James Howard

The team of Jeff Coopersmith, Jim Howard, and David Maas was able to negotiate a very favorable resolution to a wide-ranging investigation by the Washington attorney general into Uber’s text-messaging practices. Over more than a year, the team responded to a variety of discovery requests tied to shifting liability theories under the state Consumer Protection Act, the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and the state Commercial Electronic Mail Act. The maximum $2,000 per-text-message penalty pushed potential exposure for Uber into the range of tens of millions of dollars. But the AG ultimately accepted an assurance of discontinuance in which Uber pledged to maintain practices it already had in place and pay $40,000 toward the cost of the investigation.

Defended PND Engineers Inc. against negligent design claims brought by the Municipality of Anchorage over a large port improvement project, seeking over $100 million in damages from PND. Successfully obtained a settlement in favor of PND for less than one percent of the claimed damages. (D. Alaska 2013-2017)

Representing VHT in a copyright infringement suit for the unauthorized copying of thousands of photographic images owned by VHT on Zillow’s Digs home-design website and on properties not actively listed for sale on Zillow’s central listing website. Obtained favorable jury verdict after seven day trial; partially reversed on appeal and on remand. (W.D. Wash. 2017, 9th Circ. Ongoing)

Represented Trailboss in relation to claims arising out of a government contract in Texas. (2016)

Represented association of office unit owners in an arbitration to resolve cost sharing related to repair and renovation of building common areas. (2016)