Munger, Tolles and Olson Wins ‘Top Verdict’ Honor

Munger, Tolles & Olson won a legal victory recognized on the Daily Journal’s list of Top Verdicts for 2019, published on Feb. 19, 2020.

The Daily Journal selected the firm’s representation of Disney, Lucasfilm, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Marvel, New Line and Turner Entertainment in winning a copyright lawsuit against VidAngel.

At trial, the studios argued – and the jury found – that VidAngel acted willfully when it infringed the studios’ copyrights in nearly 820 movies and television shows.

This landmark case resulted in one of the largest jury awards of statutory damages (on a per-work and total basis) ever in a mass-infringement copyright case. In June 2019, a jury in federal court awarded the studios statutory damages of $62.4 million ($75,000 per-work infringed) on account of VidAngel’s infringement of the studios’ movies.

The Daily Journal particularly notes the impression the case had on the plaintiff studios who said of the win: “It sends a clear message to those who would attempt to profit from unlawful infringement conduct at the expense of the creative community.”

The Munger, Tolles & Olson trial team was comprised of Kelly M. Klaus, Blanca Fromm Young, Rose Leda Ehler, Juliana M. Yee, Stephanie G. Herrera and Rowley J. Rice. Glenn D. Pomerantz provided strategic leadership throughout the case.