Case 5:18-md-02834-BLF Document 644-2 Filed 10/30/20 Page 1 of 6
`Case 5:18-md-02834—BLF Document 644-2 Filed 10/30/20 Page 1 of 6
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`EXHIBIT 1
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`EXHIBIT 1
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`Case 5:18-md-02834-BLF Document 644-2 Filed 10/30/20 Page 2 of 6
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` Curriculum Vitae
`GERALD G. KNAPTON, ESQ.
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`pg. 1
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`Case 5:18-md-02834-BLF Document 644-2 Filed 10/30/20 Page 3 of 6
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`: 1977
`: 1978
`: 1979
`: 1981
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`Hong Kong (registered foreign lawyer*) : 2007
`Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
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`: 1978
`Northern District of California
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`: 1979
`Third Circuit Court of Appeals
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`: 1998
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`Firm Name:
`Ropers, Majeski, P.C. (f/k/a Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley apc)
`445 South Figueroa Street, 30th Floor
`Los Angeles, CA 90071
`(also Costa Mesa, Redwood City, San Francisco, San Jose, NYC, Boston, Las Vegas, Paris &
`Hong Kong* offices) *In Association with Liau, Ho & Chan
`Main tel. (213) 312-2000 or direct line: (213) 312-2016 or mobile (213) 808-2019
`Main fax (213) 312-2001 – web site www.ropers.com
`E-mail: gerald.knapton@ropers.com
`Status:
`Senior Partner (Shareholder)
`(Prior experience as general counsel and as partner and associate at L.A. law firms)
`Ratings: AV Preeminent in 2019/2020/2021 by Martindale-Hubbell and Preeminent “AV” in
`2019/2020/2021 Judicial Edition Martindale-Hubbell/Reed Elsevier/Lexis-Nexis rating
`Admissions to Practice Law:
`California (SBN 077038)
`Central District of California
`Southern District of California
`Eastern District of California
`Member:
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`California State Bar Committee on Mandatory Fee Arbitration
`(2001- 2006; Vice-Chair 2004 – 2005; Chair 2005-2006).
`American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
`(2004 - 2005; 2009 - 2012; 2017 - 2020)
`Los Angeles County Bar Association member
`(2003 to 2012)
`Los Angeles County Bar Association Professional Responsibility & Ethics Committee
`(2005 – 2008).
`Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA – Board of Directors
`(2008 – 2017)
`Council on Litigation Management
`(member 2009 – 2012).
`American Bar Association
`(member 1978 – 1983; 2009 to 2011).
`Education:
`Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island) and
`University of California, Berkeley, B.A., 1973 (With Highest Honors & Phi Beta Kappa).
`University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, J.D., 1976
`Pepperdine University School of Law – Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, 2003
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`pg. 2
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`Case 5:18-md-02834-BLF Document 644-2 Filed 10/30/20 Page 4 of 6
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`Litigation/Trial Experience:
`More than 48 cases to court, jury and arbitration panel(s).
`More than 8 Court of Appeals and Supreme Court matters.
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`Testifying expert:
`Qualified and testified as an expert more than 59 times to a jury, court or arbitrator(s) as an
`expert on the reasonableness and necessity of fees and costs.
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`Fee Dispute Matters:
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`Far over $4.5 billion dollars in nationwide legal fees, experts’ fees and costs and work product reviewed.
`Litigation management and fee matters concerning attorney's fees and related costs ranging from
`$20,000 to in excess of $800,000,000.00 in charges. Lawyer to lawyer approach backed by computer
`technology. Lectures and seminars, written and oral opinions, declarations and expert testimony on
`reasonableness of fees in hundreds of matters throughout the United States, Canada and other common
`law jurisdictions. Analysis of Cumis, fee-shifting, lodestar, agreement-based, common-fund, panel and
`retained counsel's fees. “CAFA” projections. Buss and Brandt and other allocations. Cost-control
`training, including budgets, alternative fee programs, guidelines and retainer agreements. California
`State Bar Sub-Committee member on drafting the 2005 State Bar Sample Fee Agreements. Chief
`outside auditor of legal fees for the several governmental entities. Retained by insurance companies, law
`firms, governmental entities, corporations and private individuals as fee expert, in support of and
`opposing requests for fees. Designated “binding” neutral by existing clients, an adverse prominent
`city and large insurer. Retained as mediator in fee disputes.
