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Steven
A.
Ellis
Partner
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STEVEN A. ELLIS joined the firm in 1993.
Mr. Ellis has extensive experience in the defense of class action lawsuits in both federal and state courts across the country. He has represented large financial institutions, insurance companies, and other major corporations in cases involving money transfers, credit card processing, banking services and other financial services; these cases have involved allegations of consumer fraud, unfair business practices, breach of contract and violations of federal and state regulatory statutes (including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and California Business and Professions Code section 17200). Mr. Ellis has also worked on a variety of complex litigation matters on both the trial and appellate levels, including commercial disputes, media cases, and professional liability matters. He has argued appeals in both the federal and state appellate courts.
Mr. Ellis also has advised clients on compliance with state unclaimed property laws (also known as “escheat” or “abandoned property” laws) and argued Paterson v. Texas, 308 F.3d 448 (5th Cir. 2002), a case rejecting a state challenge to the disposition of purportedly unclaimed funds in a nationwide class action settlement.
Mr. Ellis served as law clerk to the Honorable Douglas H. Ginsburg, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1991-1992. He was also Associate Counsel, Office of the Iran/Contra Independent Counsel, 1992-1993.
Mr. Ellis is the recipient of ACLU Foundation of Southern California’s Criminal Justice Award for his work on an initiative relating to California’s "Three Strikes" law as well as the 2008 Pro Bono Advocacy Award. Mr. Ellis also received the Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services awarded by the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California for his work representing the victims of trade school fraud.
Recently, Mr. Ellis authored, “State Courts and the Resolution of Factual Disputes at Class Certification” in the Fall 2009 edition of the ABA’s CADS Report (published by the Section of Litigation, Class Action and Derivative Suit Committee). He was also a speaker at “Consumer Class Actions in California,” a conference sponsored by Bridgeport Continuing Education, in October 2009.