Attorneys

Brett D. Watson

Summary

Brett D. Watson is a partner of the firm. Mr Watson specializes in representing financial institutions in business litigation matters before state and federal courts and arbitration panels. He has successfully litigated many cases involving the full spectrum of retail financial products, including merchant disputes, credit and charge card disputes, checks and other checking-related disputes such as, embezzlement and/or forged or unauthorized endorsements, Commercial Code Article 3 and Article 4 matters, privacy and/or identity theft disputes, wrongful foreclosure, wrongful repossession, TILA, RESPA, FCRA, FDCPA, ASFA, § 17200 matters and complex business disputes.

Education

Mr. Watson received his Juris Doctorate degree magna cum laude from Pepperdine University School of Law where he was a member of the Pepperdine Law Review. He received his Bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, San Bernardino.

Honors & Awards

For two consecutive years, Mr. Watson has been included on the list of Southern California Super Lawyer Rising Stars.

Professional Activities

Mr. Watson is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of California and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Articles & Publications

Representative Matters

  • Obtained numerous defense rulings on behalf of banks and charge card issuers involving claims of embezzlement through check forgery and/or charge card usage, and has authored two articles on the subject.  Read the article on check forgery.  Read the article on charge card usage.
  • Obtained a dismissal (affirmed on appeal) following a ruling on an anti-SLAPP motion in favor of a major charge card issuer in a multi-million dollar case where the Court found that the bank’s activity was protected.
  • Obtained summary judgment (affirmed on appeal) in favor of a major national bank in a multi-million dollar breach of contract case involving passbooks and certificates of deposit.
  • Successfully defended a multi-million dollar lawsuit brought by cardmember against credit card issuer alleging wrongful cancellation of credit cards and asserting damages to business resulting there from.
  • Complete defense of a multi-million wrongful foreclosure action in probate court.
  • Successfully won numerous summary judgment motions, demurrers and motions to dismiss in a multitude of consumer finance matters.
  • Obtained favorable settlements and successfully litigated numerous FDCPA and FCRA claims on behalf of various creditors.
  • Obtained a successful judgment against a sham local business owner infringing upon a national retailer’s trademarks.