News

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP, a Los Angeles-based law firm, has joined the Euro-American Lawyers Group (EALG), an association of law firms whose members best serve their clients’ interests overseas by co-operating with likeminded firms who have local knowledge of, and immediate access to the legal system operating in their own jurisdictions.

Read full press release.

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP represented American Express Bank, FSB, in a multi-million dollar malicious prosecution case filed against Amex in connection with a police report filed by Amex regarding possible cardmember credit card fraud. Amex obtained a dismissal following a ruling on an anti-SLAPP motion, and Plaintiff appealed. The Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s ruling, holding that the filing of a police report is protected speech, and that Plaintiff had failed to meet his burden to overcome the anti-SLAPP challenge.

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue partner Roland Reynolds was quoted in the article, “POA Cases Could Affect How Docs are Drafted,” published by Origination News magazine. The article discusses how plaintiffs’ lawyers are trying to hold mortgage loan investors, as wells as originators liable for the information disclosed within loan documents if the disclosure is allegedly faulty or misleading. “I think [the litigation] will absolutely affect how loan documents are drafted,” Mr. Reynolds states. Plaintiffs are attempting to extend liability to investors under an aiding and abetting theory. “It extends liability in a way that liability hasn’t been extended before,” Mr. Reynolds says.

Partner Devin Donohue with Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue was quoted in the Los Angeles Business Journal article, “Coffee Maker Buzz Leaves Bad Taste,” discussing an SEC investigation of a coffee company, Jammin Java Corp., for purportedly engaging in fraudulent promotion of the company’s stock, also known as a “pump and dump” scheme. Mr. Donohue regularly handles securities regulatory and litigation matters and explained that it is possible for third parties to engage in these types of schemes without the company’s knowledge. He stated, “If the company can prove that they were not at all connected with the promoters, they’ll likely escape any liability in the case.” Mr. Donohue also commented that the SEC will likely review the emails of Jammin Java’s officers to determine whether there was any corporate connection to the scheme.

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue received the honor of being named one of the 2011 “Best Places to Work in Los Angeles” published by the Los Angeles Business Journal. The distinction is granted to the best small, medium and large-sized companies to work for in Los Angeles County. The rankings were based on employee responses to a 72 question Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Survey, as well as county benchmarking data. Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue was the only law firm ranked in the small business category.

Read fulll article.

In the Daily Journal, Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue discusses why national securities, financial services and real estate firms, such as UBS, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Starbucks, Oppenheimer, First Industrial Realty Trust Inc. and American Express Co., turn to the firm for its litigation expertise. Since its inception 11 years ago, the firm has grown to 20 lawyers. Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue credits its progress to careful hiring, diversifying its practice areas and carrying no debt.

“After 11 years of experience, we think we have a formula for doing things right, and we’re in an environment now where we have good people and we can compete with a lot of bigger firms and develop more business,” said Tom Lombardi, a founding partner. The firm prides itself on its careful planning for the future, and what the partners call “organic growth.”

Additionally, the Daily Journal reporter reached out to Mark LoSacco, chief litigation counsel for American Express Co., and a long-time client of the firm who commented, “In my line of business, I seldom get pitch meetings that lead to work…But when they came in, the conversation was much more around the practical reasons for lawsuits and how to handle them in a cost-effective manner – not your standard speech about what great lawyers they were and how effective. They presented a real road map for how they think about cases…and their approach to reducing the burden on the company.”

Read full article.

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP represented JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in a multi-million dollar breach of contract case involving passbooks and certificates of deposit. Plaintiffs appealed the trial court’s ruling granting summary judgment in favor of JPMorgan. On August 23, 2011, the Second District Court of Appeal, Justice Turner presiding, issued its ruling that plaintiffs had not overcome JPMorgan’s “comprehensive showing,” and affirmed the trial court’s ruling.

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue was featured in a Los Angeles Business Journal article published on July 25, 2011 that discussed the firm’s move from West Sixth Street to 515 S. Flower St. The move comes as the firm continues to expand, having doubled its number of attorneys in the last two years.

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue partner Devin Donohue has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Southern California Leadership Network (SCLN) where he will chair the SCLN’s newly-formed Alumni Council. The SCLN, a partner organization of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, offers fellowships and other leadership-development programs with the goal of cultivating “a productive network of exemplary and diverse leaders in the business, government and community sectors who are capable of addressing the critical challenges facing the Southern California region.” The Alumni Council, specifically, will work to forge stronger bonds between the SCLN and its alumni and to develop community service and other leadership projects for alumni.

Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP, a Los Angeles-based law firm, has relocated its offices to 515 South Flower Street, 21st Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017. After more than 6 years at their current downtown location (888 West Sixth Street, 12th Floor), the firm has been planning the new office space with growth in mind.

Read full press release.