Theodore J. Boutrous Jr.

When the state of California sued General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Chrysler and Nissan for public nuisance, the world’s largest automakers turned to Theodore Boutrous for defense. He got the case dismissed, and it was only one of many recent victories for this prominent appellate attorney. For instance, representing Ford in a product liability appeal, he got a jury award reduced from $368 million to $82 million — including the state’s first-ever appellate reduction of noneconomic damages — and petitioned the California Supreme Court for further review, which the high court granted in July. Boutrous also prevailed for client Dole Food Co. in March, persuading a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to throw out a $2.5 million punitive damage award to Nicaguaran banana plantation workers. The case is on appeal.