General Commercial Litigation
- A member of the Dowd Bennett team that serves as National Trial Counsel for Valero Energy Corp., including recently obtaining summary judgment in Valero’s favor in a $70+ million dispute — Lazy S. Ranch Properties, LLC v. Valero Terminaling and Distribution Co., et al., 2022 WL 17553001 (E.D. OK Dec. 7, 2022).
- Lead counsel for medical device company co-founder in obtaining a sweeping preliminary injunction against the other co-founder following a three-day evidentiary hearing in Dumanian et al. v. Schwartz et al., 2022 WL 2714994 (N.D. Ill. July 13, 2022).
- Lead counsel in Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals win affirming summary judgment win – Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Mesh Suture Inc. and Mark Schwartz v. Randa Dumanian, Gregory Dumanian and Adom Dumanian, 31 F.4th 1300 (10th Cir. 2022).
- Lead national trial counsel for international conglomerate Circle K Stores, Inc. (a subsidiary of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.), including pursuing fraud and civil theft claims against fuel hauling company for millions of dollars in alleged misappropriated fuel, which resulted in a summary judgment victory for Circle K on liability – Case No. 2020-cv-3118, January 12, 2022 Order from Judge Vasquez. The case ultimately settled in the millions of dollars, which represented a complete recovery by Circle K from the defendants.
- Successful outcome on behalf of medical device company co-founder against one of Puerto Rico’s largest financial institutions – Dumanian v. FirstBank Puerto Rico, 2021 WL 5982638 (D. P.R. Dec. 17, 2021).
- Lead counsel in achieving summary judgment in favor of founding surgeon of a medical device company in an interpleader lawsuit related to the company’s investment funds. Wells Fargo Bank., N.A. v. Mesh Suture Inc. et al., Case No. 19-cv-03218-PAB-GPG (June 30, 2021 D. Colo.).
- Assisting in the Defense of PNC Bank against alleged trade secret misappropriation claims and breach of contract claims, including defeating the plaintiff’s efforts at achieving a Preliminary Injunction in the case. SRS. Acquiom Inc. v. PNC Financial Services Group Inc., et al., 2020 WL 3250186 (Marc. 26, 2020 D. Colo.).
- National trial counsel for Circle K in various arbitrations and other matters around the United States, including obtaining a seven figure AAA Arbitration Award for Circle K against a prominent financial services firm following a 7-day arbitration hearing.
- Assisting a team of Dowd Bennett lawyers in pursuing a series of antitrust claims on behalf of medical device startup company based in St. Louis, Missouri against various defendants.
- Represented one of the largest padlock companies in the world in federal court in Colorado against breach of contract claims brought by a former consultant.
- Represented a Jackson Hole, Wyoming, real estate development fund in a breach of contract lawsuit involving alleged misrepresentations by the defendant landowners regarding water rights on a large parcel of land being sold for a development in Eastern Idaho. The case settled while pending in United States District Court for the District of Idaho.
- Served as trial counsel in three separate arbitrations for one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers following the passage of Section 747 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010. Two arbitrations resulted in complete victories for our client and the third concluded with a favorable result.
- Assisted in the trial and appeal involving of one of the world’s largest ice cream manufacturers in a $75 million lawsuit relating to a plant explosion.
- Assisted in the trial defense of a mid-level private equity fund before former Vice Chancellor Strine of the Delaware Chancery Court for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and related claims.
- Assisted in pursuing claims in the Delaware Chancery Court on behalf of a group of private investors for breach of contract by oil and gas partnerships and limited liability companies, including obtaining a $6.3 million partial summary judgment ruling in favor of the group of private investors.
Oil & Gas Sector
- Assisting a team of Dowd Bennett lawyers in representing Valero Renewable Fuels Company, Inc. in defending a wrongful death claim in the U.S.D.C. for the N.D. of Indiana.
- Representing one of the world’s largest refining companies in breach of contract dispute pending in Manhattan Supreme Court related to a catastrophic fire at a Louisiana refinery.
- Representing Bakken non-op interest holder in multimillion settlement negotiations with one of the largest oil and gas producers in the Bakken.
- Representing one of the world’s largest refining companies against various state attorneys general (Colorado, Louisiana, and Oklahoma) regarding alleged breaches of contract related to each state’s Underground Storage Tank Fund.
- Representing two publicly traded oil and gas exploration companies in a dispute involving breach of contract, tortious interference, and overriding royalty claims related to an asset in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming.
- Represented an oil and gas company in an overriding royalty dispute with over $10 million at issue related to Bakken properties.
- Represented an oil and gas company and an independent exploration company in a $300 million overriding royalty interest lawsuit in association with the purchase of properties in the Uinta Basin.
- Represented a Houston-area oil and gas company and its subsidiary in a lawsuit involving alleged negligence, breach of fiduciary duties, and breach of contract in the operation of certain wells in West Texas.
- Represented a Denver-based independent oil and gas exploration company in a lawsuit in which the plaintiff claimed $225 million in damages following client’s $1.05 billion sale of oil and gas interests in the Williston Basin.
- Represented a Denver-based independent oil and gas exploration company in a dispute regarding working interest and overriding royalty assignments allegedly owed to a third party following the sale of client’s assets.
- Won an arbitration award for future oil and gas royalties valued in the tens of millions of dollars in a David v. Goliath case against a multinational oil company.
- Assisted in the representation of one of the world’s largest oil companies in a contract dispute with its joint venture partner regarding the funding obligations for a $450 million joint venture dedicated to alternative energy sources.
Securities / FINRA Litigation
- Counsel for one of the largest financial services companies in FINRA arbitrations in the Midwest and Western United States. Extensive experience defending customer claims, ex-financial advisor claims, and handling expungement matters.
- Won ~$4.2 million arbitration award for high net wealth individuals and a former NFL player in a FINRA securities arbitration against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Case No. 16-02052, December 26, 2018.
- Representing numerous former NFL players in various FINRA arbitration proceedings in South Florida and Northern California that recovered ~$13 million dollars due to unsuitable investments recommended by two of the largest banks/financial services companies on Wall Street.
Intellectual Property Cases
- Representing one of the largest secured card packaging companies in the U.S. against patent infringement claims from a competitor related to products developed and sold in the secure gift card industry.
- Served as Colorado counsel to a Chinese cell phone manufacturer in a patent dispute involving voice activated technology. The manufacturer was a co-defendant with the largest cell phone software developers and handset makers in the world.
- Represented a Chinese cell phone manufacturer as Colorado counsel in a patent infringement dispute pending in the federal court in Colorado.
