Davida P. Brook

Brook has a track record of playing significant roles in cases against high-profile film and music moguls.

The Susman Godfrey associate is helping represent Melanie Kohler, who was sued for defamation by well-known director and producer Brett Ratner after accusing him of raping her years ago. Ratner v. Kohler, CV-00542, (D. Haw., filed Nov. 1, 2017).

Brook said lawyers are part of the institutions and structures that have supported bad actors in creating a culture women have spoken out against as part of the ongoing #MeToo movement.

“I figured I could either use my position on the inside to help further entrench a deeply troubling status quo, or demand change on behalf of people like Melanie, who has already taken the truly courageous step of coming forward with her story,” Brook wrote in an email. “I chose the latter.”

Ratner, known in part for directing the “Rush Hour” movies, defeated a Kohler motion to dismiss earlier this year.

But Brook and co-counsel from Kaplan & Company LLP were able to secure a February ruling that California’s anti-SLAPP law is applicable even though the federal case was filed in Hawaii. Kohler, of Hawaii, has a pending motion to dismiss the suit via the anti-SLAPP statute.

Brook is also part of a team representing Steven Lamar in a dispute involving millions in royalty payments allegedly owed by Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Beats Electronics LLC for headphones sales. Hinrichs & Associates et al. v. Beats Electronics LLC et al., BC533089 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Jan. 13, 2014).

Brook succeeded in getting a 2nd District Court of Appeal panel to reverse a grant of summary judgment in favor of the defendants and remand the case for trial. The superior court trial got underway this month, and Brook conducted the direct examination of Lamar.

“After all this time, I was truly honored to be the person who got to stand in court opposite him as he finally had the opportunity to tell a jury of his peers his story,” she said. “It was a great day.”

— Lyle Moran