Current Employment Position(s)

Counsel/Staff Attorney, since January 1, 2007

Lawyer Overview

PERSONAL AND PRACTICE PROFILE

• Twenty-Five years' extensive litigation experience in State and Federal Courts.
• Proven accomplishments in all forms of negotiation, mediation, settlements, and appeals.
• Experienced entertainment industry talent agent and manager, advisor and legal advocate.
• Participant in law firm and talent agency business management decisions.
• Versed in entertainment industry contract negotiations with major motion picture production companies and television networks in the representation of actors and actresses.
• Focus on entertainment law from talents’ rights perspective and known protector of Children’s Rights.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Owner/Agent/Attorney - The Mary Grady Agency (MGA), 2000 through 2006 Represented over 1000 actors and actresses, securing numerous roles for major motion pictures, television and commercials. Negotiated and secured contracts for Series Regular roles for actors and actresses with ABC/Touchstone, FOX Television, Disney Channel and many others.

Recently secured lead role for actress on Discovery Channel Pilot/TV Series “Sensing Murder” airing September 28, 2006 and thereafter. Transactions in progress include the following:
Currently negotiating multiple contracts, including Network TV Pilot Presentation for Star Name celebrity, Major Cable MOW’s, Major Motion Pictures, etc.

Litigation Attorney- 1981 to Present
Complete responsibility for wide range of entertainment cases, civil matters, personal injury and wrongful death litigation matters, including the following:

• Entertainment, Civil, Contracts and Business Litigation
• Aviation Litigation: Private/Commercial
• Vehicle, Motorcycle, Products liability – Serious Injury and Death
• Medical and Legal malpractice
• Recently won a highly noteworthy Entertainment Case involving a Star Name child actor. (Note: The Screen Actors Guild formally joined and filed an Amicus Curie Brief in this case due to the significant impact on the entire entertainment industry).
• Litigated extensively in State and Federal Courts both in and out of California (10 States).
• Resolved numerous cases in Settlement and Mediation Conferences securing lump sum and structured settlements.
• Cases include a $1.1 Million U.S. District Court personal injury claim and two $1.1 Million Los Angeles Superior Court wrongful death and personal injury cases.
• Tried numerous arbitrations and several Jury and Court trials to conclusion.
• Second chaired in several highly complex jury trials including a $7.3 Million jury verdict in the business tort case of Talbot v. AMF, Inc., U.S. District Court Case No. CV-80-1040-WMB.

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

Successful appeal: Berg v. Traylor (March 2007) __ Cal.App.4th__, B188554 (Slip Opinion March 19, 2007) - [Child Actor’s Right to Disaffirm Management Contract even after adverse Judgment].

Successful appeal: Doyle v. Fenster (July 1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 1701, 55 Cal. Rptr.2d 327 - [Statute of Limitations/Sexual Abuse/Certificate of Merit].

Favorable published opinion: Warren v. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (D. Utah 1987) 669 F.Supp 365 - [Personal Jurisdictional/Nonresident Corporate Defendant].

Areas of Practice

• Civil Litigation

Representative Cases

• Berg v. Traylor, Cal.App.4th (B188554 2007)
• Doyle v. Fenster, 47 Cal.App.4th 1701 (55 Cal. Rptr.2d 327 1996)
• Warren v. Honda Motor Co., Ltd., 669 F.Supp 365 (D. Utah 1987)

West Practice Categories

Estate Planning, Family Law, Litigation & Appeals, Real Estate Law

Bar Admissions

• California, 1982
• U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1982
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1982

Professional Associations and Memberships

• State Bar of California, 1982 - Present (Member)
• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (Member)
• Beverly Hills Bar Association, Entertainment and Litigation Sections (Member)

Past Employment Positions

• Law Offices of Robert N. Pafundi, Studio City, California, Principal, 1998 - 2006
• Rotenberg & Rios (Formerly Rotenberg & Rotenberg), Pasadena, CA, Senior Associate, 1993 - 1998
• Law Office of Robert N. Pafundi, Agoura Hills, CA, Principal, 1990 - 1992
• Sweeney & Pafundi (AV Rated), Westlake Village, CA, Partner, 1985 - 1989
• Law Offices of John E. Sweeney (AV Rated), Los Angeles, CA, Associate, 1982 - 1984

Education

• Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, California, 1981
  Juris Doctor
• University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 1977
  Bachelor of Arts
  Major: Psychology

Published Works

• "Proposition 51 Takes Hold: New Problems Emerge for Partial Settlements in Multi-Tortfeasor Litigation", 10 California Lawyer 48, July, 1990
• "A Discussion of Issues in Personal Injury Law", Juris Diction, 1991

Address

Five Waterfront Plaza, 4th Floor
500 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96813

Phones

(888) 573-6100 (Toll Free)
(626) 584-8989

Faxes

(626) 584-0444

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.m4law.com