Anthony Michael Glassman

Senior Counsel

Summary

Anthony Michael Glassman focuses his practice in the areas of First Amendment rights, media law, product disparagement, publicity and privacy rights, crisis management, and white-collar criminal defense.

He has tried over 100 civil and criminal trials to jury verdict, and has handled numerous appellate matters before the California Supreme Court and federal appellate courts for the Ninth Circuit en banc, the Fifth Circuit, and the Tenth Circuit. Anthony is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. 

Trial Achievements

Anthony's early career as a government prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s office in Los Angeles set the foundation for his private practice emphasis in prosecuting high-profile lawsuits against media defendants and others. Highlights of Anthony's achievements as a plaintiff's lawyer include the following:

  • Obtained nearly $10 million in jury verdicts against The New York Times on behalf of the then-largest shareholder of Santa Barbara Savings and Loan.

  • Settled a matter on behalf of Al Shugart, founder of Seagate Technology, for $500,000 and a public apology from the Consumer Attorneys of California.

  • Obtained a major Ninth Circuit decision in favor of Reverend Frederick K.C. Price, founder of the Crenshaw Christian Center, in a defamation action against ABC News and its reporter. (Price v. Stossel(9th Cir. 2010) 620 F.3d 992).

  • Served as trial co-counsel representing Los Angeles real estate investor Brad Cohen, and helped obtain a $38 million jury award against a former tenant who defamed Cohen online. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the verdict. (Bradley Cohen v. Ross Hansen, No. 16-15943 (9th Cir. 2019)).


Disparagement, Name Misappropriation, and Other Claims

Anthony scored a major product disparagement victory for pharmaceutical giant Allergan; he was able to have the book "Dying To Be Young: From Botox To Botulism" recalled. The book was removed from bookstores and then edited to delete any critical reference to Botox.

In the area of name, likeness, and performance misappropriation, Anthony won a claim for Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes against Sandals Resorts in connection with its misappropriation of their Academy Award winning performance of "The Time Of My Life" from the film "Dirty Dancing."

Anthony also has defended media and high-profile media personalities such as Hugh Hefner against defamation claims in select circumstances.

Throughout his career, Anthony has received recognition for professional excellence by Southern California Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell and “The Best Lawyers in America.” Anthony earned his J.D. at UC Berkeley School of Law, and as an undergraduate at University of Southern California, he played in the College World Series.

Representative Cases

  • Allergan v. Nightengale Press
    Represented pharmaceutical giant Allergan, makers of Botox, in a defamation, product disparagement claim in connection with the book Dying to be Young – From Botox to Botulism. Defendant agreed to cease publication of the book, substitute a new title deleting reference to “Botox” and edited out all references to Botox.

  • Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes v. Sandals Resorts International, Ltd.
    Successfully represented Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes in connection with claim that Sandals Resorts (operators of 10 Caribbean luxury hotels) misappropriated Medley and Warnes Academy Award and Grammy winning performance of (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life featured in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing for use in a nationally broadcast television commercial for the Sandals Resorts. The case settled after the trial court granted plaintiffs’ motion for pre-trial disclosure of Sandals’ net worth information based on the court’s finding that plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their claim and to recover punitive damages.

Publications

Author: “Judges oppose federal anti-SLAPP,” Los Angeles Daily Journal; June 11, 2013

Author: “Calif. High Court Ruling: Good News for Defamation Plaintiff,” The Recorder; June 3, 2019