Attorney Profiles

Melissa Harnett 
Tarzana, California
Partner
phone (818) 705-6800
(323) 872-0995
fax (818) 996-8266
(818) 345-0162
email Email Me

Ms. Harnett serves as Department Head for the Class Action Department.  She has many years of experience handling class actions and complex litigation, including matters in the areas of consumer fraud, antitrust, RICO and employment disputes.  She is also experienced in general civil litigation, appellate practice, insurance disputes, entertainment litigation, eminent domain/condemnation proceedings and equine law.  Ms. Harnett has been appointed as class counsel in numerous class actions, including in the matters of: Friedman v. 24 Hour Fitness, United States District Court for the Central District of California, case number 06-06282; Bacca v. BMW of North America, Inc., United States District Court for the Central District of California, case number 06-06753; Wilson v. Airborne Inc., United States District Court for the Central District of California, case number EDCV 07-770; Ramirez v. Seaboard Produce Distributors, Inc., Ventura County Superior Court case number CIV-232600; De Leon v. Maxine Swim Group, Los Angeles Superior Court case no. BC 334225.  Ms. Harnett has also served on the Executive Committee for a number of class actions, including multi-district litigation cases pending in federal courts throughout the United States.

Published works include: "Condemnation Alert: Kelo v. City of New London", July, 2005; : "Should Abused Women be Held Criminally Responsible for Child Abuse Perpetrated by their Lovers?" Legal Dissertation 1992; "Doing Business Online: Can Your Company Be Sued In Other States Or Countries?", Online Business Journal, 2008.  Speaking engagements have included presentations on class actions before the Ventura County Bar Association Litigation Chapter, and a national teleconference entitled "False Advertising Consumer Class Actions on the Rise."  Ms. Harnett has been interviewed by national news publications, including the National Law Journal, and television news channels to lend her expertise to news items concerning class action litigation.

Areas of Practice:
Appellate
Class Action (Department Head)
Complex Litigation
Intellectual Property
Bar Admissions:
California, 1993
U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1993
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2002
U.S. Supreme Court, 2008
U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 2008
U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 2008
U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 2008
Education:
University of Southern California Law School, Los Angeles, California, 1992
J.D.
Law Journal: USC Woman's Law Journal, Founding Board Member


University of California, Los Angeles, California, 1989
B.A.
Honors: Dean's List
Major:  English and Motion Picture/Television


Published Works:
"Condemnation Alert: Kelo v. City of New London", MS&K Real Estate Department Alert, July, 2005


Legal Dissertation: "Should Abused Women be Held Criminally Responsible for Child Abuse Perpetrated by their Lovers?", USC


"Doing Business Online: Can Your Company Be Sued In Other States Or Countries?", Online Business Journal, 2008


Representative Clients:
Consumers
Employees
References:
Provided Upon Request
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Presentation on class actions before the Ventura County Bar Association Litigation Chapter


National teleconference entitled "False Advertising Consumer Class Actions on the Rise."


Ms. Harnett has been interviewed by national news publications, including the National Law Journal, and television news channels to lend her expertise to news items concerning class action litigation


Honors and Awards:
Counsel, "Agua Dulce Against Power Towers", October 10, 2007


Agua Dulce Town Council Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition, November 14, 2007


Certificate of Recognition by California Legislative Committee, in honor of serving as a Member of Assemblywoman Audra Strickland's Education Advisory Committee, February 2008


Professional Associations and Memberships:
Aqua Dulce Town Council, 2001 - 2003
Elected Council Person


Aqua Dulce Unified School District Governing Board, 2003 - 2007
Trustee


The Thacher School, 2005 - 2006
Member, Development Committee


United States Equestrian Federation
Licensed Dressage Judge


National Association of Consumer Advocates
Member


Consumer Attorneys of California
Member


Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles
Member


Past Employment Positions:
Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, Associate, 2000 - 2006


Los Angeles Office
5567 Reseda Boulevard
Suite 330
P.O. Box 7033
Tarzana, California 91357

Phone: (818) 705 - 6800
Fax: (818) 996 - 8266
Directions

Alhambra Office
801 S. Garfield Avenue
Suite 328
Alhambra, California 91801

Phone: (626) 308 - 9882
Fax: (626) 308 - 9538
Directions

Oxnard Office
300 East Esplanade Drive
Suite 1960
Oxnard, California 93036

Phone: (805) 988 - 0285
Fax: (805) 988 - 0375
Directions


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