Franchise Litigation   Entertainment Litigation   Products Liability Litigation   General Business Litigation		Email: psmoot@rsjr.com   Tel: 310.203.0935   Fax: 310.556.8921

Pete Smoot has practiced as a civil commercial litigator for more than 25 years. He has tried numerous jury trials to verdict involving complex commercial litigation. Pete was also an early proponent of alternative dispute resolution, which he has used often, and effectively to advance the interest of his clients. In addition, Pete has experience as an appellant lawyer. He has handled complex civil commercial appeals to the California state and federal appellate courts. Pete has extensively counseled clients on issues such as copyright, trademark, truth in advertising, and other commercial aspects related to his practice.

Pete's practice has emphasized the defense of major corporations such as Eaton Corporation and Dollar Rent A Car. His matters have included complicated franchisor - franchisee disputes, corporate buy-out disputes, libel and slander defense, wrongful termination and employment discrimination defense, complex products liability defense, copyright infringement, motion picture profit participation litigation, real estate and construction disputes, and cable television litigation.

Admitted:

• California, 1971
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1976

Education:

• University of Southern California Law Center, Los Angeles, CA, 1970 J.D.
  Honors: Order of the Coif
• Law Review: Topics and Projects Editor, Southern California Law Review, 1969 - 1970
• University of California, Berkeley, California, 1967 B.A.

Affiliations:

• Los Angeles County Bar Association
  Member
• State Bar of California
  Member

Published Works:

• Comment, "Never Trust a Bureaucrat: Estoppel Against the Government", 42 Southern California Law Review 391, 1969
• Consultant, CEB, California Civil Procedure During Trial, 1952
• "Review by California Supreme Court" CEB (Co-Author), California Civil Appellate Practice, 2nd Edition, 1985

Classes/Seminars Taught:

• First Amendment Implications of Cable Television, American Cable Publishers Institute

Past Positions:

• California Civil Procedure During Trial, Consultant, 1982