Steven Berkowitz

sberkowitz@gbsjlaw.com

Steven Berkowitz has provided clients with dedicated and successful representation in an array of litigation and transactional matters for over 25 years, including business and real estate law, construction law, personal injury, entertainment law, landlord-tenant disputes, employment law, discrimination and privacy, and probate. In the over 40 cases Mr. Berkowitz has tried before juries, judges, and arbiters, he has secured multiple million dollar verdicts as well as defense verdicts.

Within the last 12 months, Mr. Berkowitz secured a plaintiff's fraud verdict before a jury, in a business case against multiple defendants, and a six figure decision on behalf of another company against three separate defendants in an entertainment case during a binding arbitration.

Mr. Berkowitz's demonstrated success is exemplified in his other tried cases, including more than $2,000,000 in a business case on behalf of a company, defense verdicts in corporate and partnership disputes on behalf of defendants, and multiple million dollar verdicts in personal injury and tort cases.

Bar Admissions:

• 1985, Massachusetts
• 1986, California

Education:

• University of Michigan, B.A.
• Boston University School of Law (Joseph Tauro Scholar), J.D.
  • Coach of Boston Univ. School of Law's trial advocacy team

Practice Areas:

• General and Commercial Litigation
• Media Litigation
• First Amendment
• Probate Litigation
• Real Estate Litigation
• Employment Litigation
• Appellate

Biography:

• Instructor for National Law Institute ("NLI")
• Instructor for Institute for Paralegal Education ("IPE")
• Author of trial advocacy and procedure publications for both NLI and IPE.

Cases:

1. In 2011, Mr. Berkowitz tried two entertainment/business lawsuits.

   1. Jack Hunter Productions, Inc. v. Cinevision International, Inc., Los Angeles Superior Court, Case. No. BC413478.

      In February 2012, following a successful jury trial in which Mr. Berkowitz established fraud against a company and individual hired to perform visual effects work, Mr. Berkowitz, representing the plaintiff production and distribution company, secured an approximate $165,000 judgment against the two defendants.

   2. American Cinema International, Inc. v. Musallam, Independent Film and Television Alliance Binding Arbitration, Case No. 10-56.

      Mr. Berkowitz represented a claimant, American Cinema International, who filed a petition against a producer it hired for one of its contemplated television films, and against the producer's two companies. One of the respondents filed a counter-claim alleging that the claimant breached the parties' agreements. The arbitrator ruled in favor of American Cinema, awarding it a total of over $300,000 against all three respondents, finding alter ego, and further finding that there was no breach by American Cinema.

2. Business Case - Orita Land & Cattle Co. v. Valley Cattle Co., El Centro Superior Court, Case No. 80989.

   Mr. Berkowitz represented a plaintiff, the largest cattle feed yard in Imperial County, in a business dispute against numerous defendants who undertook to care and feed plaintiff's cattle. Before a jury, Mr. Berkowitz was successful against all defendants, proving fraud, conspiracy to defraud, and conversion, and his client received a verdict for both compensatory and punitive damages in the collective sum of $2,190,500.00.

3. Medical Malpractice Case - Sendrow v. Kaiser, binding arbitration in Los Angeles.

   This was a binding private arbitration before a panel of 3 arbitrators chaired by the prominent judge and legal author, Robert Weil. Mr. Berkowitz, with his colleague, tried a medical malpractice case against Kaiser Permanente and its department chief of infectious diseases, and secured an approximate $1,000,000 verdict against both by establishing professional negligence.

4. Commercial Real Estate Case - Avihod v. Daystar Development, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. LC055582.

   Mr. Berkowitz represented defendants who were sued for over one-half million dollars, plus punitive damages, in a commercial real estate venture which was tried before a jury who delivered a complete defense verdict in favor of the defendants.

5. Partnership Dispute - Claridge v. Superior Auto Auction Group, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC279451.

   Mr. Berkowitz represented defendants in a partnership dispute in which plaintiff sought millions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages against the defendants. A jury provided a complete defense verdict in favor of the defendants.

6. Personal Injury Actions.

   Mr. Berkowitz has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in numerous personal injury actions. In a recent one, while representing the defendant, he secured a defense verdict, while in another one, before a jury, he secured an approximate $1,000,000 verdict for the plaintiff.

7. Landlord-Tenant Actions.

   Mr. Berkowitz has successfully represented a number of commercial tenants, including one who was sued for allegedly breaching the lease and creating a nuisance. The landlord, a bank, sought eviction. A jury rendered a defense verdict against the bank.

8. Security Trust Co. v. Gray, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. SC 043159.

   Mr. Berkowitz represented plaintiffs in a case against residential tenants who caused significant damages to a residence during their tenancy. After trial, the court awarded a significant money judgment in favor of the Plaintiffs.