Name: Ronald Rus
Item: Ronald Rus
Author: rrus

Bio

Areas of Practice

• Litigation & Arbitration

Related Experience

• Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring

• Litigation & Arbitration

• Cuba

• Civil Trial Practice

• Creditors Rights

• Bankruptcy Litigation

Education

• Pepperdine University School of Law – J.D.

• University of Southern California – B.A.

Bar Admissions

• California

• Master of the Bench in the American Inns of Court

Overview

Ronald Rus is a Practice Group Leader of the Firm's Litigation & Arbitration Practice Group. Ron focuses his practice on complex business litigation and trials in all forums and was selected by his peers to Best Lawyers in California and Best Lawyers in America since 2009 in the areas of Bet-The-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation - Bankruptcy; as well as the Business Litigation Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers since 2008. He was recognized by Best Lawyers in America as "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Bankruptcy in 2021. He frequently serves on Continuing Education of the Bar and other Bar Association panels relating to complex litigation and bankruptcy. He was co-author of the CEB Trial Practice Institute's manual on Complex Civil Litigation, and has been a visiting lecturer on complex litigation at Stanford University School of Law. Ron has been the subject of feature articles by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register and The Los Angeles Daily Journal, profiling him and his cases.

In 1998 Ron was chosen over some of Orange County's best attorneys as the 'Top Gun' trial lawyer by the Orange County Bar Association Business Litigation Section, was designated as co-lead counsel in the historic ACC/Lincoln Savings securities litigation in 1992 and has successfully tried numerous multi-million dollar cases to verdict for plaintiffs and defendants.

Ron was selected to serve as a lawyer delegate to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference in 2007-2009. He is a Master of the Bench in the American Inns of Court, is a member of the State Bar of California and the American Bar Association. He was a founder and a director of the Federal Bar Association (Orange County Chapter) and is a member of the Orange County Bar Association and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Ron was selected and served as a Commissioner of the California State Bar, Judicial Nominees Evaluation ("JNE") Commission, 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. He was a founding director of the Orange County Bankruptcy Forum and served as the President of that organization from 1989-1990. He served on the Board of Directors of the California Bankruptcy Forum from 1989-1994 and was chosen as the Chairman of that organization's annual conference in 1994.

Representation

• In re Legacy Pharmaceuticals International litigation: Represented the CEO of Legacy Pharmaceuticals International in related actions simultaneously being prosecuted in Delaware Chancery Court and the U.S. District Courts in California and Texas by and against hedge fund Highland Capital and NexBank over control of the company’s operations in Switzerland and Puerto Rico. The case successfully concluded with the client acquiring complete control of the company’s international manufacturing operations.

• Diamond, as Trustee of Brea Hospital Properties v. Snell & Wilmer, LLP: In coordinated cases in the Orange County Superior Court, represented prominent regional law firm against claims prosecuted by the Bankruptcy Trustee of the failed Brea Community Hospital Corporation and the hospital’s principals and parent company. After a five week jury trial, a defense verdict was rendered in favor of Snell & Wilmer.

• NZMP, Inc. v. Client, et al: Represented a former principal of the predecessor corporation to insolvent Global Health Sciences, one of the largest manufacturers of nutraceuticals in the United States and principal product supplier to Herbalife. The case was prosecuted, pursuant to a Chapter 11 liquidating plan in both the Bankruptcy Court and the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, by creditors holding $225 million of bonds issued in conjunction with the 1998 leveraged sale of the company. The case was favorably settled on confidential terms.

• Casey, etc. v. U.S. Bank National Association: Represented the Chapter 7 Trustee of bankrupt investment company, DFJ Italia, against three national banks including U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”). Multi-million dollar settlements were reached with two of the banks prior to trial, based in part on the opinion of the California Court of Appeal in Casey v. U.S. Bank National Association (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 11. After a lengthy trial the jury rendered a verdict, finding U.S. Bank had aided and abetted breach of fiduciary duty by the debtor’s agents in the looting of DFJ Italia and judgment was entered in favor of the Trustee for $16 million.

• ACC/Lincoln Savings Securities Litigation: Was selected as co-lead counsel in this multi-district litigation on behalf of the plaintiff class of Bondholders who recovered in excess of $250 million from the professionals who assisted Charles Keating in his looting of Lincoln Savings and its parent American Continental Corporation. $4.0 billion jury verdict was rendered against Mr. Keating in 1992 in the U.S. District Court, District of Arizona in this notorious fraud case.

• Popejoy v. Balboa Bay Club: Represented nationally prominent financier and former Orange County Chief Executive Officer, in an action against the owners of the Balboa Bay Club, arising from his blocked attempt to purchase the controlling interest in the legendary waterfront property in Newport Beach for $73 million. The suit was settled after commencement of trial on confidential terms.

• FTC v. First Alliance Mortgage Company: Represented the Chairman and CEO of publicly traded, national mortgage lender First Alliance Mortgage in multiple Federal Court coordinated class actions and lawsuits in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California brought against him by the Federal Trade Commission and various States Attorney General alleging unlawful lending practices which were the subject of New York Times and 20/20 features. The actions were settled in 2002 in a manner extremely favorable to the client, eliminating a nationwide exposure in excess of $500 million.

• TMI Partnership Litigation: Designated by the Court as lead counsel in this complex litigation on behalf of a class of approximately 20,000 California teachers seeking recovery for the diversion of cash in the operation of more than thirty publicly syndicated limited partnerships. Concluding in settlement payments in excess of $20 million were made by the managers of the partnerships, their lawyers, banks and a major national accounting firm.

• Crow Irvine #2 v. Winthrop California Investors: Represented a partnership, including Trammell Crow Co. executives, and won a state court judgment in a fight for continued control and ownership of the 105-acre, mixed-use commercial real estate project known as Park Place located in Irvine, California. In the action, the New York based Winthrop attempted to seize control of the land, retail center and nearly 4 million square feet of entitled office, hotel and residential space.

Professional Affiliations

•      Member, American Bar Association
•      Founder/Director, Federal Bar Association (Orange County Chapter)
•      Member, Orange County Bar Association
•      Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers
Community Involvement

• In addition to his professional involvement, Ron is active in civic and community activities. He has acted as a member of the Board of Directors of the Santa Ana Zoo, the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation of Orange County and the Orange County Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Awards and Honors

•      The Best Lawyers in America (and Southern California), Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2008-2022
•      The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2021
•      Super Lawyers, Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney in Irvine, CA, 2009-2010, 2012-2021

Ronald Rus

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