Lead counsel in Freeman v. Giuliani, civil action no. 21-cv-3354 (D.D.C.) representing plaintiffs Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss against Rudolph Giuliani asserting claims of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The case was tried to verdict in December 2023 before Judge Beryl Howell. The jury returned a $148 million verdict in favor of the plaintiffs.
Lead counsel in Andrews v. D’Souza et. al. civil action no. 22-cv-04259 (N.D.Ga) representing the plaintiff against Dinesh D’Souza, True the Vote and Salem Media asserting claims of, inter alia, defamation, misappropriation of likeness and punitive damages.
Lead counsel in BPJ Enterprises et. al. v. King et al. Fulton Superior Court, Civil Action 2020-cv-342680, representing plaintiffs asserting claims of breach of fiduciary duty, attorneys’ fees and punitive damages. The case was tried in July 2024. The jury returned a seven-figure verdict and restored plaintiffs as equity partners in the Turner Field Redevelopment Project.
Lead counsel in My 24Hour News.com, Inc. v. AT&T et. al. civil action no. 18 cv 1647 (N.D.Ga) representing plaintiff asserting numerous business tort claims, including fraud, RICO and violations of federal and state trade secrets acts involving a failed joint venture between the parties.
Trial counsel for Fair Fight Action in Fair Fight Action, Inc. et. al. v. Brad Raffensperger et. al. civil action no. 18 cv 05391 (N.D.Ga), asserting voting rights claims against the State of Georgia. Von DuBose was selected by Plaintiffs’ trial team to depose the Georgia Governor.
Lead counsel in Motor Funding, LLC v. Credigy Investments, LLC, representing Motor Funding in private arbitration, asserting breach of contract and quantum meruit claims involving several billion dollars in securitized automobile lease transactions. The three-arbitrator panel returned an award in favor of Motor Funding, LLC.
Part of a team of lawyers prosecuting an employment discrimination class action against the Coca-Cola Company that resulted in a record $192.5 million settlement.
Defense Work
Lead counsel in a jury trial representing Jay Jenkins (p/k/a Jeezy) and CTE Music on claims of breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and RICO. The plaintiff sought more than $15 million in damages. The trial court entered directed verdict in favor of CTE Music, while the conversion and RICO claims against Mr. Jenkins were submitted to the jury. After just three hours of deliberation, the jury returned a complete defense verdict in favor of Mr. Jenkins.
Lead arbitration counsel for one of the largest real estate developers in the Southeast. At arbitration, the opposing party, a commercial tenant, defended its breach of the lease by, inter alia, accusing the developer of adopting racially discriminating policies and practices against its customers. During an extremely contentious arbitration, cross examination of the opposing party’s principal owner extracted an admission that he, not the developer, harbored discriminatory animus. The arbitrator ruled in favor of the developer on all counts and awarded attorneys’ fees and costs.
Lead arbitration counsel for one of the foremost NFL agents in a dispute with his former business partner. The matter was tried before the Honorable Gino Brogdon in Atlanta, Georgia, through Henning Mediation and Arbitration Services. Judge Brogdon returned a claimant’s award and awarded claimant his attorney’s fees.
Lead counsel for a sports facility development company in a suit filed by an individual advancing claims of fraud and breach of contract against the company and its founding members in their individual capacities. Instead of employing the typical defense delay tactics, Von DuBose moved expeditiously to depose the plaintiff and lock him into his version of the events. At deposition, the frivolous nature of the plaintiff’s claims was exposed, causing the case to be dismissed in its entirety shortly thereafter.
Lead counsel for a Division I college football player against allegations by the NCAA that he received improper benefits while still a student athlete. With an initial focus on our client, the NCAA’s investigator was very aggressive, at one point insisting that the player’s mother allow inspection of her personal phone records. Von countered each of the NCAA’s aggressive tactics until the NCAA shifted its focus to another alleged incident involving a different player. Our client was not suspended by the school or the NCAA, was a high round NFL draft pick, and started for his NFL team as a rookie.
Represented the National Office of the NAACP in claims that it was responsible for a sexual assault that occurred during one of its events. Negotiated a nuisance value settlement for the client after obtaining exculpatory statements of the incident from the district attorney’s file after the investigation was closed.
Pro Bono Work
Worked extensively with the NAACP on public accommodations and discriminatory housing matters and co-authored an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court on behalf of the NAACP, SCLC, AARP, and other groups filed in support of the petitioners in Kelo v. City of New London, 125 S.Ct. 2655 (2005), contending that the use of eminent domain for economic development purposes particularly disadvantages minorities, the poor and the elderly. Arguments made in the amicus brief were mentioned by Justice Thomas in his dissenting opinion.
