Legal News

No-go for Bratz legal makeover?

By Jonathan Hayter

A federal judge in Los Angeles has raised concerns about a recent decision by MGA Entertainment, manufacturer of the Bratz doll, to switch lawyers just before the second phase of a trade secrets dispute with Mattel Inc.

In an unusual move, U.S. District Judge Stephen G. Larson ordered the lawyers in the case to meet on Monday, citing concerns that the hiring of new counsel could delay the second phase and "vastly complicate" the case. Among other things, MGA's new lead counsel, Patricia Glaser, who served as lead counsel earlier in the case, might have to testify, he said.

Earlier this month, MGA said it would replace its current lead counsel, Thomas Nolan, a partner in the Los Angeles office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, with Glaser, a partner at Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs & Shapiro, and Russell Frackman, a partner at Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp. Last summer, a jury awarded $100 million to Mattel after finding that MGA stole the idea for its Bratz doll.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on January 21, 2009 (boomark / email).