Significant Cases Tried to Judgment or Settled

• Plaintiff's Defamation Actions
• Defense of Defamation Claims
• Misappropriation of Name, Voice or Likeness
• Entertainment Litigation
• Invasion of Privacy, Infliction of Mental Distress
• Personal Injury
• Trademark/Copyright Litigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Criminal Prosecution & Defense
• Selected Reported Decisions

Plaintiff's Defamation Actions

1. Price v. Stossel, 620 F.3d 992 (9th Cir. 2010):

   Represented Dr. Frederick Price, Minister of the Crenshaw Christian Center, in connection with an ABC "20/20" broadcast concerning well-known televangelists. The federal district court originally dismissed Dr. Price’s complaint pursuant to the California anti-SLAPP statute, but Dr. Price appealed and the Ninth Circuit reversed the district court’s dismissal of Dr. Price’s claims. The parties conducted discovery and, four years after ABC aired the false and defamatory statements about Dr. Price, ABC issued an unprecedented formal apology to Dr. Price. ABC admitted in writing that the clip of Dr. Price was taken out of context, that ABC should have reviewed the sermon from which the clip was taken before ABC aired the false clip, and that ABC's actions fell short of its own journalistic standards.

2. Allergan v. Nightengale Press - 2007

   Represented pharmaceutical giant Allergan, makers of Botox, in a defamation, product disparagement claim in connection with the book "Dying to be Young - From Botox to Botulism."

3. Oscar Goodman v. Farrar, Straus & Giroux and James McManus - 2003

   Successfully represented Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman in connection with defamation claim arising out of publication of New York Times best seller "Positively Fifth Street." The publisher and author agreed to delete a false and defamatory passage which made reference to the Mayor from all future editions of the book, formally apologize to Mayor Goodman, and authorize publication of their apology in a full page ad in the New York Times Sunday Book Review.

4. Leonard M. Ross v. Santa Barbara News Press and The New York Times, 2003 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 9227

   Los Angeles Superior Court - March, 2001 (Ross II) (Judge Joseph Kalin)

   Obtained a $2.25 million jury verdict in a libel action against the Santa Barbara News Press, its owner The New York Times, reporter Kathleen Sharp and editor David McCumber on behalf of attorney/businessman Leonard M. Ross in connection with a front page profile story that jury found falsely implied that Ross was investigated by several government agencies for the investor frauds which sent a former partner to prison. The jury also found that the implication was "intentionally" created by the defendants. At time of publication Mr. Ross was the largest shareholder of Santa Barbara Savings and Loan (the largest financial institution in Santa Barbara County with 44 branches) and was seeking regulatory approval to increase his stake in Santa Barbara Savings and Loan to 24.9%.

5. Leonard M. Ross v. Santa Barbara News Press and The New York Times

   Los Angeles Superior Court - March, 2001 (Ross II) (Judge Joseph Kalin)

   Obtained a $2.25 million jury verdict in a libel action against the Santa Barbara News Press, its owner The New York Times, reporter Kathleen Sharp and editor David McCumber on behalf of attorney/businessman Leonard M. Ross in connection with a front page profile story that jury found falsely implied that Ross was investigated by several government agencies for the investor frauds which sent a former partner to prison. The jury also found that the implication was "intentionally" created by the defendants. At time of publication Mr. Ross was the largest shareholder of Santa Barbara Savings and Loan (the largest financial institution in Santa Barbara County with 44 branches) and was seeking regulatory approval to increase his stake in Santa Barbara Savings and Loan to 24.9%.

6. Leonard M. Ross v. Santa Barbara News Press and The New York Times

   Los Angeles Superior Court - 1993 (Ross I) (Judge Harvey Schneider)

   Jury in 1993 returned verdict of $7.5 million. New trial granted by Judge Harvey Schneider and affirmed on appeal. Retrial successfully prosecuted in March 2001.

7. Barry Tarlow v. Doubleday

   U.S. District Court - 1990 (Judge Robert Takasugi)

   Represented nationally prominent criminal defense attorney Barry Tarlow in defamation action against Doubleday in connection with false charges made in book "The Underground Empire", by James Mills that Mr. Tarlow had engaged in the criminal conduct perpetrated by his client.

8. Al Shugart v. Consumer Attorneys of California, Consumers and Their Attorneys Against Propositions 200, 201 and 202, and Morris & Carrick

   Monterey County Superior Court - 1997 (Judge Richard Silver)

   With Daniel Bergeson of Bergeson L.L.P., successfully represented Al Shugart, founder, President and CEO of Seagate Technology, a Fortune 500 company and the largest disc drive manufacturer in the world, in connection with defamation claim for T.V. ad seen by 14,000,000 people in California during March 1996 campaign regarding Propositions 200, 201 and 202. Ad "morphed" Shugart's picture into Charles Keating's and vice versa and ended with admonition to "stop the next Charles Keating." Ad was produced by Bill Carrick who ran President Clinton's 1996 California campaign. Defendant Consumer Attorneys of California agreed to pay $150,000 for publication of an apology which was published in Wall Street Journal and other leading California newspapers and $350,000 in charitable contributions as designated by Mr. Shugart.

