Jason Haas's practice is dedicated to a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters in both state and federal courts, including consumer and shareholder class actions, domestic and international business disputes, fiduciary duty/derivative litigation, patent litigation, securities litigation, and professional liability. Jason's clients have operated in a host of industries including entertainment, credit reporting, hotels, drug and medical device manufacturing, toy manufacturing, law, finance, and electronics.
Prior to joining Theodora Oringher Miller & Richman, Jason was an associate in Los Angeles with the law firms of Jones Day and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. He also spent several years in the health care industry doing research on hospital business practices, implementing educational and regulatory initiatives for a publicly-traded physician organization, and developing legislative strategies for a large California-based insurer.
Representative Matters
- Successfully represented Michael Ovitz against claims that he had breached his fiduciary duties to the Walt Disney Company by receiving a $100+ million severance package when Disney terminated him in 1996. This defense included obtaining partial summary judgment, defeating the remaining claims in a multi-week trial in Delaware Chancery Court, and defending plaintiffs' subsequent appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court.
- Represented global manufacturer of drugs and medical devices in an action alleging that its leading product in the immunoassay diagnostic field, a product that generated hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue, infringed three of a competitor's patents. Obtained favorable settlement two weeks before trial, allowing sales of the product to continue unhindered.
- Represented national credit reporting agency in federal class actions brought by consumers under the Fair Credit Reporting Act on behalf of millions of consumers with bankruptcies and other negative credit histories. Obtained settlement of all injunctive-relief claims by bankrupt plaintiffs through the adoption of complex new credit-reporting procedures.
- Represented an international law firm against shareholder claims that it had violated federal securities laws in connection with its representation of private entities in a series of transactions with Enron. Client was dismissed from the action.
- Represented businessman/consultant in the hospitality industry against business tort claims involving his negotiated purchase of a hotel in Mexico for his client. Third-party plaintiff was successfully pressured to voluntarily dismiss all claims.
- Represented Japanese toy company and its US subsidiary in federal litigation brought by a former executive in retaliation for ongoing litigation against him in Spain and Mexico. Obtained dismissal of US action.
- Represented publicly-traded software company in action by securities plaintiffs to forestall a shareholder vote on a proposed merger. Obtained quick settlement and vote proceeded on schedule.
Professional Qualifications and Memberships
Jason is admitted to practice in California, as well as before all United States district courts in California. He is a member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Jason has also served as a pro bono lawyer for Public Counsel and Bet Tzedek in Los Angeles.
Education
Jason received his BA in Politics from Brandeis University summa cum laude with High Honors, and his JD with distinction from Stanford University. He also received his MA in Political Science from Duke University.