Representative Matters

During his 30+ years of experience, Doug Billings has been fortunate to gain an overview of business matters from a broad perspective. As a business advocate, Doug has not only worked on both sides of litigation — having represented both plaintiffs and defendants — but has experience working as in-house counsel at a Fortune 1000 company and as a registered business lobbyist in Washington DC. Here are just some examples of the matters he has successfully handled.

FOODBORNE ILLNESS & HOSPITALITY LITIGATION

  • Foodmaker (Jack in the Box) v. Vons – Los Angeles Superior Court

    • Helped secured a $58.5 million lost profits settlement on behalf of Jack In the Box from multiple suppliers of contaminated ground beef which had caused deaths of several customers.

  • Sheetz v. Coronet Foods – Blair County PA Court of Common Pleas

    • Salmonella outbreak linked to Roma tomatoes; Substantial confidential settlement achieved to compensate Sheetz for lost profits.

  • Chi-Chi’s v. Castellini Company – Private Arbitration, Philadelphia, PA/Various courts

    • Arbitration trial counsel in $100+ million hepatitis outbreak dispute. Six-week arbitration resulted in favorable private award for Chi-Chi’s and its insurers.

  • Pat & Oscar’s v. Gold Coast Produce – San Diego Superior Court

    • Represented restaurant chain in business loss dispute arising from bagged lettuce E. coli outbreak; resolved favorably via confidential settlement.

  • Sizzler USA v. Excel Corporation – Milwaukee County Circuit Court

    • Pre- and post-trial counsel in for restaurant chain seeking to recover business losses caused by E. coli outbreak; case successfully resolved following $7.1 million verdict.

REAL ESTATE & INVESTMENT DISPUTES

  • Marsch v. Lennar – San Diego Superior Court

    • Actively engaged in 11-month trial, representing a real estate developer in a profit sharing dispute concerning proceeds from a $1 billion luxury golf and residential development.

  • SunCal La Quinta v. Eston – Riverside County Superior Court

    • Defense of landowner in alleged breach of sale agreement involving 640 acres of development land.

  • NNN v. Mikles – San Diego Superior Court

    • Representation of investment company in several actions related to disputes over commercial real estate investments and related financial instruments.

  • Gianella v. Grant Cardone – San Diego Superior Court

    • Representation of real estate fund operator in $30 million investment dispute; successfully resolved by confidential settlement.

  • Eminent Domain – Various jurisdictions

    • Represented property and business owners to recover just compensation in multiple high-value takings cases.

  • Homebuilder Liability – Central Ohio

    • Advised homebuilder concerning potential liability issues arising out of allegedly dangerous component installed in thousands of homes.

  • Randall v. Villa Marin HOA – Marin County Superior Court

    • Defended HOA against Davis-Stirling Act claims related to HOA elections.

CORPORATE AND TECHNOLOGY DISPUTES

  • Carelogistics v. Catholic Health Partners – Ohio & Georgia U.S. District Courts/Arbitration

    • Represented regional healthcare systems in failed software implementation dispute.

  • ESoundIdeas v. American Technology – San Diego Superior Court

    • Handled licensing and breach of contract dispute involving patented speaker technology; recovered confidential settlement.

  • Sizzler International v. Moore – San Diego Superior Court

    • Intellectual property and non-compete dispute involving competing restaurant concepts.

WHISTLEBLOWER, BANKRUPTCY & CLASS ACTION

  • USA Ex Rel. Colunga v. Hercules – U.S. District Court Utah

    • Qui tam case involving government contractor’s contractual Quality Assurance obligations; case resolved for $55 million settlement (largest False Claims Act case to that date in which the government had not intervened).

  • Terlecky v. Cardinal Health (In re Healthspot) – U.S. Bankruptcy Court, So. Dist. Ohio

    • Represented bankruptcy trustee in multi-million dollar avoidance action against major healthcare corporation.

  • Catholic Diocese v. Reader’s Digest – U.S. District Court, Southern Dist. Of California

    • Class counsel in deceptive fundraising class action; case resolved for $40 million.

  • Corbaley v. Kagome, Inc. – Santa Clara County Superior Court

    • Defended company against employment class action, successfully forcing plaintiff to pursue individual claim in arbitration.

IN-HOUSE AND LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION

  • Boyd Gaming Corporation – Ten States

    • Managed litigation portfolio for 29 casino hotel resort properties across 10 states; included case evaluation, indemnity enforcement, insurance coordination, settlement strategy, and supervision of outside counsel. Advised senior executives on litigation risk and settlement strategy.

  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Washington DC

    • Served as Director of Regulatory Affairs and registered lobbyist for nation’s largest business organization. Directed business coalition strategy related to federal regulatory rulemaking, working with congress, with the executive branch, and in agency proceedings.

  • Foreign Gaming Legislation – Nevada Legislature

    • Successfully advocated on behalf of gaming interests for revisions to statute governing foreign gaming disclosure.