After 19 years as a top prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District, Dugdale moved to Kendall in May. "Still having trouble figuring out my phone, but otherwise pretty well settled in," he said. "I tried to pick up where I left off, and I'm involved in several confidential criminal investigations for the firm — but from the defense side."
As for his new career in civil law, Dugdale and firm colleagues represent Pabst Brewing Co. in a suit by rapper Snoop Dogg over millions of dollars in royalties allegedly owed him following the beer maker's sale for an estimated $700 million to a TSG Consumer Partners LLC joint venture. Snoop Dogg, suing under real name Calvin Broadus Jr., claims he's entitled to 10 percent of the sale price attributable to the value of the Colt 45 brand under a contract he signed in 2011 to become a brand ambassador for Pabst's Blast by Colt 45. Spanky's Clothing Inc. v. Pabst Brewing Co. LLC, BC584365 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed June 8, 2015). Trial is set for late October.
Dugdale's assignment: Depose Snoop Dogg, whose legal entanglements have been legion, including a 2007 "no contest" plea to felony drug and gun possession charges and, in 1993 during the recording of his hit debut album "Doggystyle," an arrest and subsequent acquittal on charges connected to the death of a gang member shot by a bodyguard. In that case, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. was his lawyer.
"Our defense for Pabst: We don't owe him money," Dugdale said. "The contract doesn't trigger any payment." He said that for the deposition, "The Dogg rolled in with a huge entourage of lawyers and business consultants. He has been deposed a number of times before. After several hours of questions, he complimented me as being the top attorney among the 40 or so who have had a crack at him."
Going from prosecution to defense has been liberating, Dugdale said. "You were a cog in a giant piece of machinery. Now I explore cases for my own clients. As a prosecutor, I thought it was foolish not to look at my adversaries' perspective. I had to be the fairest person in the room. Clients now are glad to have my tactical views. It's reassuring that they're hiring someone with experience at the highest levels who knows how the other side is likely to view their situation."
— John Roemer
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