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Attorney Newspaper Articles »
George L. O’Connell is one of the original founders of Stevens, O’Connell & Jacobs. He has been a trial lawyer specializing in complex civil litigation and sophisticated white collar criminal cases since 1976. He has represented clients ranging from some of the biggest companies in the world to politically prominent individuals in the most challenging types of civil and criminal cases. His background as a former United States Attorney and federal prosecutor has made him particularly well suited to represent corporations and individuals in an extremely wide range of sophisticated matters, including the most challenging civil, administrative and criminal actions brought by federal and state government agencies. George also has wide experience representing corporations and individuals in highly complex civil cases, ranging from securities fraud matters to unfair trade and trademark violations, employee fraud, tax fraud, products liability and other complex litigation. George has a national reputation as a top trial lawyer, as reflected in his consistent listings and high ratings for many years in a wide variety of prestigious publications such as Best Lawyers in the United States, Who’s Who Legal, Chambers USA, Leading Lawyers for Business, and California Super Lawyers.
George served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California from 1991 to 1993. George then served as a partner at Downey, Brand, Seymour & Rohwer in Sacramento until he founded Stevens & O'Connell with Chuck Stevens in 1997. Prior to his appointment as United States Attorney in 1991, George served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District and headed the Special Prosecutions Unit. From 1987 to 1989, George was a partner in Miller & O'Connell in Los Angeles, where he handled business crimes investigations and trials. George also served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Special Prosecutions Unit of the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney’s Office from 1980-1983, and in the Sacramento U.S. Attorney’s Office as Chief of the White Collar Crime Unit from 1983-1987. In these positions and as a lawyer in private practice, George has tried numerous jury trials in complex fraud, securities fraud, export enforcement, environmental crimes, public corruption, antitrust services cases, tax fraud, trademark infringement and unfair competition claims, and other highly complex criminal and civil cases.
Representative Matters - United States v. Perata: Represented former President Pro Tem of California State Senate in a high profile five year federal criminal investigation into allegations of honest services fraud and misconduct in office. Obtained declination of all charges from two United States Attorneys offices and the United States Department of Justice.
- Turbomeca, S.A.: Defended French helicopter engine manufacturer in a civil helicopter crash products liability case in federal court involving the death of two deputy sheriffs and severe injuries to a third deputy; plaintiffs were seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages. Case resolved favorably for client prior to trial.
- Hewlett-Packard: Successfully defended Hewlett-Packard in Sarbanes Oxley Whistleblower trial, involving a multi week trial. Judgment entered for Hewlett-Packard on all claims.
- Represented Hewlett-Packard as plaintiff in multiple civil RICO cases involving employee dishonesty, honest services fraud, and theft of trade secrets against former Hewlett-Packard employees and independent computer brokers; obtained multi-million dollar recoveries for Hewlett-Packard.
- Represented Hewlett-Packard as plaintiff in multi-million dollar employee fraud case; obtained substantial recovery for Hewlett-Packard.
- Agilent Technologies: Representing Agilent Technologies as plaintiff in a large scale employee fraud and unfair competition case, which is still pending.
- B&H Manufacturing v. Bright, et al.: Successfully represented at trial former CEO of equipment manufacturing company in civil fraud case involving alleged theft of trademark and tradesecret and unfair competition lawsuit. After a two and a half month trial in federal court, obtained favorable verdict for client.
- Bank of America v. State of California: Represented State of California as special trial counsel to California Attorney General’s Office in civil case involving claims by Bank of America in excess of $40 million, including pre-judgment interest. After lengthy trial, case settled favorably for State.
- Gerling Global Insurance Co. v. Commissioner of Insurance: Represented large German insurance company in civil case that involved a Constitutional challenge to a California law regulating foreign insurers. After extensive trial court and appellate litigation, law was held to be unconstitutional and attorney’s fees were awarded to the client.
- United States v. [Confidential Client]: Represented large scale timber and lumber mill operator in a federal environmental criminal investigation. After lengthy investigation by the government, obtained declination of all threatened charges.
- United States v. Southern California Edison: Defended Southern California Edison in a ground breaking civil case in which the United States government was attempting to recover in excess of $35 million in damages resulting from a major forest fire. After extensive litigation, case resolved favorably for client.
- People v. Union Pacific Railroad: Represented Union Pacific in criminal and civil environmental cases in three California counties that charged Union Pacific with numerous alleged environmental violations. Cases were dismissed prior to trial on federal preemption grounds based on our motions to dismiss.
- United States v. [Confidential Client]: Represented subject of Enron criminal and SEC civil investigations. Case and all potential charges declined both by the United States Department of Justice and SEC.
- SEC v. [Confidential Client]: Represented senior partner of Big Five accounting firm in SEC civil securities fraud investigation. Case declined by SEC.
- People v. [Confidential Client]: Representing national home improvement store chain in multi-county criminal and civil consumer fraud and Business & Professions Code § 17200 investigation. Case pending.
- United States/SEC v. [Confidential Client]: Represented CFO of large publicly traded high tech company in federal criminal and SEC civil investigation. No criminal charges or civil claim filed.
- United States v. Home Americair: Successfully defended a major home health care provider, in multi-year federal False Claims Act action brought by the United States. Case resolved favorably for client.
- United States v. [Confidential Client]: Represented major insurance company in multi-year federal criminal investigation, examining company’s claims management practices. Case declined and no charges filed.
- United States v. [Confidential Client]: Represented major dairy operation in federal criminal investigation into alleged violation of Federal Clean Water Act. Prosecution declined.
- United States v. [Confidential Client]: Represented senior officer of international computer chip manufacturer in the DRAM anti-trust price fixing case. Case declined and no charges filed against client.
- United States v. [Confidential Client]: Represented CEO of major high tech company in federal criminal securities case. Case resolved favorably for client.
Education Harvard Law School, J.D., 1976
Purdue University, B.A., 1972
- Summa Cum Laude; Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi
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