816.627.0218Personal Profile
Jocelyn Villanueva’s practice focus is in complex commercial litigation, including accountant and professional liability, employment, ERISA denial of benefits litigation and class action defense. She manages and executes all aspects of litigation from the initial pleadings, to expert discovery and through trial and appeals. She has successfully tried cases in federal and state courts and handled regulatory/enforcement matters before government agencies and state professional boards.
KEY MATTERS
- Representative highlights include:
- Won favorable interpretation of PCAOB privilege under 15 U.S.C. § 7215(b)(5)(A) on behalf of Big Four audit firm (Bennett, et al. v. Sprint, 2012 WL 4829312);
- Denial of class certification in putative class action asserting federal and California claims against national mortgage lender;
- Defense verdict in multi-week jury trial on Title VII, Section 1981 and Minnesota claims against Fortune 100 company;
- Successful defense of individual professionals and national accounting firm before board of accountancy;
- Motions to exclude opposing expert and for summary judgment granted in Sherman Act case against automobile manufacturer; affirmed by Eighth Circuit;
- Prevailed on electronic discovery motion to compel seeking restoration, search and extraction from over 800,000 gig of ESI;
- Successful defense and dismissal of professional negligence lawsuit on tax strategies and alleged IRS “listed transactions”; and
- Obtained “no further action” determination in AICPA investigation on engagement by government contractor.
- Defense verdict in jury trial on race claims (disparate treatment and hostile environment) and retaliation claims against Fortune 100 company.