Chuck Patterson is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Morrison & Foerster. He has extensive experience in complex litigation and has tried over 110 cases to a verdict before a jury and over 30 cases to the court. Mr. Patterson’s extensive litigation practice has included a wide variety of civil and criminal cases. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Mr. Patterson has lectured on trial practice subjects for local and state bar associations, the American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the International Association of Defense Counsel, and the California Bankers Association. He has published in various publications including University of Missouri Law Review and University of Michigan Law Review, and has authored a Chapter in both Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts and Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel, both published by West Publishing.

Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster, Mr. Patterson served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of Lillick & McHose prior to its merger with Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP, and has served as the Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee of Pillsbury.

Mr. Patterson received his B.A. from the University of Kansas, 1963 (with honors), Phi Beta Kappa. He received his J.D. from the University of Michigan, 1966 (with honors), and was an Assistant Editor of the Michigan Law Review. Mr. Patterson served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps at various duty stations, including the Republic of Vietnam, from 1966-1969. He is a member of the American Bar Association, and is a member of the House of Delegates representing the Judicial Division. Mr. Patterson is past Chairman of the Lawyers Conference of the Judicial Division. He was President of The Missouri Bar (1983 - 1984); President of the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers (1981 - 1982); and Chairman of various committees of the Defense Research Institute and International Association of Defense Counsel. He is a member of the Board of Visitors of the National Judicial College. Mr. Patterson was awarded the American Bar Association’s 2000 Pro Bono Award. He is also listed in the The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Commercial Litigation. He has been listed as one of the Southern California Super Lawyers in each year that a list has been compiled.

Representative Litigation Experience

• The Whitewater Investigation
  Lead outside counsel for the investigation of Madison Guaranty Savings & Loan, Little Rock, Arkansas including Whitewater Development Company. Congress used “The Pillsbury Report” in its investigation and by Independent Counsel in securing criminal indictments.
• Big Rock Landslide Litigation
  Litigation on behalf of over 200 owners of the Big Rock Mesa area in Malibu. Lead trial counsel in the jury trials brought against the State (verdict for the plaintiffs) and the County (settled after choosing a jury). Recovery for the plaintiffs of $97.5 million.
• Anaheim Hills Landslide
  Representing over 250 homeowners in an action against the City and County of Orange and various pipe manufacturers for damage to property arising out of the Anaheim Hills landslide. Recovery for the plaintiffs of $19.5 million.
• Kansas City Hyatt Skywalk Collapse
  Represented the insurers for Hallmark Cards who owned the hotel building. One hundred and fourteen dead and hundreds injured in the skywalk collapse. All cases disposed of within one year for a total amount of $125 million.
• United States v. McCarthy
  Represented a lawyer accused of eighteen counts of RICO, conspiracy, wire fraud and mail fraud stemming from his activities as a director of and as counsel for the J.C. Nichols Company. The two indicted alleged co-conspirators had plead guilty. A judgment of acquittal was entered by the court at the close of a six week government case.
• Campbell Soup Company
  Represented the company in the loss of one year’s production of tomato soup and actions against the principal warehousers and transporters for $5+ million.
• Asbestos Litigation
  Regional counsel for Owens-Corning Fiberglass. Handling constant caseload of between 100 to 200 asbestos cases.
• Follmer v. Gas Service Co.
  Jury trial of a class action brought by all the customers of the Gas Service Co. of Kansas City, Missouri regarding claims of discriminatory rates: Verdict for the defendant following a full trial.
• RTC v. Dean
  Suit against the Director and officers of Southwest Savings in Phoenix, Arizona including the Governor of Arizona. Successfully settled after two years.
• Milk Antitrust Cases
  Multi-district litigation involving the anti-trust cases brought against the milk industry in the late 1970s. Trial of the cases extended over a four-year period in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
• Kansas City Southern Industries Takeover Litigation
  A series of cases involving various takeover attempts against Kansas City Southern Industries, a large conglomerate.
• In re International Systems and Controls
  Conducted a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation on behalf of the Board of Directors under the direction of the Securities & Exchange Commission of a multi-national conglomerate over a three-year period.
• Crist v. Bowie, et al.
  Represented receiver suing Directors and Officers and Agents of now defunct Transit Casualty Co. for 3 Billion in losses. Recoveries of over $100 million have been made.
• In re Ramtek Securities Litigation
  Representing underwriters in 10b-5, Section 11 and Section 12 securities actions.
• Bayerische Vereinsbank v. Laventhol & Horwath, et al.
  Representing bank in 10b-5, Section 11 and Section 12 actions against accountants and underwriters.
• DBS Systems v. Hughes Communications
  Representing software designer in action for appropriation of trade secrets in software for Direct TV.
• Reilly v. Bancomer
  Representing Mexican Bank in suit by U.S. purchasers of property in Mexico developments in Baja California.
• Consolidated J.C. Nichols Litigation
  Representing director and attorney in shareholder derivative suits arising out of takeover battle for J.C. Nichols Company of Kansas City.
• Vanna White v. Samsung
  Representing manufacturer and advertising agency in suit by entertainer for claimed unauthorized use of likeness.
• Reeder v. PacRim Assurance
  Representing company in 10b-5 Section 11 and 12 securities action.
• Hughes Space v. Lockheed Missiles and Space
  Represented Lockheed in dispute over the use of Russian rockets for the launch of satellites.