Melina is a litigator who defends companies in a variety of industries in class action and product liability litigation. Her experience spans all stages of litigation, from initial fact investigation and drafting pleadings, through discovery and motion practice, to trial. Melina’s practice also includes business and commercial litigation, including the prosecution and defense of breach of contract, unfair competition and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Melina also counsels clients in areas of litigation avoidance, risk assessment and potential liability exposure.
As a member of multiple trial teams, Melina has substantial experience preparing trial strategy plans, opening statements, closing arguments, direct-examinations, cross-examinations and deposition designations. Melina has successfully represented clients in both jury trials and bench trials in California state courts.
Melina is also committed to her pro bono practice, which includes representing veterans regarding military discharge classifications, and assisting families with adoptions. Melina has also served as a supervising attorney for Shook’s summer associate program and mentors junior associates.
Melina is a graduate of the UCLA School of Law, where she served as an associate editor for the UCLA Law Review and as a staff editor for the UCLA Women’s Law Journal. While in law school, she clerked for the Contra Costa County District Attorney and the Los Angeles County District Attorney, where she worked on matters related to consumer protection and environmental regulation compliance.
Representative Matters
Represented a major retailer and a maker of cleaning products as trial counsel in personal injury lawsuit in which plaintiff sought $43 million in damages. Full defense verdict; no damages paid.
Represented a leading automotive manufacturer as trial counsel in high-exposure product liability action through a jury trial, resulting in a full defense verdict.
Represented a leading insurance provider as trial counsel, prosecuting a breach of contract claim, in a bench trial that resulted in a full verdict.
Represented a leading commercial real estate broker in a dispute with a former client that claimed breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. The matter was partially resolved via a successful motion to dismiss, and ultimately resolved on favorable terms.
Represented a multinational toll provider in defeating disclosure of confidential trade secret information under the California Public Records Acts sought by its competitors.
Represented a leading automotive manufacturer in a consumer class action alleging breach of warranty, breach of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, violation of the California Unfair Competition Act, violation of the California False Advertising Law, and violation of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act. The action was successfully dismissed via dispositive motions.
Publications
Melina Manetti, Editor, Ch. 15, Restrictions on Recovery, California Tort Damages, 2nd Edition, Cal CEB, 2023 (with Rodrigo Salas).
Melina Manetti, Editor, Ch. 15, Restrictions on Recovery, California Tort Damages, 2nd Edition, Cal CEB, 2022 (with Rodrigo Salas).
Food & Beverage Class Actions, “A Practitioner’s Guide to Class Actions, Third Edition,” American Bar Association, November 2021 (with James Muehlberger, Amir Nassihi and Kevin Underhill).
Presentations
Moderator, Inside View: Legal and Ethical Considerations for Corporate Counsel, American Bar Association Motor Vehicle Product Liability Conference, April 2023.
Speaker, California MCLE Competence Issues, Webinar, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, November 2020.