Biography

Howard A. Kroll has been a litigator during the entire course of his career, and practices in the firm’s Pasadena office. Mr. Kroll specializes in intellectual property litigation. Mr. Kroll handles lawsuits at the trial and appellate level involving claims of copyright and trademark infringement, cybersquatting, Internet law and trade secrets. Mr. Kroll also has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation.

Admitted

• State Bar of California, 1981
• U.S. District Courts: Central, Northern and Southern Districts of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Education

• J.D. degree from the University of Southern California, 1981
• B.A. degree in political science and history from Claremont McKenna College,1978
     o  Cum laude

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
• Los Angeles Bar Association

Representative Matters

Verizon California Inc. v. OnlineNIC, United States District Court, Northern District of California (2009). Represented Verizon in complex cybersquatting action involving OnlineNIC’s registration and use of 663 domain names that were confusingly similar to Verizon’s trademarks. Obtained judgment for $33,150,000, which is the largest cybersquatting judgment granted in the United States to date, and permanent injunction.

Verizon California Inc. v. Lead Networks, United States District Court, Central District of California (2009). Represented Verizon in complex cybersquatting action involving Lead Networks’ registration and use of 241 domain names that were confusingly similar to Verizon’s trademarks. Obtained judgment for $24,100,000 and permanent injunction.

Tacori Enterprises v. Beverlly Jewellery Company Limited, United States District Court, Central District of California (2009). Represented Tacori in copyright and trade dress infringement claim against Beverlly because Beverlly sold rings that were similar to Tacori’s copyrighted ring designs and Tacori’s trade dress in jewelry. Obtained judgment for $1,182,326.01 and permanent injunction.

Tacori Enterprises v. Rego Manufacturing, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio (2008). Represented Tacori in copyright and trade dress infringement claim against Rego because Rego sold rings that were similar to Tacori’s copyrighted ring designs and Tacori’s trade dress in jewelry. Obtained judgment for $650,00 and permanent injunction.

Dell Inc. v. BelgiumDomains, LLC., United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio (2008). Represented Dell in complex cybersquatting action involving the registration and use of over 1,000 domain names that were confusingly similar to Dell’s trademarks. Obtained consent judgment and permanent injunction pursuant to confidential settlement agreement.

Neiman Marcus v. Dotster, United States District Court, Western District of Washington (2007). Represented Neiman Marcus in complex cybersquatting action involving the registration and use of over 25 domain names that were confusingly similar to Neiman Marcus’ trademarks. Obtained permanent injunction pursuant to confidential settlement agreement.

Business Software Alliance (2001 - 2006). Represented BSA in anti-piracy program directed to end users infringing copyrights of software companies.

Nutralite Products, Inc. v. Showa Denko, K.K., Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (1999). Represented Showa Denko in successful defense of a claim by Nutralite, based on a theory of restitution, that Nutralite was entitled to compensation for the costs it incurred in recalling L-tryptophan containing products that may have been manufactured by Showa Denko. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the District Court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Showa Denko.

Federal Insurance Company v. GEC Alsthom Electromecanique - France, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (1999). Represented GEC in successful defense of a commercial claim in which Federal Insurance Company sought reimbursement for over $8,000,000 that it paid to a cogeneration facility for business interruption loss caused by the failure of a generator manufactured by GEC. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the District Court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of GEC finding that the contract at issue completely released GEC from liability for consequential damages.

Alsthom v. J.C. Carter Company, Inc., United States District Court, Central District of California (1999). Represented Alsthom in action to enforce arbitration award of over 67,000,000 French Francs rendered by the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, France. Summary judgment granted in favor of Alsthom.

Microsoft Corporation (1996 - 2000). Represented Microsoft in developing and implementing anti-piracy program directed to end users infringing Microsoft copyrights.

Anagnostopoulos v. Showa Denko, K.K., California Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles (1996). Represented Showa Denko in successful defense of products liability claim brought by plaintiff seeking over $100,000,000 in damages for injuries resulting from her consumption of L-tryptophan containing products. Jury verdict issued in favor of Showa Denko.

Point Arguello Pipeline Company v. Chu, California Superior Court for the County of Santa Barbara (1986). Successfully represented group of oil companies in eminent domain trial to obtain the right to construct underground pipelines in Santa Barbara.