Why Do LA Copyright Cases Go to Federal Court?

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Federal Court Holds Exclusive Power Over Copyright Disputes

When a major studio discovers unauthorized use of their $5 million production, or a software company finds their proprietary code copied by a competitor, the path to justice leads to only one destination: federal court. This jurisdictional requirement isn’t a suggestion or preference—it’s a legal mandate that shapes how copyright disputes worth millions of dollars unfold across Los Angeles and the nation. For businesses and legal professionals dealing with high-stakes intellectual property conflicts, understanding why copyright cases bypass state courts entirely can mean the difference between swift resolution and costly procedural mistakes.

💡 Pro Tip: Before filing any copyright action, verify that your work is registered or that you’ve received a refusal from the Copyright Office. read more

$914M in 2025 LA Fire Claims: When You Need an Insurance Attorney

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When Fire Insurance Companies Don’t Keep Their Promises

As of January 16, 2025, the devastating Eaton Fire alone has destroyed 5,718 structures and damaged another 679 across Los Angeles County, leaving thousands of residents facing the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. While insurance should be your safety net during such catastrophic losses, many property owners are discovering that getting fair compensation from their insurers has become a battle in itself. Whether you’re dealing with denied claims, lowball settlement offers, or delays in processing your fire damage claim, understanding when to seek legal help can mean the difference between recovering your losses and being left with inadequate compensation. read more

High Stakes Entertainment Litigation – Lessons Learned

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Spillane Trial Group was delighted to be selected to defend Cross Creek, a top independent film producer whose first effort was Academy Award winner “Black Swan,” in a case eminently heading toward trial filed by French entertainment giant Studiocanal.   A Cross Creek entity had contracted with Studiocanal to pay $5 million for rights to distribute “Legend,” a British Tom Hardy gangster film, in the U.S. and Canada.  Concerned that Universal’s limited release plans for “Legend” frustrated the expectations of the film’s U.S. investors, Cross Creek returned the investment funds rather than pay Studiocanal.  Studiocanal obtained a judgment for breach of contract, then initiated action against numerous Cross Creek entities and insiders with omnibus theories including fraud, successor liability and intentional interference with contract.  read more

Cross-Examination Revisited

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Some years ago, I blogged about “Effective Cross-Examination at Trial.”  I stand by those comments, but my technique has evolved. 

Some of my colleagues cross from a word-for-word script, including full printouts of the impeaching testimony or exhibit, but I prefer a simple outline, to make the cross more organic.  I have a summary of the point I want to establish in the left column and citation to the impeaching deposition testimony or trial exhibit in the right.  Absent a budget concern I always take videotaped deposition, which should result in an impeaching video clip ready in the trial display system as needed. read more

Direct Examination – Fact Witnesses

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Your client’s case is presented primarily through “direct” examinations, those where your witnesses tell your side of the story in their words. 

Advance Planning

Before meeting with your witnesses to prepare, you should have developed your case “theme,” possibly through a mock jury.  This is a plainspoken statement of why your client’s position is just, made in terms the Starbuck barista can understand.

I pull together the most important exhibits, assemble them in chronological order and invite all my witnesses to assemble for a “walk-through talk-through.”  The witnesses may have touched upon different aspects of the dispute, but likely never met together to obtain a global picture.  read more