Horvitz & Levy LLP - U.S. Supreme Court Practice

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	DISCLAIMER

United States Supreme Court

In addition to appearing regularly before the California Supreme Court, the firm's lawyers have experience preparing petitions for writs of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as amicus briefs in support of petitions for writ of certiorari and amicus briefs on the merits in cases where certiorari has been granted, particularly in the areas of healthcare and punitive damages.

Eight of the U.S. Supreme Court cases in which the firm has filed amicus curiae briefs on the merits involved punitive damages: (1) State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co. v. Campbell (2003) 538 U.S. 408 [123 S.Ct. 1513, 155 L.Ed.2d 585]; (2) Ford Motor Co. v. Romo (2003) 538 U.S.1028 [123 S.Ct. 2072; 155 L.Ed.2d1056]; (3) Ford Motor Co. v. Estate of Smith (2003) 538 U.S. 1028 [123 S.Ct. 2072; 155 L.Ed.2d 1056]; (4) Cooper Industries, Inc. v. Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. (2001) 532 U.S. 424 [121 S.Ct. 1658, 149 L.Ed.2d 674]; (5) BMW of North America, Inc. v. Gore (1996) 517 U.S. 559 [116 S.Ct. 1589, 134 L.Ed.2d 809]; (6) Pacific Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Haslip (1991) 499 U.S. 1 [111 S.Ct. 1032, 113 L.Ed.2d 1]; (7) Bankers Life & Cas. Co. v. Crenshaw (1988) 486 U.S. 71 [108 S.Ct. 1645, 100 L.Ed.2d 62]; and (8) Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Lavoie (1985) 475 U.S. 813 [89 L.Ed.2d 823, 106 S. Ct. 1580].

The firm has filed two successful petitions for writ of certiorari in which we persuaded the Supreme Court to retransfer the cases to the California Court of Appeal for reconsideration of the amount of punitive damages. See Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Textron Fin. Corp. (2003) 538 U.S. 974 [123 S.Ct. 1783, 155 L.Ed.2d 662] and Transamerica Occidental Life Ins. Co. v. Koire (1991) 500 U.S. 950 [111 S.Ct. 2253, 114 L.Ed.2d 706].

As co-counsel with Professor Richard L. Hasen, the firm's "Academic Consultant," the firm has recently been involved as counsel for amici curiae in FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc., Nos. 06-969 and 06-970, an election law/campaign finance case which will be decided this term. (Click here to read the brief.)

Finally, the firm represented amicus curiae in two pro bono cases in the Supreme Court aimed at securing equal rights and opportunities for women and girls: Davis v. Monroe County Bd. of Educ. (1999) 526 U.S. 629 [119 S.Ct. 1661, 143 L.Ed.2d 839], and United States v. Morrison (2000) 529 U.S. 598 [120 S.Ct. 1740, 146 L.Ed.2d. 658].