Overview
John Schwab is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer who advises on complex civil litigation, trials and arbitrations.
John represents companies across a wide spectrum of industries, including media and entertainment, pharmaceuticals and cutting-edge technology. He has handled matters at every stage of litigation, from pre-litigation counseling through trial and appeal.
In his free time, John enjoys cooking and international travel.
Capabilities
Practices
Industries
Experience
Trials and Arbitrations
Walt Disney Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and Paramount Pictures in obtaining summary judgment on claims for secondary copyright infringement based on a third-party vendor’s use of motion capture software on six of the biggest films of the 2010s. On the seventh film at issue, a jury awarded less than $350,000 in profits.
Heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder in obtaining injunctive relief ordering a rematch of his bout with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Alyeska Pipeline in trying tax and valuation issues related to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.
A leading media company in arbitrating claims arising out of the termination of a senior executive.
A prominent beverage company in arbitrating employment discrimination claims.
Fox’s studio and network entities in contingent compensation arbitration.
Complex Civil Litigation
Individual actions
California cardrooms in defending against an industry-wide attack on player-dealer games under a novel – and thus far untested – special-interest statute creating a one-time cause of action to sue in California courts.
ACF Property Management in overturning a $14.5 million verdict against ACF and its principal.
Multidistrict litigation and class actions
A tobacco company in defending against putative class actions and individual suits relating to its line of oral nicotine pouches.
JUUL Labs, Inc. in defending against putative class actions and individual suits relating to the JUUL vape device.
More
- California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) awards, 2023
- Board Member, Alliance for Children’s Rights.
John maintains an active pro bono practice. Recent representations include:
- The Bruce Family in representation defending the County of Los Angeles’ decision to return the “Bruce’s Beach” property taken from the Bruce’s ancestors as part of a racially motivated condemnation in the 1920s.
- Defendants in a successful anti-SLAPP motion striking a defamation complaint brought by a former employee of Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee, based on defendants’ reporting to law enforcement.
- Plaintiffs in a successful appeal advocating for citizen taxpayers’ standing to challenge allegedly unconstitutional activities by Orange County law enforcement.
Publications
- “Due Process and the ‘Worst of the Worst’: Mental Competence in Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment Proceedings,” Columbia Law Review, Vol. 112, No. 4, p. 912, May 2012
- Co-author, “Houston, We Have a Problem: Does the Second Amendment Create a Property Right to a Specific Firearm?,” Columbia Law Review Sidebar, Vol. 112, p. 158, April 2012 (with Thomas G. Sprankling)
- “Audiovisual Works and the Work for Hire Doctrine in the Internet Age,” Columbia Journalism of Law & the Arts, Vol. 35:1, p. 141, 2011