Matt Ostman

Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution in which the two parties agree not to take their dispute to court, but instead to resolve the dispute by hiring an arbitrator to hear both sides. Many consumer contracts accompany mandatory arbitration clauses, which force consumers to bring their disputes to a privatized justice system that…

This week, a Ninth Circuit three-judge panel overturned most of an Arizona district court’s dismissal of a securities fraud class action brought by two Oklahoma public pension funds against Defendants-Appellees Todd Davis (founder and CEO), Hilary Schneider (former President), and LifeLock, Inc. (“LifeLock”).  The case is Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System et al., v.…

On June 27, 2019, the Honorable Denise J. Casper, United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts, granted final approval of an $18.75 million all-cash settlement in Gerneth v. Chiasma, Inc., a class action charging Chiasma, Inc. and certain of its executives, directors, and underwriters with violations of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities…

On June 24, 2019, the Supreme Court rejected defendants’ petition for writ of certiorari to consider a securities fraud class action that sought a determination as to whether, for loss causation purposes, a plaintiff must link a company’s stock drop to a disclosure of an alleged fraud. The case is First Solar Inc. et al.…

Feeding San Diego recently promoted a fundraising campaign called Food from the Bar.  It involved local law firms joining in a friendly competition to raise money, volunteer, and help ensure that local children and families can get the nutrition they need during the summer months. Johnson Fistel is proud to be recognized as taking first…

Last summer, the California State Legislature enacted what appears to be the most comprehensive and stringent data privacy statute in the country. Known as the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, or CCPA, the new statute introduces a number of sweeping reforms that are intended to change the manner in which businesses in California collect,…

Johnson Fistel is pleased to announce that Brett M. Middleton has joined the firm in its San Diego office.  “We are very fortunate that Brett accepted our offer to join the team,” said Frank J. Johnson, one of the firm’s founding partners.  “He has nearly two decades of significant securities, corporate, and business litigation experience…

In federal securities litigation, the “Lead Plaintiff” is the person or group of persons that are appointed by the court to direct and oversee the prosecution of claims brought on behalf of a class of shareholders. The Lead Plaintiff has the power to settle and release claims of all class members, subject to court approval.…

1. Where were you born? Bakersfield, California. 2. Do you have activities or hobbies? Reading classic mystery novels (I’m a huge Agatha Christie fan) or watching BBC classic mystery shows (i.e. Poirot), running, and keeping up with my brilliant and beautiful black lab, Sailor. 3. What drew you into the legal field? My great-grandfather, grandfather,…

San Diego Magazine has once again recognized Frank J. Johnson as one of the few Top Lawyers in San Diego practicing Complex Litigation. In selecting who to include in the group of Top Lawyers in San Diego, the publication “invited Martindale-Hubbell, the company that has long set the standard for peer review ratings, to share…