James E. Curry

James E. Curry is a partner in the Entertainment, Media and Technology Practice Group in the firm's Century City office.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Curry has represented companies in commercial trial litigation for 25 years, with an emphasis in the entertainment area.  He has represented three of the four U.S. Broadcast television networks, and five of the seven major studios, in addition to a myriad of other entertainment companies.  In the television area, he has substantial experience in television distribution and accounting cases, as well as copyright, idea submission, libel and slander for television news and other cases. This year, he has successfully defeated a $ 77 Million accounting claim in a television distribution case.

Education

• J.D., University of Chicago, 1984
• B.A., Stanford University, 1981

Admissions

• California

Representative Experience

Won a summary judgment for a major motion picture and television studio against claims for syndication (off-network) profits from a prime time television series.

Recently won a trial against a wrongful termination claim brought by the former top executive of a national radio network.

In 2005, won a multi-million dollar settlement on behalf of a national TV network, in a breach of contract lawsuit against one of Hollywood's most prolific distributors of TV properties, based on the distribution of a highly successful TV series.

Won a 1999 suit against Hyundai for breach of a video distribution agreement, resulting in a judgment for his client Saban Entertainment of $ 8 Million.

Won a summary judgment for 20th Century Fox, MTM Enterprises, Saban Entertainment and International Family Entertainment against claims for a share of the profits from the television series Evening Shade. 

Mr. Curry also has substantial experience in representing government related clients such as the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles MTA, Lynwood, Redondo Beach, South Gate, West Covina,  Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, San Bernardino, the Independent Cities Association, the Independent Cities Risk Management Association, and the Big Independent Cities Excess Pool Joint Powers Authority.  Jim Curry has substantial experience in construction defect and inverse condemnation litigation, and recently was trial counsel for the Los Angeles MTA for 30 actions brought by landowners along the Wilshire Corridor for damage allegedly caused by the subway construction.

In a trial regarding the Wilshire Boulevard subway construction project, won all contested claims, where the actual damages sought were $25 million in economic and business losses.

Recently obtained dismissal for six individual defendants (officials of the City of South Gate) in a federal case against the City brought by several police officers.

Won an arbitration on behalf of the MTA against the owner of the Wiltern Theater and Office Building for inverse condemnation, nuisance and related torts, arising from the subway construction.  In a hybrid mediation/arbitration, the parties agreed to arbitrate several of the claims.  After a 5 month trial, the arbitrator awarded a relatively small judgment which was 25% of the last settlement offer by the MTA.

Forced dismissal of an action brought against the City of Lynwood for damages arising out of billboard construction.

Represented the Kilroy Realty Company against Hughes Aircraft over damage to an office building located near LAX.

Mr. Curry has also represented several large Homeowners’ associations in construction defect actions against developers.

Honors

• The Best Lawyers in America, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
• Southern California Super Lawyers, 2009, 2010
• Power Lawyer, Hollywood Reporter, 2009

Memberships

• Los Angeles County Bar Association
• American Bar Association

Articles

• Sheppard Mullin Gains Two Veteran Entertainment Lawyers, Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 7, 2008