Meaghan Lert

Meaghan L. Lert has provided vital legal counsel and was crucial to the successful resolution of complex litigation involving disputes over profit participation, copyrights, film and television distribution agreements; First Amendment and constitutional law; breach of contract; tort; municipal governments; land use; and professional responsibility. She has represented clients in the entertainment, media, and outdoor advertising industries, as well as other clients in arbitrations and state and federal courts.

Education:

• University of Southern California Law School, J.D., 2010
  • Order of the Coif
• University of California, Los Angeles, California Teaching Credential, 2006
• University of California, San Diego, B.A., Literature in English, 2005

Representative Matters:

• Currently representing Paramount Pictures in a putative class action related to the treatment of home video revenues on films produced prior to 1981 for purposes of reporting and payment to profit participants. The case is one of several brought against all of the major movie studios.
• Secured a plaintiff’s-side summary judgment on behalf of her client, Viacom International Inc., in a lawsuit against the toy-making company MGA Entertainment Inc. for breach of contract, resulting in a judgment of over $14 million.
• Represented Viacom Inc. and Viacom Media Networks in an action involving numerous tort claims, including misappropriation of likeness and defamation, arising out of the production and broadcast of a reality TV program.
• Represented a leading outdoor advertising company in successfully opposing a competitors’ motion for attorney’s fees.
• Represented an entertainment company in an arbitration involving claims that were related to the syndication of a popular television series.
• Member of team that won an anti-strategic lawsuit against public participation (anti-SLAPP) motion and judgment for a major law firm that had been sued for malicious prosecution.
• Represented a high school student in foster care at meetings to successfully obtain special education services.
• Filed amicus briefs in the appellate and U.S. Supreme courts on behalf of both family and child welfare law professors in support of the successful defense of the constitutional right to marry for same-sex couples.
• Served as a member of the legal team that successfully represented grandparents and other relative foster parents in an action against the California Department of Social Services.