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Michael Shortnacy focuses his practice on defense of high stakes consumer class actions and regulatory enforcement actions relating to consumer protection statutes. He litigates before state and federal courts in matters involving claims of unfair competition, false and deceptive advertising and other violations of consumer protection laws.
Michael has significant experience counseling clients in all aspects of electronic discovery in complex and crisis litigation, and in civil and criminal investigations, and regulatory proceedings. Michael also advises clients on information governance and records management and retention, and compliance with state and federal discovery obligations, before, during and after litigation. Michael regularly designs cost effective and proportional electronic discovery strategies and protocols for clients in the automotive industry. A seasoned litigator, Michael has frequently and successfully argued defensibility of process to courts and special discovery masters, protecting client data and avoiding costs.
Michael also has experience in white collar criminal defense matters. He has represented corporate clients, special committees and boards of directors in internal investigations, as well as defended entities and individuals in federal and state grand jury investigations and proceedings related to securities and other fraud allegations. Michael advises clients across a variety of industries, including automobile and retail product manufacturers, software solutions providers and financial services companies.
J.D., American University, Washington College of Law, cum laude
B.A., University of Southern California, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
California
District of Columbia
New York
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Intern, Reggie B. Walton, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Litigation Section Executive Committee
Member, American Bar Association, Consumer Protection Committee
Member, The Sedona Conference Working Group 1
September 8, 2023
LMG Life Sciences Honors King & Spalding as its Government Investigations Firm of the Year and Non-IP Impact Case of Year – United States
June 8, 2023
King & Spalding Earns Top-Tier Rankings in Legal 500 United States 2023 Guide
Led discovery strategy for American Honda in the Takata Airbags multidistrict litigation, related regulatory and Congressional inquiries, and parallel state consumer class actions.
Successfully obtained dismissal, with prejudice, of putative nationwide class action in New Jersey federal court, alleging the sale of certain vehicles equipped with high intensity discharge headlights violated New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act. Successfully handled appeal of the District Court's order in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed the dismissal.
Secured denial of class certification and motion for summary judgment in a consumer class action where plaintiffs alleged Toyota failed to disclose a defect in the anti-lock brake system of Toyota hybrid vehicles in violation of consumer protection and warranty statutes.
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October 28, 2020
California federal court grants summary judgment to auto manufacturer after striking plaintiffs’ damages expert due to faulty ‘conjoint analysis’
September 8, 2023
LMG Life Sciences Honors King & Spalding as its Government Investigations Firm of the Year and Non-IP Impact Case of Year – United States
June 8, 2023
King & Spalding Earns Top-Tier Rankings in Legal 500 United States 2023 Guide
Led discovery strategy for American Honda in the Takata Airbags multidistrict litigation, related regulatory and Congressional inquiries, and parallel state consumer class actions.
Successfully obtained dismissal, with prejudice, of putative nationwide class action in New Jersey federal court, alleging the sale of certain vehicles equipped with high intensity discharge headlights violated New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act. Successfully handled appeal of the District Court's order in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed the dismissal.
Secured denial of class certification and motion for summary judgment in a consumer class action where plaintiffs alleged Toyota failed to disclose a defect in the anti-lock brake system of Toyota hybrid vehicles in violation of consumer protection and warranty statutes.
See more
October 28, 2020
California federal court grants summary judgment to auto manufacturer after striking plaintiffs’ damages expert due to faulty ‘conjoint analysis’
September 8, 2023
LMG Life Sciences Honors King & Spalding as its Government Investigations Firm of the Year and Non-IP Impact Case of Year – United States
June 8, 2023
King & Spalding Earns Top-Tier Rankings in Legal 500 United States 2023 Guide
J.D., American University, Washington College of Law, cum laude
B.A., University of Southern California, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
California
District of Columbia
New York
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Intern, Reggie B. Walton, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Los Angeles County Bar Association, Litigation Section Executive Committee
Member, American Bar Association, Consumer Protection Committee
Member, The Sedona Conference Working Group 1