David Gevertz

Lead counsel to an automobile distributor and owner in a case involving the Fair Labor Standards Act, where the plaintiff alleged thousands of hours of off-the-clock work. The case was brought to Baker Donelson after another firm was denied summary judgment and advised the client to settle. Baker Donelson moved to reopen the plaintiff's deposition, filed several successful motions in limine, and received a defense verdict during a four-day trial.

Lead counsel to a municipality in a highly-publicized Department of Justice criminal investigation into corruption involving the review of more than ten million pages of documents, interviews of dozens of employees, and indictments of a half-dozen former employees and vendors.

Lead counsel to a neonatal manufacturer in suit against two former employees accused of stealing trade secrets, violating restrictive covenants, and establishing a competing company. Won substantial damages, including punitive damages and attorneys' fees following a five-day trial.

Lead counsel to an international chemical manufacturer in eight coordinated trade secret cases filed across the country. Secured a preliminary injunction in one case and a consent order, substantial damages, and relief in the others.

Lead counsel in a multi-plaintiff race discrimination and retaliation claim where damages sought exceeded $1 million. Obtained a complete defense verdict following a five-day jury trial.

Accepted "courthouse steps" surrender of plaintiff in Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank whistleblower case two days before trial, following favorable pretrial rulings and resulting 94% decrease in settlement demand.

Secured a TRO and two preliminary injunctions on behalf of a safety services company against departing executive and his new employer for breach of Georgia Trade Secrets Act. Approaching trial, the Firm's client accepted a substantial settlement as well as permanent injunctive relief.

Decertified a wage and hour collective action made up of 45 truck drivers resulting in a nominal settlement favoring a longstanding Firm client.

Won summary judgment and six-figure sanctions award against a former in-house counsel who alleged whistleblowing and retaliation claims. Succeeded in preserving disputed attorney-client privileged communications and managing extensive media coverage of the case.

Prosecuted trade secret theft case against a competing agricultural manufacturer, resulting in widespread injunctive relief that crippled the competitor's expansion plans and resulted in substantial seven-figure settlement.

Defended three coordinated, multi-plaintiff sexual harassment cases brought by the EEOC against a well-known restaurant chain, resulting in nuisance settlements, no adverse publicity, and no new affirmative relief. 

Successfully defended multi-unit apartment complex in DOJ proceedings while countersuing developer for ADA and FHA violations, resulting in significant monetary recovery to our client.

Won summary judgment motion on novel question of whether employees were paid on an effective piece rate basis. Subsequently succeeded in de-certifying class action lawsuit under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Successfully defended a publicly-traded software company against a whistleblowing complaint alleging violations of Securities and Exchange laws and wire fraud, culminating in a summary decision dismissing all claims with prejudice.

Defeated case brought against a construction management company by a competitor after client lured 30+ engineers to leave, effectively shuttering competitor's Georgia facility. Case was abandoned after we won several initial motions before state and federal courts.

Defeated preliminary injunction action sought against a lighting manufacturing company following the client's hire of a high-level R&D scientist from a competitor. The plaintiff sought a seven-figure damages award, which it ultimately abandoned as well.