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`Author:
`“Finding a Path Forward to Regulate the Legal Industry” October 22, 2020 Law360; “Why not follow
`the best road?” August 21, 2020 Los Angeles & San Francisco Daily Journal; “How to Count to Thirty”
`December 9, 2019 Los Angeles Daily Journal“; “Candor to the Tribunal is now Mandatory in
`California” November 8, 2019 Los Angeles Daily Journal; “MFAA versus CAA: Jurisdictional traps for
`the unwary in arbitration” June 17, 2019 Los Angeles Daily Journal; “Unconscionable’ legal fees under
`California’s new rules” May 31, 2019 Los Angles Daily Journal. “Budgets, Performance Metrics and
`You” (ADTA Program Handout -76th Meeting, Nashville April 2017). “What Every Lawyer Should
`Know About the Latest Interpretation of California’s Cost-Shifting Settlement Statute“ (MCLE article,
`January 5, 2017) California Lawyer; “How to Prove an Attorney’s Reasonable Hourly Fee” Expert
`Advice/Practical Tips California Lawyer November 2015; “Can You Prove Your Hourly Rate to the
`Court?” Daily Journal October 19, 2015; 2 Routes to Hourly Rates for Lawyers” April 15, 2015 Law
`360; “Recovering Fees In Family Law Practice” 2015 - Volume 37 No. 1 Family Law Newsletter,
`California State Bar; “Wrangling with whether and when actual trial begins” Los Angeles Daily Journal,
`February 4, 2015; “Recovering Fees from Clients” California Lawyer, July 2014; “Catalyst theory still a
`viable route to attorney fees” Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 19, 2013. “One-way fee shifting proves
`risky” Los Angeles Daily Journal, March 21, 2013. “Welcome to the cafeteria of Jankey v. Lee” [federal
`preemption law] Los Angeles Daily Journal, December 27, 2012. “For the Love of a Family Pet,” The
`Recorder, October 19 & 22, 2012. “State high court to review fee award in disability access suit,” Los
`Angeles Daily Journal, October 17, 2012. “Warning: Some Cost Shifting May Occur” California
`Lawyer (MCLE article September 2012). “Legislative History Says No Fee-Shifting in Meal and Rest
`Break Litigation,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, May 16, 2012. “Labor Code Fee Shifting Provisions,”
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`pg. 3
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`Case 5:18-md-02834-BLF Document 644-2 Filed 10/30/20 Page 5 of 6
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`Los Angeles Daily Journal, February 17, 2012. “Fee Shifting Statutes and Self Representation” The
`Recorder November 2011. “Recoverable Attorney Fees for Public Entities” Public CEO (July 22,
`2011). “The fine art of actually collecting legal fees” National Law Journal, June 15, 2009. “Arbitration
`& Mediation”, The Recorder April 15, 2009. “Attorney’s Guide to Arbitrating and Litigating a Fee
`Dispute,” September 2008 program materials at California State Bar Annual Meeting in Monterey, CA.
`“Controlling the Costs of E-Discovery,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, August 6, 2008. October 2006
`California State Bar Meeting materials and speaker at MCLE program on California State Bar retainer
`agreements. September, 2005 California Sate Bar meeting materials for and speaker at 2 MCLE
`programs: “New State Bar Sample Written Fee Agreements” and “Overview of the Mandatory Fee
`Arbitration Process.” “Billing Guidelines Offer Base Against Which to Measure Results.” San
`Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal November 24, 2004. October 2004 California State Bar
`meeting materials for, and speaker at, 2 MCLE programs: “Getting It Right From the Beginning” and
`“Do’s and Don’ts For Collecting Attorneys Fees”. “Vroom, Vroom. Three Categories For Fee Shifting
`Means Finding The Right Gear”, The Recorder & Cal Law (Practice Center, August 18, 2004). “Ethics
`of Attorneys Fees”, California Lawyer (MCLE article July, 2004). “Attorney Liens Must Comply With
`‘Fletcher’ Requirements”, San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 29, 2004. “’Catch-All’
`Arbitration Clauses Don’t Give Parties Firm Footing”, San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal,
`June 4, 2004. “Attorney-Client Fee Conflicts” San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journals (January
`26, 2004). “Attorneys Fees Applications” MCLE, California Lawyer (January, 2004 revision). “Paper
`Cutter” (Electronic Invoicing) Daily Journal Extra (December 29, 2003). “Appealing Arbitration
`Awards”, Los Angeles Daily Journal (October 6, 2003). “Fees in Flux” MCLE Program materials for,
`and speaker at, 2003 California State Bar Meeting. “Shaping Arbitration”, Los Angeles Daily Journal
`Verdicts & Settlements (March 8, 2002). “The Catalyst Theory May Still Live”, Expert Advice,
`California Lawyer (November, 2001). “Policy Language Is Winning Against Recoupment But A New
`Battle Looms” Mealey’s Attorney Fees, Vol. 3, #11 (June, 2001). “Why Don’t Clients Pay? What You
`Need to Know to Avoid Collections Headaches” Law Practice Management Magazine (American Bar
`Association) Vol. 27, # 3 (April, 2001).” The Choice Of The Yardstick Is The Most Crucial Decision”,
`Mealey’s Attorney Fees, Vol. 3, #2 (September, 2000). “A Lawyers Bill May Be Reduced or Forfeited
`by Ethical Violations”, Expert Advice, California Lawyer (February, 2000). “How Do You Prove the
`“Lodestar” for In-house Counsel Fees?”, Mealey’s Attorney Fees, Vol. 2, #1 (August, 1999).” Attorneys
`Fees Applications”, MCLE, California Lawyer (May, 1999). “Paying the Other Side’s Legal Fees:
`Attorneys’ Fees Calculations Under Fee-Shifting Statutes.”, The Directory of Municipal Practitioners, §
`II, G. (League of California Cities, 1997).
