Quyen L. Ta

Quyen L. Ta has a full litigation docket as a trial and global disputes partner at King & Spalding LLP--including a pro bono matter that has roots in her deep involvement with the Asian community and her firm's membership in the Alliance for Asian American Justice.

She's an immigrant herself who was two years old when she arrived with her parents from Vietnam. Along with clients like Varian Medical Systems, SetSail Technology Inc., the city of Santa Ana and Flowers Foods Inc., Ta represents a Vietnamese American man who was attacked on the streets of San Francisco.

"We represent our corporate clients, but it's also important to put our legal education to work for the community's good," Ta said. The need for organizations such as the Alliance for Asian American Justice hasn't gone away and the need for pro bono work is sadly still there."

In the case of 69-year-old Anh Le, Ta is suing the San Francisco district attorney's office for failing to inform Le of a plea deal with the defendants involved in his attack, for not giving him the opportunity to provide a victim impact statement in violation of the California Victims' Bill of Rights Act, Marsy's Law. Le v. Boudin, 3:22-cv-00477 (N.D. Cal., filed Jan. 24, 2022).

"We are in mediation," Ta said. "This case has raised important issues and both sides feel very strongly about helping Asian American victims of crime."

In a case for client Varian Medical Systems Inc., which develops cancer diagnostic equipment, Ta took to binding arbitration a dispute with a software vendor on claims the vendor alleged were worth more than $22 million. Following a one-week hearing involving over 10 witnesses and four experts, the panel awarded the vendor $39,000 and Varian more than $700,000 in costs.

The case would have remained private, but the vendor petitioned in federal court to vacate the award. "A lot of litigants would rather stay private, but if you challenge an award, there's going to be publicity," Ta said. A hearing is set for May. Equicare Health Inc. v. Varian Medical Systems Inc., 5:21-mc- 80183 (N.D. Cal., filed Aug. 5, 2021).

Ta represents the city of Santa Ana as lead counsel in a suit alleging that Orange County breached a settlement agreement by transporting homeless individuals into Santa Ana and failing to do its fair share to provide homeless services. City of Santa Ana v. County of Orange, 8:20-cv-00069 (C.D. Cal., filed Jan. 13, 2020).

"We have settled," Ta said. "Lawsuits aren't always the perfect means to deal with public disputes like this, but we have a wonderful judge, David Carter, and a wonderful special master, James Smith, and we think we'll end up with more services for the homeless."

- John Roemer