Stephen Farkas

Stephen Farkas

Senior Trial Attorney
Location:
Santa Ana, California
Phone:
714-241-4444
888-284-0809 (Toll Free)
Fax:
714-241-4445
Email:
Stephen Farkas is an experienced trial attorney who has tried cases before judges and juries in both state and federal court. Stephen has represented clients in a broad range of matters, including commercial disputes, trade secrets, covenants not to compete, unfair competition, defamation, trade libel, digital privacy, breach of fiduciary duties, breach of contract, product liability and anti-SLAPP law. He has represented multi-national clients and litigated cases in various high-risk jurisdictions throughout the country, including Connecticut, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and New York.
 
Stephen also has extensive experience in all forms of alternative dispute resolution and has achieved successful results for clients in arbitrations and mediations.  Some of Stephen’s most recent results include the following:
  
• Recovered over $750,000 for a medical device manufacturer through a breach of contract action.
• Obtained over $800,000 in restitution for client in Connecticut District Court under Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
• Won a six figure verdict for a group of small business owners after a 3-day bench trial.
• Obtained summary judgment for defendant on all claims in a case alleging fraudulent transfer of business assets valued in excess of $3,000,000.
• Successfully prosecuted claims on behalf of minority shareholders in corporate disputes, including obtaining an accounting on behalf of minority shareholders of a medical corporation.
• Negotiated resolution of all claims with the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of an individual who had been accused of false advertising.
• Defended an industrial valve manufacturer against product liability claims in a Federal MDL.
• Recovered inventory of specialized marine engine equipment for a finance company through a writ of possession.
• Represented residential and commercial landlords against breach of lease, breach of warranty and fraud claims. 
• Represented clients in real estate disputes involving breach of contract, fraud and land use issues.
• Successfully defended a major fitness equipment manufacturer against multi-million dollar breach of warranty and product liability claims.
• Successfully defended a retail business owner against a sexual harassment claim by a former employee.
 
Prior to joining Callahan and Blaine, Stephen was an attorney at the international law firm of K&L Gates, LLP.  At K&L Gates, Stephen was a member of the products liability and toxic tort practice group where he defended clients against claims of exposure to beryllium, manganese, benzene and asbestos.

Areas of Practice

  • Business Litigation
  • Civil Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Complex Civil Actions
  • Contract Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Corporate Governance
  • Defamation, Libel and Slander
  • False Advertising
  • Fiduciary Duties
  • Fraud
  • Partnership Disputes
  • Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection
  • Real Estate
  • Tort Law
  • Trade Secrets
  • Unfair Competition
  • Unfair Business Practices
  • Catastrophic Personal Injury
  • Wrongful Death
  • Trials, Arbitrations and Mediations
  • Products Liability
  • Toxic Tort

Bar Admissions

  • California, 2004
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of California

Education

  • Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, GA
    • Juris Doctor, May 2004
    • Managing Editor, Emory International Law Review
    • Completed Kessler-Eidson Trial Techniques Program and earned election to the Lamar Inn of Court
  • University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
    • Bachelor of Arts, International Relations, May 1998
    • Bachelor of Music, Trumpet Performance, May 1998
    • Master of Music, Trumpet Performance, May 2000

Published Works

  • Stephen Farkas, Unilateral Minority Protection by Kin-State Governments: A Comparison of the Slovak and Hungarian Status Law, 9 J. E. EUR. L. 341 (2002)
  • Stephen Farkas, When Can The Government Take Private Property? U.S. Supreme Court Allows City To Take Land From One Private Party And Transfer It To Another, Walsworth, Franklin, Bevins & McCall Newsletter, Vol. 4, Issue, 4 (2005)

Honors and Awards

  • Rising Star by Super Lawyers, 2009, 2010 and 2012
  • The National Trial Lawyers - Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Attorneys

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • State Bar of California, Litigation Section
  • Orange County Bar Association
  • Beverly Hills Bar Association