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`Recent Speaking engagements:
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`USC/Gould School of Law, Second Annual Advanced Arbitration Institute - July 28, 2017.
`Association of Southern California Defense Counsel MCLE program on recovering fees by motion
`and the ethics of legal billing on November 3, 2016.
`Law firm pricing program to large law firm on June 17, 2015.
`Plaintiffs Securities Law Firm: In-house MCLE program “Optimal Timekeeping Procedures;
`Avoiding Objectionable Case-Related Expenses.” August 9, 2012
`Smart Business Los Angeles – July 2012 edition. “How to ensure your money is well spent with the
`right law firm during litigation.”
` ACI’s 6th Annual Forum “Reducing Legal Costs” October 20-21, 2011
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`Provisors, LLP “Effective Motions for Attorney’s Fees” July 8, 2011
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`pg. 4
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`Case 5:18-md-02834-BLF Document 644-2 Filed 10/30/20 Page 6 of 6
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` Mercury Insurance Group on Mediation for CLM February 2011
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`Sonoma Risk Insurance MCLE on Contract Litigation Insurance 2010
` How to Review Legal Bills, CLM program in Columbia, SC June 2010
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`Strafford’s Ethical Pitfalls in Client Billing & Fee Collection, July 29, 2009.
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`State Bar Annual Meeting, September, 2008 (Monterey) on arbitrating or litigating fee
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`disputes.
` Bermuda offshore carriers program May, 2008.
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`State Bar Annual Meeting, 2006 (Monterey) on retainer agreements.
` CELA Annual Conference speaker on retainer agreement, September 15, 2006
` Bridgeport MCLE program on Insurance Bad Faith August 25, 2006
` Class Action/UCL MCLE Program section on Attorney’s Fees, April, 2006
` Quisenberry Insurance Bad Faith Litigation Seminar, January, 2006
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`State Bar Annual Meeting, 2005 (San Diego) on retainer agreements and arbitration.
` Quisenberry Seminar in January, 2005 on fees and ethics.
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`State Bar Annual Meeting, 2004 (Monterey) on fees and ethics.
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`State Bar Annual Meeting, 2003 (Anaheim) on fees and ethics.
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`Employment History of Gerald G. Knapton, Esq. (CA SBN 077038):
`2002 to present.
`Ropers, Majeski, P.C. – Sr. Partner/Shareholder
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`(formerly known as Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley apc)
`1992 to 2002
`Cooper Kardaras & Kelleher LLP (formerly known as Cooper, Brown, Kardaras
`& Scharf) - Partner (& Manager of Lauditors, Inc.)
`First National Group, Inc. - General Counsel
`Northland Financial Company - Vice President
`First National Group, Inc. - General Counsel
`Schroeder, Forde & Knapton - Business/Bank Litigation Partner
`Hahn Cazier & Leff - Business Litigation Associate
`Kirtland & Packard - Tort Defense Litigation Associate
`California Attorney General and Law Offices of Kenneth L. Knapp; law clerk
`while attending and after law school.
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`1992 to 1992
`1989 to 1991
`1983 to 1989
`1982 to 1983
`1978 to 1982
`1977 to 1978
`1973 to 1977
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`Business Experience prior to law school:
`Rogers Corporation (Manufacturing Company)
`Branch Motor Express (Trucking Company)
`Adley Express (Trucking Company).
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`Others to be provided upon request.
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`End of list.
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`pg. 5
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