Sean Morris

Sean Morris represents clients in complex commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on mass tort, unfair business practices, and intellectual property and technology matters. Mr. Morris has served as lead counsel in several multidistrict litigations, class actions, and disputes involving international parties. He is head of the firm's Los Angeles office.

Among his significant cases, Mr. Morris successfully tried the California lead pigment litigation, in which public prosecutors asserted that former manufacturers of lead pigment should be held liable for the alleged health hazard created by the existence of lead paint on millions of private residences. He served as lead counsel in an MDL class action proceeding in which plaintiffs in more than 25 states alleged fraud and violation of state unfair business practice statutes arising from the technology used in the retail sale of gasoline, and he obtained an injunction against an Internet portal requiring it to cease infringements on its network of more than 300,000 websites.

Experience

Major pharmaceutical company in a series of cases (including those combined within an MDL) brought by government prosecutors, third-party payors, and private individuals alleging fraudulent marketing of opioids for long-term pain and seeking damages, restitution, and civil penalties.
Atlantic Richfield as co-trial counsel in successfully defeating public nuisance claims brought by California prosecutors seeking a $1.1 billion fund to abate all residential properties that contain lead paint.
National baked goods chain in class actions alleging false and misleading advertising regarding content of donuts and other products.
Top-rated insurance company as trial counsel in dispute alleging bad faith breach of duty to defend and indemnify under D&O policy.
Major oil company as lead defense counsel in multidistrict class action in which plaintiffs allege fraud and violation of state unfair business practice statutes based on the sale of gasoline by the volumetric gallon instead of using advanced temperature adjustment technology.

Kroger in defending putative class action alleging unfair business practices for representations regarding the nutritional content of food products.

Top mobile gaming app developer in defeating putative nationwide class action suit alleging that game constituted illegal gambling in violation of consumer protection laws and other state statutes. Mason v. Machine Zone, Inc., 140 F.Supp.3d 457 (D. Maryland 2015).
VeriSign in putative nationwide MDL class actions regarding alleged improper advertising practices for content downloaded directly to smartphones.
Perfect 10 in early copyright and trademark claims against Internet portals requiring them to cease infringements on network of more than 300,000 websites. Perfect 10, Inc. v. Cybernet Ventures, 213 F. Supp. 2d 1146 (C.D. Cal. 2002).

Honeywell in defending CERCLA action brought by irrigation district alleging contamination of groundwater wells due to contribution to plume stretching across western Phoenix; argued preliminary dispute resulting in disqualification of plaintiff's counsel due to conflict of interest. RID v. SRP, et al., 810 F.Supp.2d 929 (D.Ariz. 2011).
UOP LLC in defeating claims brought by Orange County Water District alleging groundwater contamination.
Major commercial real estate developer in seeking contribution for remedial costs from prior owner of property.
Honeywell in defeating class certification in action brought by over 100 individual plaintiffs alleging exposure to toxic chemicals at former facility.