Civil Action is where law meets power. Join attorneys Brian Kabateck and Shant Karnikian as they dive into the legal and political forces shaping our world right now. With decades of experience in the courtroom and cases across the country, they unpack the real stories behind the headlines — exposing how the legal system shapes, and is shaped by, the world around us. It’s not just analysis. It’s a front-row seat to the battles defining justice in America.
Brian and Shant discuss the following cases: Loeb v. County of San Diego: Plaintiff was in a county park campground and was injured on an uneven pathway. The county argued Trail Immunity and the court focused on whether the pathway had a dual purpose. Kim v. Laguna Seca Raceway: Plaintiff signed a
Brian and Shant discuss the following cases: Hood v. Gonzalez: A nightmare client who had gone through five lawyers. The client signed the settlement agreement but refused to sign the check then the court appointed an elisor to endorse the check in lieu of the client’s endorsement. Soni v. SimpleLayers, Inc.: An
Steve discusses his journey and determination to make it through law school and find success in his practice. Steve goes into great detail about one of the most influential cases of his career and how it helped shape his future practice. More information about Steve Vartarzarian and his team’s work
Brian and Shant discuss the following cases: Johnson v. MGM: Plaintiff argues that the District Court did not do an appropriate calculation to determine attorney fees and in response, the District Court lays out multiple factors to determine the appropriate percentage. Handoush v. Lease Finance Group: For Choice of Law to be
An esteemed trial attorney in the state, Bill’s practice focuses on personal injury and product liability. Bill recollects one of his more memorable first trials where he was defensed but ultimately won on appeal and settled the matter favorably. Bill associates a lot of his success to that case and
Casey is a second-generation Southern Californian and the first in his family to graduate from college. A graduate of USC Gould School of Law and a partner at Aitken Aitken & Cohn, Casey’s practice is focused on single incident personal injury cases, elder abuse, professional medical malpractice, and insurance bad
Brian and Shant discuss the following cases: Brown v. Upside Gating: Defendants file an appeal to a judicial order arguing that it was tantamount to an injunction because it required appellants to take affirmative steps to affect invalidation of the releases at issue. The court clarifies that an order is not
Mary Alexander – Mary’s practice is comprised of product liability, toxic tort, auto accidents, pharmaceutical cases, and class actions. With an undergraduate focus in science and an objective toward biology and toxicology, she has handled cases that address environmental and workplace risks associated with the use of dangerous chemicals. Mary
Brian and Shant discuss the following cases: Monster Energy Company v. City Beverages LLC: When must the arbitrator disclose information regarding their financial interest in the arbitration company, and whether an unfair advantage exists when the arbitration company has handled numerous arbitrations for the advantageous party. Nayab v. Capitol One Bank: What
Andy Speilberger – Partner at Balaban and Speilberger discuss his experiences ranging from the law of national treasures to fighting insurance companies. Andy discusses his love for the movie Amadeus, his experiences traveling the world as the product of a military family, and how he and Daniel Balaban started their