Megan represents business clients in pursuing and defending complex commercial cases and in defending consumer class actions. She has litigated and counseled clients regarding diverse issues including unfair business practices, false advertising, fraud, contract disputes, regulatory matters, franchise issues, and disability access. She has represented clients in a wide range of industries including food, restaurant, dairy, retail, technology, franchising, steel trading, and financial. Megan also defends public sector clients in civil rights matters, which have included significant class actions against State agencies such as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
For clients seeking to resolve their disputes short of full-blown litigation, Megan is also well-versed in alternative dispute resolution tools. She is a trained mediator, holding 40-hour certifications from the Bar Association of San Francisco and San Francisco Community Boards, and she is a volunteer arbitrator for the Bar Association of San Francisco's attorney client fee dispute program.
Megan is also dedicated to providing pro bono legal services to the Bay Area community, including representation in asylum, domestic violence, and unlawful detainer actions. She has a special affinity for asylum cases involving women’s rights, and she has successfully obtained asylum for women fleeing persecution in Kenya, Yemen, and Guatemala.
Prior to moving to San Francisco in 2007, Megan practiced with the law firm of Much Shelist in Chicago, Illinois.
Representative Work
Defeated class certification in a Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) case alleging violation of the credit and debit card “truncation” requirement, in which potential statutory damages to public agency client were $40 million.
Defeated a $4.6 million claim in arbitration for breach of contract and obtained an award for damages on behalf of renowned international sporting event company against head licensee merchandising company.
Obtained decertification of a Rule 23(b)(3) damages class in a federal food labeling class action alleging unfair business practices, false advertising, and violations of California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
Defeated class certification in an unfair business practices and false advertising case brought against a national retailer.
Obtained favorable settlement for former business owner seeking payment of over $500,000 under a stock purchase agreement.
Obtained a voluntary dismissal with prejudice of a federal Section 1983 putative class action filed against the State of California challenging the constitutionality of California’s adult parole revocation processes.
Valdivia v. Brown and L.H. v. Brown. Represented the State of California in this class action against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and related entities, successfully arguing for decertification and termination of this nineteen-year-old class action that challenged the constitutionality of California’s adult parole revocation processes. Assisted in successfully terminating the L.H. case, a seven-year-old institutional class action case against the State of California and the Division of Juvenile Justice which challenged the parole revocation processes for juvenile offenders in California.
Darensburg v. Metropolitan Transportation Commission, 636 F.3d 511 (9th Cir. 2011). Represented the Metropolitan Transportation Commission through victory at trial and appeal in this precedent-setting class action involving Title VI claims that a regional transportation planning agency discriminated against minority bus riders in its distribution of transit funds.
Publications
"Reducing the Risk of an AwDA Lawsuit," co-author, Journal of the California Dental Association (September 2013)
"Ashcroft v. Iqbal: Giving Teeth To The Federal Pleading Standard," The Marin Lawyer (August 2009)
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Presentations
"Is Federal Court the Right Court," National Business Institute, Representing Your Client in Federal Court Seminar (November 2014)
"Thorough Discovery," National Business Institute, Representing Your Client in Federal Court Seminar (November 2014)
"Business Law Basics," U.S. Small Business Administration (June 2012)
"Designing a Business/Career Plan," Bar Association of San Francisco (June 2012)
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Honors
Pro Bono Attorney Honor Roll, Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (2012)