Attorneys
Joseph A. Escarez
Senior Counsel
Overview
Joseph A. Escarez is Senior Counsel in CMBG³ Law’s California office and a member of the firm’s Product Liability Practice Group. He defends manufacturers, distributors, property owners, and other businesses in toxic exposure, products liability, and other complex litigation.
Mr. Escarez brings to this practice an extensive background in general commercial litigation and consumer financial services. He has represented clients in both class and individual actions across a range of industries, including banking and finance, securities, retail, hospitality, transportation, sports and entertainment, education, and healthcare. His experience spans contract disputes, civil and business torts, partnership and shareholder disputes, insurance coverage, consumer fraud, unfair business practices, civil rights, publicity and defamation, trade secret misappropriation, copyright infringement, and employment matters.
That breadth gives Mr. Escarez a practical perspective on the commercial, regulatory, and reputational stakes that accompany product and exposure claims. In addition to handling active litigation, he advises clients on legal and regulatory developments to help them manage compliance and risk.
Accreditations
Admissions
- California, 2009
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Education
- 2009: University of California, Davis School of Law, Juris Doctor
- 2004: California State University, Los Angeles, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Finance, Magna Cum Laude
Representative Cases
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Won summary judgment in a nationwide class action alleging that unsolicited text messages sent by a company operating a worldwide online payment system violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
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Defeated, on summary judgment, class claims brought by ERISA benefit plan participants alleging that the plan’s failure to pay medical benefits and the plan trustees’ related conduct violated 29 U.S.C. §§ 1132(a)(1)(B) and (a)(2).
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Established on partial summary judgment that successor liability did not apply to a credit card portfolio acquired by a national bank.
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Prevailed on summary judgment for a prominent nonprofit research organization seeking a property tax refund under the public welfare exemption, leading to a settlement that entitled the organization to the exemption going forward.
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Resolved multidistrict litigation alleging that a national bank’s promotional credit card loan offers breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
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Achieved a favorable settlement of multiple nationwide class actions alleging that an underwriter made material misrepresentations in offering documents for a U.S.-listed Chinese company in violation of the Securities Act
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Negotiated a favorable nationwide class settlement of claims involving a national bank’s promotional credit card balance transfer offers, which alleged breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and violations of the Truth in Lending Act and state unfair and deceptive acts and practices statutes.
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Obtained dismissal and/or favorably settled numerous individual and class actions against national banks, credit card companies, and other consumer lenders alleging violations of the TCPA, FDCPA, FCRA, and California’s Rosenthal Act.
