Steven L. Krongold

Steve is a 17-year business litigation attorney who specializes in civil fraud trials. Steve also has experience in general civil litigation, including real estate, banking, insurance, and intellectual property disputes.  Steve was formerly a partner in the Trial and Intellectual Property Groups of Arter & Hadden, LLP, where he represented Fortune 500 companies such as Computer Associates, Tatung Co., ConAgra Foods, K-Mart and Fortune Brands as well as small, entrepreneurial companies.  Steve is admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.  

Summary of Experiences

Lincoln Savings & Loan

Steve represented bond holders in the largest private securities class-action lawsuit of its time.  Steve helped recover over $200 million dollars lost by customers defrauded by Lincoln Savings & Loan, and its parent company, American Continental Corporation.  The case involved a massive accounting scandal in the late 1980’s involving fraudulent real estate deals and risky investments.  Steve helped prepare the case for trial which resulted in a $2 billion dollar judgment against Charles H. Keating, Jr. and in settlements against auditors, accountants, lawyers, and appraisers. 

Orange County Bankruptcy

Steve assisted in the defense of Robert L. Citron, the Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector, in one of the nation’s largest municipal bankruptcies.  Steve defended charges involving misappropriation of public funds and pursued indemnity claims against security brokerages and other professional advisers to the County Treasurer. 

Creditor Suits

Steve has successfully litigated a number of creditor suits against defaulting borrowers and guarantors on behalf of lending institutions.  Steve recently obtained a judgment for fraud against a borrower and was able to have the judgment enforced despite the borrower’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  Steve has also pursued actions to set aside fraudulent conveyances that were used to frustrate collection of debts.

Intellectual Property Litigation

Steve recently obtained a money judgment and injunctive relief in federal district court in California arising from the theft of trade secrets.  Steve has tried several cases involving trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and other business torts. Steve has prosecuted and defended cases involving theft of electronic data, misuse of corporate email systems, breach of “click-wrap” and e-commerce agreements, and violations of privacy rights.

Education

Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, California: J.D., 1986

University of California, Los Angeles, California: B.A., Economics, 1983 (Dean’s List)

Admissions

Supreme Court of California, 1986

U.S. District Court of California, 1987

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1998

U.S. Supreme Court, 1999

Professional Activities

American Trial Lawyers Association; Orange County Bar Association; Association of Business Trial Lawyers; Federal Bar Association; Orange County Patent Law Association, Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association, Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court; Board of Advisors, Whittier Law School