Overview
Ed Duckers is the head of Stoel Rives’ Litigation Practice in California. He is a past member of the firm’s Executive Committee and a past chair of its Food and Agribusiness Industry Team. Ed’s practice encompasses the full range of complex commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on antitrust and competition matters, including class actions and distribution and franchising disputes. Ed has represented clients in the oil and gas industry in matters of price fixing, price discrimination and monopolization claims, royalty litigation, antitrust claims related to natural gas transportation and processing, products liability, gasoline marketing and distribution disputes, and consumer class action challenges to business conduct. In addition, he represents clients in the timber, cotton, coal, nutritional supplement, and pharmaceutical industries in matters involving federal and state antitrust and unfair competition claims. Significant recent matters outside of the competition area include a complex, multi-defendant real estate development litigation involving claims under the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act and The Trump Organization, and a significant MDL for a major agribusiness company involving multiple class actions alleging negligence and other torts arising out of the alleged release of genetically modified crops.
Education
Georgetown University, J.D., 1985; Georgetown Law Journal; Winner, Beaudry Cup Moot Court Competition
University of Kansas, B.S., 1981
Admissions
California
District of Columbia
United States Courts of Appeals for the First, Third and Fifth Circuits
Experience
- Secured a complete bench trial defense verdict with an award of attorney fees on behalf of Franklin Electric and Franklin Fueling in actions for civil penalties brought by the California Attorney General on behalf of the Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
- Representation of sales and marketing company in claims brought by approximately 200 plaintiffs against our clients, the developer, and the Trump Organization and family arising out of the failed Trump Ocean Resort Baja condo-hotel project.
- Secured a jury verdict of willful infringement as lead trial counsel for the plaintiff under the Lanham Act.
- Secured a defense-favorable verdict as lead trial counsel for a major resort operator in a combined jury/bench trial on claims brought by the operator of a major ski resort.
- Lead counsel in the jury trial of a multi-defendant antitrust case alleging restraint of trade and monopolization of natural gas gathering and processing markets in east Texas.
- Trial counsel in a 2 ½-month jury trial of a case alleging the existence of a nationwide market allocation conspiracy among the major oil companies.
- Representation of a major paper company in a class action alleging a horizontal and vertical conspiracy to fix timber prices.
- Obtained summary judgment in a case alleging vertical restraint of trade and price discrimination in industrial lubricants.
- Obtained summary judgment in a case alleging restraint of trade against management of a general aviation airport.
- Won a directed verdict as lead trial counsel in a two-month jury trial of a case brought by two groups of Quick-Lube franchises, alleging an unlawful tying arrangement and violation of state franchising laws.
- Won a complete defense verdict as lead trial counsel in a jury trial of a suit alleging price discrimination, restraint of trade, and violation of various California competition statutes in Santa Barbara, California.
- Lead trial counsel in the bench trial of class action claiming underpayment of royalty on natural gas production.
- Won successful appeal of an adverse jury verdict finding monopolization in the market for recycled polystyrene resin.
Insights
Insights & Presentations
- Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, Neutral Ground program