured defense verdicts in every case he tried. David obtained complete vindication for another client in a civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act case that Corporate Counsel magazine called the company’s “worst nightmare.” In addition to prevailing on all claims against the client, he won a $2.6 million judgment against 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 multimillion-dollar partnership dispute. David has successfully argued before multiple US federal and state courts of appeal. His cases often center on complex scientific issues, and he has excluded 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.”

• Defeated certification of a proposed nationwide class involving more than 7 million vehicles with allegedly defective HVAC systems.
• Won complete dismissal at 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 groundwater contamination lawsuit brought by a water agency in Orange County, California.
• Won a rare class action trial involving alleged violations of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act.    
• Defeated a motion for class certification against an auto manufacturer in federal court in Los Angeles involving allegedly defective paint.
• Prevailed on a motion to dismiss all claims, with prejudice, in a putative class action against an auto manufacturer in federal court in Los Angeles alleging defective key fobs.
• Obtained dismissal with prejudice in a putative class action against an investment firm in Los Angeles.
• Defeated all claims by plaintiff against a global auto manufacturer and won a $2.6 million judgment against plaintiff in a high-profile civil RICO matter.
• Defended an online advertising company against a $1 billion lawsuit and arbitration, 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.
• Obtained a confidential settlement in favor of a wind farm operator against a manufacturer of wind turbines.
• Undefeated in the defense of silicone breast implant jury trials in multiple states.
• Undefeated in the defense of asbestos product liability trials in Los Angeles.
• 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, on free speech grounds, of a class action lawsuit alleging false advertising of premium gasoline.
• Obtained dismissal 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 multimillion dollars in stock options.
• Obtained summary judgment in a product liability lawsuit against a vaccine manufacturer.
• In a Los Angeles jury trial, defended a railroad against 83 plaintiffs claiming personal injuries, toxic exposure, and emotional distress; defeated a petition for a writ of mandate in the bench trial seeking an award of a multimillion-dollar contract.
• Obtained dismissal of hundreds of plaintiffs following entry of a case management order in a mass tort litigation arising out of a train derailment and pipeline rupture.