Our people

Zareh is a member of the firm’s Appellate Group, and handles writs and appeals in both federal and state court. He has worked on numerous matters both challenging and defending large compensatory and punitive damages awards in post-trial and appellate proceedings.  In addition, he has extensive experience as a business litigator in the fields of shareholder derivative litigation, commercial real estate disputes, consumer class action defense, product liability, and pre-judgment writs and remedies.

Representative Matters

Employment/Employment Class Actions

• Rose v. Huntington Memorial Hospital: Obtained affirmance in Court of Appeal of orders granting summary judgment and judgment on the pleadings in favor of defendant hospital arising from suit alleging breach of contract for lifetime employment.
• Watkins v. Wachovia:  In putative class action alleging violation of California wage and hour laws, obtained dismissal, of appeal from order denying class certification on ground that class representative's settlement of individual claims following denial of certification deprived the class representative of standing to pursue the appeal. In same decision, also obtained affirmance of summary judgment as to another class representative on the ground that, upon termination of employment, she signed a release of disputed wage claims in exchange for enhanced severance benefits.  Published Court of Appeal opinion available at 172 Cal. App. 4th 1576 (2009).

Contracts

• Kashani v. Tsann Kuen China Enterprise Co.: Obtained affirmance in Court of Appeal of order granting summary judgment for defendant Chinese manufacturing concern based on illegality of contract.  Published Court of Appeal opinion available at 118 Cal. App. 4th 531 (2004).

Consumer Class Actions

• Ball v. Fleetboston Financial Corp.: Obtained affirmance in Court of Appeal of order sustaining demurrer to class action complaint alleging violation of California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act arising from issuance of a credit card.  Published Court of Appeal opinion available at 164 Cal. App. 794 (2008).
• Shaw Industries, Inc. v. Superior Court: Successfully petitioned Court of Appeal for writ of mandate resulting in reversal of trial court order denying motion to strike nationwide class allegations.

Insurance Products/Annuities/Structured Settlements

• 321 Henderson Receivables Origination LLC v. Red Tomahawk:   Reversed order denying petition under the Structured Settlement Transfer Act; trial court's failure to dismiss petition without prejudice upon transferee's request for dismissal rendered order denying petition void.  Published Court of Appeal opinion available at 172 Cal. App. 4th 290 (2009).
• 321 Henderson Receivables Origination LLC v. Ramos: Reversed order voiding prior transfer of structured settlement payments; final court-approved transfers cannot be attacked as void under the Structured Settlement Transfer Act absent direct and affirmative evidence of fraud. Published Court of Appeal opinion available at 172 Cal. App. 4th 305 (2009).
• 321 Henderson Receivables Origination LLC v. SIoteco: Reversed orders denying petitions under the Structured Settlement Transfer Act; trial court's erred in holding transactions were subject to usury laws and barred by anti-assignment provisions in structured settlement agreement.  Published Court of Appeal opinion available at 173 Cal. App. 4th 1059 (2009).

Healthcare

• Dunn Yeager v. Blue Cross: Obtained affirmance in Court of Appeal of summary judgment for health insurer in action alleging that insurer's offer of infertility coverage did not comply with statute. Published Court of Appeal opinion available at ___ Cal. App. 4th ___ (2009).
• Mintz v. Blue Cross:  Dismissal of claims for intentional interference with contractual relations, negligent interference with contractual relations, and intentional infliction of emotional distresses arising out of alleged wrongful denial of health insurance benefits.  Published Court of Appeal opinion available at 172 Cal. App. 4th 1594 (2009).
• Knight v. Zimmer Holdings, Inc.: Obtained affirmance in Court of Appeal of order granting summary judgment in action alleging bodily injuries arising from defective medical device.  

Commercial Real Estate/Unlawful Detainer

• Kompany v. Israyelyan: Obtained full reversal of unlawful detainer judgment against tenant after two-week bench trial for possession, past-due rent, damages and attorney fees.
• One Town Center v. Town Center Club & Spa: Defeated post-trial motions attacking defense verdict for commercial tenant and prevailed on motion awarding substantial attorney fees to tenant.

Publications

• Co-author of "Denial of Class Certification: Preserving to Right to Appeal," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (February 16, 2010)
• Co-author of "Just Say 'Yes'," Daily Journal, (September 29, 2009)
• Co-author of "An Unappealing Process," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (June 19, 2009)
• Co-author of "Ditching Class," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (January 30, 2009)
• Co-author of "Final Examination," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (December 8, 2008)
• Co-author of "Taking the Bad With the Good," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (November 12, 2008)
• Co-author of "An Appealing Approach to Deadline Filing," Daily Journal, (October 6, 2008)
• Co-author of "Appellate Practice, Ground Rules," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (February 15, 2008)
• "Objections to Evidence," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (November 29, 2007)
• "Strict Compliance," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (May 1, 2007)
• "Losing Summary Judgments," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (December 14, 2006)
• "The Dynamics of Appellate Oral Argument," Certworthy, (Summer 2006)
• "Notice of Entry of Judgment: Success Is in the Details," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (July 28, 2006)
• "Three Reasons for Thinking Twice Before Filing a Frivolous Appeal," Orange County Lawyer, (April 2006)
• "Jerry-Building the Road to the Future: An Evaluation of the White Commission Report on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals", Zareh Jaltorossian, Joseph Akrotirianakis & Paul Arshagouni, 36 San Diego L. Rev. 355, (1999)

Experience

Legal Education

Undergraduate Education

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

• California

Court Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals - Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court - Central District of California

Professional Affiliations

• Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers