Jesse Kaplan is an experienced and dedicated litigator with more than two decades of experience handling hard-fought and often high-profile cases through trial. Jesse’s practice focuses on complex business, entertainment, and intellectual property disputes, and he has significant experience handling disputes concerning breach of contract, business organizations, defamation, copyrights, rights of publicity, trademarks, trade secrets, unfair competition, idea submissions, business torts, the Talent Agency Act, managed health care, real estate and insurance. Jesse represents individuals, artists, privately held companies, and public companies involved in the areas of entertainment, media, technology, finance, real estate, and apparel.
Representative Experience
- Lead counsel for plaintiff in several internet defamation lawsuits against Courtney Love. Successfully opposed two of defendant’s anti-SLAPP motions and the ensuing appeal.
- Lead counsel for media personality Kerri Kasem, daughter of Casey Kasem, in defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuit. Also obtained a civil harassment restraining order in Kasem’s favor after multi-week evidentiary hearing.
- Lead counsel for “Perez Hilton” in privacy, defamation and breach of contract arbitration. Obtained arbitration award and defense verdict in his favor determining that there was no liability.
- Lead counsel for NFL agent in defamation and intentional interference case involving NFL players Von Miller and Melvin Ingram.
- Represented director Quentin Tarantino against movie studio in copyright infringement lawsuit concerning NFTs that contained his original screenplay for the film Pulp Fiction.
- Lead defense counsel for elder abuse awareness advocate in defamation lawsuit brought by assisted living company. Successfully brought anti-SLAPP motion striking the Complaint.
- Lead counsel for actor and media personality in lawsuit concerning the rights to a popular podcast.
- Represented sports agent in arbitration against major sports agency concerning payments based on the termination of an employment agreement. Obtained eight figure arbitration award in client’s favor.
- Represented gamer Tfue in lawsuit against FaZe Clan concerning termination of gamer agreement.
- Represented talent agency in copyright infringement actions, including claims involving the films Trouble With the Curve and The Purge.
- Lead counsel for sports agent in malpractice lawsuit against his former attorney.
- Lead counsel in lawsuit concerning the purported termination of a ground lease for multi-million-dollar historic hotel.
- Lead counsel for victim in defamation and sexual assault lawsuit against baseball player Trevor Bauer.
- Represented multiple talent agencies and management companies in commission disputes and claims under the Talent Agency Act.
- Lead counsel for music producers in copyright infringement lawsuit against hip hop artist 6ix9ine over the hit song “Gooba”
- Lead counsel for “Perez Hilton” in multiple copyright infringement actions.
- Lead counsel for Kerri Kasem and Kasem Cares in lawsuit over the rights to a documentary about Casey Kasem.
- Lead counsel for director in lawsuit against film distribution company concerning the termination of a distribution agreement and the payment of royalties.
- Lead counsel in action brought against long term commercial tenant of historical property. Successfully obtained reversal of denial of anti-SLAPP motion on appeal concerning petitioning activity to the City of West Hollywood.
- Represented high-end apparel company in publicity rights lawsuit brought by Victoria’s Secret model.
- Lead counsel in trade secret lawsuit concerning the design, development and construction of the robotic arm for the 2020 Mars rover.
- Successfully prosecuted trademark infringement and cyber piracy action on behalf of entertainment website, and obtained a permanent injunction and judgment requiring the transfer of the infringing domain name.
- Lead counsel in lawsuit against large real estate brokerage firm under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Stored Communications Act.
- Lead counsel for physicians in lawsuit based on the alleged disclosure of confidential information and trade secrets.
- Represented private equity fund in breach of fiduciary action against members of limited liability company based on purchase of loan documents and subsequent foreclosure.
- Lead counsel in lawsuit brought by real estate investor in litigation concerning an option to purchase historical landmark. Obtained judgment for property worth in excess of $15 million.
- Obtained arbitration award in favor of real estate developer in a dispute concerning $6.3 million mezzanine loan.
- Represented sports agents in multiple NFLPA arbitrations concerning commissions disputes.
- After successfully defeating anti-SLAPP motion before the trial court and Court of Appeal, obtained attorney’s fees award against law firm in excess of $100,000 based on frivolous anti-SLAPP motion.
- Represented independent director of wealth management firm against claims for breach of fiduciary duty brought by a minority shareholder.
- Represented former Chief Executive Officer of large managed healthcare company in breach of fiduciary duty lawsuits based on alleged conflicts of interest.
- Prosecuted action for declaratory relief through trial and obtained judgment determining that anti-competitive provisions in healthcare provider contracts were void and unenforceable.
- Lead counsel for large transportation company in lawsuit concerning theft of website and email-system by former employee.
- Represented private equity fund in action against large commercial lender, and obtained injunction enjoining the foreclosure sale of assets in excess of $20 million.
