Professional Experience Mr. Begland's practice focuses on civil litigation. He prosecutes and defends claims related to complex commercial relationships, corporate governance, and government contracts. He also possesses significant experience in intellectual property, commercial insurance, and class actions. Before entering private practice, Mr. Begland worked for six years in national defense. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army and then worked as a civilian adviser in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Representative Matters Complex Commercial Disputes · Represented Fortune 150 corporation in a commercial dispute regarding an obligation to renegotiate the price of goods delivered under a long-term contract. Defeated summary judgment motion that no such obligation existed and then settled the dispute on favorable terms. · Represented Fortune 150 corporation in landlord-tenant dispute related to whether tenant could be forced to incur massive costs associated with seismically retrofitting hospitals to comply with California's evolving earthquake laws. Soon after submitting summary adjudication motion that there was no such obligation on tenant, settled dispute on favorable terms. · Represented large, privately-held U.S. manufacturer in several disputes over goods and services contracts used to support its domestic and foreign manufacturing operations. Corporate Governance · Defended corporation in six-week trial, against a former officer's claim that he was denied appropriate equity compensation. Settled case on favorable terms, after persuading court that the portions of the contract dealing with compensation should be reformed. · Defended corporation against a former CEO's claims that he was wrongfully denied equity compensation based on the value of company. Persuaded arbitrator that the executive was owed no compensation. · Defended corporation against minority shareholder's claims for breach of fiduciary duty and corporate dissolution. Dispute settled on favorable terms, after persuading court that plaintiff was not entitled to dissolution. Government Litigation · Defended clients in government contracts litigation, including terminations for default, debarments, and alleged violations of the False Claims Act. Litigation experience includes parallel proceedings before civil, criminal, and administrative authorities. · Member of the Manatt legal team that served as counsel to Select Committee of Inquiry of the Connecticut House of Representatives, a committee formed to investigate and determine whether to recommend the impeachment of the state's governor to the legislature. Intellectual Property · Co-authored amicus brief on behalf of thirty organizations, arguing that copyright's contributory and vicarious infringement doctrines apply to peer-to-peer file sharing services. MGM v. Grokster, 380 F.3d 1154 (9th Cir. 2004), vacated, 125 S. Ct. 2764 (2005). Co-authored with colleague Ian Ballon journal article addressing Ninth Circuit's decision. See "Ninth Circuit Grokster Case Challenges the Applicability of Traditional Copyright Principles to Digital Media and the Internet," Intellectual Property Today, February 2004. · Defended U.S. film distributor against film owner's claims that the distributor's packaging of several films -- and particularly the allocation of license fees within the package based on the distributor's discretion -- was unlawful. After persuading court that the plaintiffs' theory was not actionable, settled remaining claims on favorable terms. · Obtained summary judgment in trademark dispute. Echo Drain v. J. Newsted, 307 F.Supp.2d 116 (C.D. Cal. 2003). Commercial Insurance · Represented policy holder in large commercial insurance dispute. Defeated insurer's claim of fraud in the application, by obtaining partial summary judgment rulings that (a) application given to previous insurer may not be relied upon by subsequent insurer and (b) insured has no duty to disclose information to insurer after issuance of a policy, even if issued as an inland marine policy. · Defended life insurance company in novel litigation that sought to hold insurer liable for conduct of agent involved in complex premium finance scheme. Obtained dismissal of case with aggressive demurrer practice. · Defended one of nation's largest reinsurers in claims brought by policyholder under cut-through theory. Class Action · Currently representing Fortune 150 corporation in nationwide consumer class action lawsuit, consolidated under federal Multidistrict Litigation, where the company is accused of fraud and concealment in its sales practices. · Represented Fortune 500 corporation in nationwide consumer class action lawsuit, where company was accused of inserting unlawful liquidated damages provision in consumer contract. Pro Bono · Currently representing family of Iraqi refugees seeking resettlement to the United States based on the father's work with the Iraqi War Crimes Tribunal. Memberships & Activities Admitted to practice in California. Admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Central, Southern and Northern Districts of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. |