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Defense of Defamation Claims

1. Hoogstraten v. Hugh Hefner

   Los Angeles Superior Court - 1985 (Judge Jack Newman)

   Successfully defended Playboy founder Hugh Hefner against defamation charges brought by Louise Hoogstraten, 16 year old sister of slain Playmate Dorothy Straten (Star '80) in connection with statements made by Hefner at press conference regarding relationship between film director Peter Bogdanovich and Hoogstraten.

2. Judith Campbell Exner v. Midnight/Globe International, Inc.

   U.S. District Court - 1980 (Judge William Gray)

   Successfully defended Midnight/Globe on libel charges brought by alleged ex JFK girlfriend Judith Campbell Exner before a jury in U.S. District Court. Story claimed "JFK Love Girl Was Mafia Spy." Exner admitted she was "love girl" but denied she was Mafia spy notwithstanding her ongoing "friendship" with Sam Giancanna, boss of Chicago Mafia.

3. Mark Fuhrman v. The New Yorker Magazine and Robert Shapiro

   Los Angeles Superior Court - 1995

   Successfully represented O.J. Simpson counsel, Robert L. Shapiro, in connection with defamation, invasion of privacy, misappropriation claims brought by L.A.P.D. Detective Mark Fuhrman regarding article published in The New Yorker Magazine.

4. Pauline Kiernan v. Globe International, Inc.

   Los Angeles Superior Court - 1992 (Judge Diane Wayne)

   Successfully defended Globe before a Los Angeles Superior Court jury against libel charges brought by nurse/companion of actor Glen Ford in connection with story that Kiernan claimed suggested improper personal relationship with Ford.

5. Burt Ward v. Globe International, Inc.

   U.S. District Court - 1990 (Judge James Ideman)

   Successfully defended Globe against libel charges brought by actor Burt Ward ("Robin" on "Batman" television series) in U.S. District Court. Court found Globe's story was a neutral, accurate and, therefore, privileged report and granted summary judgment. Ward v. News Group International, 733 F.Supp. 83 (C.D. Cal. 1990).

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Misappropriation of Name, Voice or Likeness

1. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes v. Sandals Resorts International, Ltd.

   Los Angeles Superior Court - 2001 (Judge David Horowitz)

   Successfully represented Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes in connection with claim that Sandals Resorts (operators of 10 Caribbean luxury hotels) misappropriated Medley and Warnes Academy Award and Grammy winning performance of "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" featured in the 1987 film "Dirty Dancing" for use in a nationally broadcast television commercial for the Sandals Resorts. The case settled after the trial court granted plaintiffs' motion for pre-trial disclosure of Sandals' net worth information based on the court's finding that plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their claim and to recover punitive damages.

2. Robby Robinson v. MetRx - 2002

   Successfully represented former Mr. Universe, Mr. America and Mr. World in connection with claim of misappropriation of image in national ads for nutritional supplement MetRx..

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Entertainment Litigation

1. Dustin Hoffman v. First Artists and Jarvis Astaire

   Los Angeles Superior Court - 1980

   Successfully represented Jarvis Astaire who had acted as manager of Mr. Hoffman in connection with suit alleging breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contact in connection with the films "Agatha" and "Straight Time."

2. Max Youngstein v. Tom Laughlin and Billy Jack Productions

   Los Angeles Superior Court - 1982

   Successfully represented legendary motion picture executive (United Artists' co-founder) in breach of contract and wrongful termination suit against Tom Laughlin and his production company.

3. Carrie Leigh v. Hugh Hefner

   Los Angeles Superior Court - 1986

   Successfully defended Hugh Hefner against "palimony" complaint brought by Marvin Mitchelson on behalf of former girlfriend.

4. Paula Barbieri v. Hard Copy and Paramount Pictures, Inc. - 1996

   Obtained damages in arbitration for model/actress Paula Barbieri in connection with breach of contract claim against Paramount Pictures.

5. Kelly LeBrock v. Playboy Enterprises, Inc.

   U.S. District Court - 1986 (Judge Stephen Wilson)

   Successfully defended Playboy Enterprises in U.S. District Court against charges of misappropriation, invasion of privacy and right of publicity brought by model/actress Kelly LeBrock in connection with photograph of LeBrock published in Playboy magazine.

6. Tamarind Lithography Workshop, Inc. v. Terry Sanders

   Los Angeles Superior Court - 1981 (Judge Charles Older)

   Successfully defended Academy Award winning documentary film director Terry Sanders before a jury in Los Angeles Superior Court against claims of breach of contract, declaratory relief, emotional distress, fraud and defamation in connection with Academy Award nominated documentary film brought by Tamarind and its founder, well known Los Angeles artist June Wayne, and won jury verdict on cross complaint for damages for failure to receive screen credit and specific performance to insert "A Film By" screen credit for Sanders. Also obtained settlement on defamation cause of action for Sanders on eve of trial. 143 Cal. App. 3d 571 (1983).

