PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Peter J. Diedrich is a partner in the Firm's Los Angeles office, practicing in the area of complex civil litigation with an emphasis on construction, as well as commercial and real estate litigation.  Mr. Diedrich also has substantial experience in cases involving director and officer liability, corporate governance and control, unfair competition, and complex contract issues.

Over the last 30 years, his practice has regularly included the litigation, arbitration, and settlement of all types of public construction and government contracting disputes.

Among the construction cases in which Mr. Diedrich has been recently involved are:

• Representing a contractor and its affiliates in the defense of approximately $32 million in claims arising out of the issuance of mechanic’s lien and stop notice release bonds related to the construction of a solar power plant in Southern California.
• Assisting in the representation of a joint venture contractor responsible for the design and construction of a $700 million bridge project.
• Assisting in representation of the FCI/Fluor/Parsons joint venture, the design-builder of the Exposition Light Rail Line in Los Angeles.Aspects of that representation included the preparation of extra work, design and delay claims for presentation before a Disputes Review Board, and preparations for a mediation which led to a successful resolution of all claims.
• Primary author of the briefs in the published appellate court decisions Blois Construction, Inc. v. FCI/Fluor/Parsons (2016) 245 Cal.App.4th 1091, (successful defense of a subcontractor’s claim for prompt payment penalties) and Flintco Pacific v. TEC Management Consultants, Inc. (2016) 1 Cal. App. 5th 727 (proposed subcontract containing material variations from bid constitutes counteroffer, allowing subcontractor to withdraw bid).

Throughout his career, companies in various industries have also turned to Mr. Diedrich for assistance on a variety of significant commercial litigation matters. Below is a sample of his experience:

• Committee for Precious Metals and Gems v. Golden ADA, Inc. (USDC, N.D. Cal.) –As part of a team, prosecuted civil RICO action on behalf of an agency of the Russian government, seeking to locate and recover $170 million in gold, diamonds and other valuables sent from Russia to San Francisco and then misappropriated. Ultimately recovered approximately $100 million.
• Aetna Fraud Cases (Orange County Superior Court, Complex Division) – Investigated, filed and prosecuted six cases on behalf of Aetna’s health plan division against approximately 37 physicians and outpatient surgery centers that were making illegal payments to patients to have unnecessary surgical procedures. This scheme was profiled on ABC’s “Prime Time” news program. In addition, he assisted both the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in assembling facts necessary to indict and prosecute approximately six criminal cases arising out of the same scheme. These cases resulted in over a dozen felony convictions and the issuance of more than $3 million in criminal restitution orders.
• Mosakowski-Lindsey Associates v. Dynasty Plaza Holding, LLC (L.A. Superior Court) – Defended shopping center developer against breach of contract and mechanic’s lien claims brought by project’s former architect. Succeeded in having $2.8 million mechanic’s lien expunged by motion.
• Downey Regional Medical Center v. Blue Shield of California (L.A. Superior Court) – Defended Blue Shield against claims of unfair competition in connection with the development of a “Medicare Plus Choice” product.
• Brea Community Hospital v. Blue Shield of California (L.A. Superior Court) – Defended Blue Shield against various claims of improper reimbursement brought by financially troubled hospital.
• Rhode v. Federal Cartridge Co. (L.A. Superior Court) – As part of a team, represented Olympic gold medalist in action for unauthorized use of name and likeness in advertising campaign.
• J.D. Uni-Tec v. A.S. Naidu, et al. (L.A. Superior Court) – With co-counsel, defended manufacturer of nutritional supplements against claims for sales commission predicated upon alleged oral contract. Mock jury rated his performance as 3:45 on a scale of 5, which the jury consultant described as “exceptional and rare."

While attending law school, Mr. Diedrich was a staff member and editor of the journal Law and Policy in International Business.