Melina focuses her practice on defending companies in class actions and product liability litigation. She represents manufacturers of a wide variety of products, including automotives, medical devices, personal care products, consumer goods and chemicals. Melina also represents clients facing complex commercial litigation issues and high-stakes business disputes in financial services, insurance, commercial real estate and other industries. In addition, Melina has partnered with clients to defend against labeling and advertising claims and claims under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Prop 65). Her experience spans all stages of litigation, from initial filing, through discovery and motion practice, to trial and appeal. Melina is an experienced litigator with second chair trial experience, and has successfully represented clients in jury trials, bench trials and at arbitration.
Melina maintains an active pro bono practice, which includes civil rights cases, assisting families with adoptions, and work on behalf of veterans. Melina has also served as a supervising attorney for Shook’s summer associate program and mentors junior associates.
Melina is a graduate of the UCLA School of Law, where she served as an associate editor for the UCLA Law Review, a staff editor for the UCLA Women’s Law Journal, and as a writing advisor for first year law students. While in law school, she clerked for the Contra Costa County District Attorney and the Los Angeles County District Attorney, where she worked on matters related to consumer protection and environmental regulation compliance.
Representative Matters
Represented a major retailer and a maker of cleaning products as trial counsel in personal injury lawsuit in which plaintiff sought $43 million in damages. Full defense verdict; no damages paid.
Represented a leading automotive manufacturer as trial counsel in high-exposure product liability action through a jury trial, resulting in a full defense verdict.
Represented a leading insurance provider as trial counsel, prosecuting a breach of contract claim, in a bench trial that resulted in a full verdict.
Represented a leading commercial real estate broker in a dispute with a former client that claimed breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. The matter was partially resolved via a successful motion to dismiss, and ultimately resolved on favorable terms.
Represented a multinational toll provider in defeating disclosure of confidential trade secret information under the California Public Records Acts sought by its competitors.
Represented a leading automotive manufacturer in a consumer class action alleging breach of warranty, breach of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, violation of the California Unfair Competition Act, violation of the California False Advertising Law, and violation of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act. The action was successfully dismissed via dispositive motions.
Publications
Melina Manetti, Editor, Ch. 15, Restrictions on Recovery, California Tort Damages, 2nd Edition, Cal CEB, 2023 (with Rodrigo Salas).
Melina Manetti, Editor, Ch. 15, Restrictions on Recovery, California Tort Damages, 2nd Edition, Cal CEB, 2022 (with Rodrigo Salas).
Food & Beverage Class Actions, “A Practitioner’s Guide to Class Actions, Third Edition,” American Bar Association, November 2021 (with James Muehlberger, Amir Nassihi and Kevin Underhill).
Presentations
Moderator, Inside View: Legal and Ethical Considerations for Corporate Counsel, American Bar Association Motor Vehicle Product Liability Conference, April 2023.
Speaker, California MCLE Competence Issues, Webinar, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, November 2020.