Donna M. Melby

Melby, representing United Air Lines Inc., last month persuaded a federal judge to grant a rare motion to dismiss all charges against her client with prejudice, summarily ending one of 23 race discrimination cases by African American pilots and operations supervisors. Last year, Melby successfully argued that the 23 cases should be severed into individual actions after having existed for almost three years as a single case. She remains lead trial counsel in all 23 cases opposite nine law firms in four states.

Last month's dismissal came after Melby, at the hearing, outlined for U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia a series of what Melby called "egregious discovery violations" by the plaintiff. After an hour of argument, the judge saw it Melby's way. "We are pleased and gratified," Melby said.

As lead trial counsel for Sara Lee Corp., Earthgrains Inc. and Bimbo Bakeries U.S.A., Melby won six defense verdicts following a two-week arbitration in Sacramento during February 2015. Though consolidated, the arbitration involved six individual lawsuits alleging breach of contract arising out of the termination of six franchise distribution agreements. Before the arbitration session, Melby obtained dismissal of all but one of the counts by all six claimants, leaving just the breach of contract claim for the arbitrator to decide. "I'm grateful to have clients who trust me with this important matter, and I'm grateful that the hard work equals a good result," she said. A seventh dismissal in the case came last month.

Out of court, Melby is one of four California lawyers serving on the California Judicial Council. Her three-year term began last fall. And she is the only California lawyer on the national Civil Justice Initiative Committee, established by the Conference of Chief Justices to evaluate civil justice improvement efforts around the county. Melby also chairs the Lawyers Committee of the National Center for State Courts.

Busy? "It beats the alternative," Melby said.

? John Roemer