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Invasion of Privacy, Infliction of Mental Distress

1. Karen Christy v. Larry Flynt and Hustler Magazine

   Los Angeles Superior Court - 1998 (Judge Carolyn Kuhl)

   Successfully represented Karen Christy in connection with invasion of privacy and related claims against Flynt and Hustler regarding intimate private photographs of Ms. Christy and Hugh Hefner taken over 25 years ago and published in August 1998 issue of Hustler Magazine without the knowledge or consent of Ms. Christy or Mr. Hefner.

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Personal Injury

1. Read v. Motel 6, et al.

   Los Angeles Superior Court - August 14, 1996 (Judge David Yaffe)

   Obtained a jury verdict in Los Angeles Superior Court of $1.15 million against Motel 6 and two "bounty hunters" who kicked in the door of a family from Rhode Island at the Costa Mesa branch of Motel 6 thinking that a prostitute who had skipped bail was inside the Reads' room.The Motel 6 manager handed over the emergency pass key to the Reads' room to the two armed bounty hunters allowing them to burst into the room and put loaded guns to their heads

2. Maran v. Bernstein, et al.

   Los Angeles Superior Court (West District) - 2003 (Judge Linda Lefkowitz)

   Successfully represented parents of teenager murdered at unsupervised party against mother of teenage killer.

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Trademark/Copyright Litigation

1. Playboy v. Terri Welles

   U.S. District Court - 1999 (Judge Judith Keep)

   Lead trial counsel for Playboy Enterprises in connection with trademark infringement claim against 1981 Playmate Of The Year Terri Welles based on Welles' use of Playboy's trademarks of Playmate, Playmate Of The Year and PMOY on Welles' web site and meta tags.

2. Charlene Dallas v. Cinergi Productions

   U.S. District Court, Central District, California - 1993

   Successfully represented Ms. Dallas in copyright infringement suit against Academy Award winning screenwriter Tom Schulman ("Dead Poet's Society") and Cinergi Productions in connection with Ms. Dallas' claim that Mr. Schulman's screenplay for the film "Medicine Man," starring Sean Connery, infringed her copyright. Suit settled after plaintiff successfully opposed defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment.

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Commercial Litigation

1. Pareto Partners v. Inktomi L.L.C., Dr. Eric Brewer, David Brewer

   Alameda County Superior Court - 1998

   Obtained summary judgment (affirmed by Court of Appeal) for San Mateo based Internet search engine innovator Inktomi, L.L.C., and its founder, Prof. Eric Brewer against breach of contract, fraud and misrepresentation claims brought by venture capital company, Pareto Partners, which claimed a 25% interest in Inktomi in exchange for offer to provide initial venture capital funding.

2. David Hayden v. Robertson Stephens, Fleet Boston

   JAMS Arbitration - 2003

   With John Bartko, represented David Hayden, founder of Critical Path, in connection with claim of breach of fiduciary duty against investment bankers for failure to advise client of danger of concentrated equity position and failure to adequately advise of appropriate hedging strategies.

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Criminal Prosecution & Defense

During Mr. Glassman's tenure as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he was selected to argue before the Ninth Circuit en banc in connection with the court's determination of which standard to apply in determining a defendant's sanity at the time of the commission of an offense. Oliver v. United States, 396 F.2d 434 (1968).

Shortly after leaving the U.S. Attorney's Office, Mr. Glassman was hired by the Justice Department to act as a Special Assistant to U.S. Attorney Wm. Matthew Byrne, Jr. for the prosecution of Marvin Miller on federal obscenity charges. Mr. Glassman obtained federal obscenity convictions for the national distribution of two novels, "Restless Love" and "The Misfortunes of Mary." Neither book contained any pictures! Miller v. United States, 431 F.2d 655 (1970).

Switching sides, in 1973 Mr. Glassman successfully defended the film "The Devil In Miss Jones" against obscenity charges before a jury in state court in Dallas, Texas.

In the intervening years Mr. Glassman has represented clients against charges ranging from tax fraud, securities violations, anti-trust, false statements to banks and other federally insured institutions, among other offenses.

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Selected Reported Decisions:

1. Price v. Stossel, 620 F.3d 922 (9th Cir. 2010)
2. Playboy Enterprises, Inc. v. Welles, 279 F.3d 796 (9th Cir. 2002)
3. U.S. v. Omega Chemical Corporation, 156 F.3d 994 (9th Cir. 1998)
4. Khawar v. Globe International, 19 Cal. 4th 254 (1998)
5. Ward v. News Group International, 733 F.Supp. 83 (C.D. Cal. 1990)
6. Koch v. Goldway, 817 F.2d 507 (9th Cir. 1987)
7. Selleck v. Globe International, 166 Cal. App. 3d 1123 (1985)

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