Ariel A. Neuman

Los Angeles

Litigation

Ariel A. Neuman is a trial lawyer who practices white-collar criminal defense and investigations. He joined Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks, Lincenberg & Rhow, P.C. in 2014 after working as an assistant U.S. attorney in the major frauds section and the violent/organized crime section at the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles.

Neuman said he likes the hard cases, and he doesn't shy away from describing unsuccessful outcomes, such as his defense of Dae Yong (David) Lee, who was convicted of bribing Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar as part of a prominent public corruption investigation. Lee got six years in prison and a $750,000 fine -- less than the government requested, but more than Neuman sought. U.S. v. Jose Huizar et al., 2:20-cr-00326 (C.D. Cal., filed July 30, 2020).

"In this business, the government gets to choose their case," Neuman said. "That's why it's interesting and challenging. On this side, a lot goes into the strategy and preparation to fight the government's unlimited resources. My client was the only individual who went to trial -- everybody else pled guilty."

Neuman's practice has grown to include civil matters. In an early example, his clients, the neighbors of a controversial hillside home, won more than $3 million in fees and costs on top of a multimillion-dollar jury award against celebrity developer Mohamed Hadid, plus the demolition of the mega-mansion at issue. Bedrosian et al. v. Hadid et al., SC129388 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed June 7, 2018).

He currently represents Tesla Motors, Inc. in defense of claims by the state Department of Motor Vehicle over allegedly deceptive advertising regarding Tesla's autopilot and full self-driving features. In the Matter of the Accusation Against Tesla, Inc., 21-02188 (DMV, filed July 28, 2022).

For the Los Angeles Angels, Neuman represents the team on all matters regarding the 2019 fatal drug overdose of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. He defeated federal prosecutors' efforts to obtain his internal investigation of the matter; now, he's directing the team's defense of wrongful death suits by the Skaggs family. Neuman recently won four consecutive demurrers in the litigation. Skaggs v. Angels Baseball LP et al., 21STCV24121 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed June 29, 2021).

"All of this is extremely interesting to me," Neuman said. "Of course, as a defense lawyer, the best representations are the ones no one hears a thing about."

--John Roemer