Attorneys

Steven L. Crane

Associate Attorney
scrane@gsalaw.com
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Steve Crane brings more than twenty-five years of experience in business, real estate, commercial lending, bankruptcy, secured transaction, financial fraud and intellectual property litigation to achieving client objectives at trial, arbitration, and mediation.   

As an appellate advocate, Steve has successfully argued complex appellate cases before the Ninth Circuit United States Court of Appeal and Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, the California Court of Appeal, and the Federal Contract Board of Appeals.

Steve is a graduate of the UCLA School of Law.

 

Notable Achievements Include:

• Obtained reversal on appeal of a $900,000 trial court judgment and entry of a judgment exonerating his client on remand to the trial court.
  
  
• Successfully represented a chemical manufacturer in defending against a multi-party Federal Court CERCLA related action involving the contamination of underground drinking water supplies of a local community which had been contaminated by other defendants.
  
  
• Secured a trial court judgment in a contract dispute that awarded his client title to airport hangars with damages for detention of the hangars.
  
  
• Resolved a dispute on appeal to the Federal Contract Board of Appeals with the United States Customs Service involving bid procedures at government auctions (confidential settlement).
  
  
• In a matter involving a multimillion-dollar international investment fraud,  was successful at the trial court level, and then on appellate writ review,  in obtaining personal jurisdiction against European banks.   Anglo Irish Bank v. Superior Ct. (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 969.
  
  
• Successfully argued the leading appellate case on the treatment of intellectual property rights in bankruptcy cases.  In re Prize Frize, Inc. (9th Cir. 1994) 32 F.3d 426.     
  
  
• Prevailed on summary judgment on behalf of a federal savings bank in a dispute concerning negotiation of cashier's checks.
  
  
• In chapter 11 reorganization cases, obtained confirmed plans of reorganization for corporate owner of resort and development properties, the Manhattan Country Club, the operator of medical clinics and a health food supply company.
  
  

Education:

UCLA School of Law

University of California Santa Cruz, B.A.

 

Bar Admissions:

Admitted to Practice in California, and before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and all United District Courts and United States Bankruptcy Courts in California.

 

Recent Articles Published: 

Los Angeles Daily Journal, May 30, 2007, "Focus" Section on Environmental Law, article entitled "Spill Splitting," involving the allocation of clean up costs under CERCLA.

 

Reported Appellate Decisions:

Anglo Irish Bank v. Superior Ct. (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 969; In re Prize Frize, Inc. (9th Cir. 1994) 32 F.3d 426; and  In re Getzoff (9th Cir. BAP 1995) 180 B.R. 572.

 

Community Involvement and Board Membership:

Board of Directors, Catalyst Foundation (1999 - Present)
Board of Directors, Temple Sinai of Glendale (1994 -1996)
State Bar Fee Arbitrator; Mediation Panel, Los Angeles Superior Court