Susan Allison has handled diverse, complex business litigation matters for more than 30 years, including healthcare litigation, class action defense, intellectual property/entertainment litigation and professional malpractice.

Equally at home in federal and state court, and experienced as well in arbitrations and appellate issues, Susan works to identify her clients' litigation objectives early on and develop litigation strategies designed to achieve those objectives efficiently and effectively.

Representative Matters include:

Healthcare

• Represented major not-for-profit hospital in defending physician's lawsuit relating to negative medical staff reference, involving anti-SLAPP motion and medical staff and peer review privilege issues.
• Successfully obtained voluntary dismissal of class action claims against hospital client alleging unlawful balance billing practices and unfair competition.
• Successfully arbitrated contract dispute between owner of emergency room independent physician association and contracting physicians.

Class Action Defense

• Represented nationwide health and fitness club in defending consumer class action, including successful appeal of trial court's denial of class certification.
• Represented global professional services company in federal court class action suit alleging actuarial malpractice in connection with spin-off of corporate pension plan.

Intellectual Property/Entertainment

• Co-counsel for motion picture studio and producer plaintiff in copyright, trademark and trade secret lawsuit relating to rights to major motion picture franchise; preliminary injunction upheld by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Represented major recording artist, her producers and recording company in copyright infringement lawsuit; obtained dismissal sanctions against plaintiff prior to trial, which were upheld by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Represented generic drug distributor in trade dress infringement and false advertising lawsuit brought by competing brand name manufacturer; summary judgment in client's favor affirmed on appeal.

Professional Negligence

• Co-counsel for plaintiff in four-week jury trial alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims against business adviser/accountant, resulting in $6.5 million verdict, including punitive damages. Judgment later ruled non-dischargeable in accountant's bankruptcy.
• Represented global professional services company in actuarial malpractice action relating to retiree healthcare fund; summary judgment in client's favor affirmed on appeal.
• Represented major actuarial consulting firm in federal court action alleging misrepresentation in connection with defense contractor's acquisition of defense-related assets and liabilities; case settled favorably after summary judgment granted in client's favor.

In addition to the above, Susan continues to represent clients in a diverse mix of shareholder, partnership and corporate disputes.

More about me on the Women Lawyers of JMBM page.