Louis A. Chaiten

Partner

Cleveland + 1.216.586.7244

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Louis Chaiten focuses his practice on high-stakes appellate and class action matters and is a co-leader of Professional Services for the Firm. Having argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and numerous trial and appellate courts, he was appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts to a three-year term as one of the four practitioner members of the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Judicial Conference of the United States, which drafts and recommends new federal rules of practice, procedure, and evidence. Louis previously clerked on the U.S. Supreme Court (for Justice Antonin Scalia) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (for Judge Jeffrey Sutton). He also served in the Office of Legal Counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Louis has successfully defended scores of matters collectively seeking hundreds of billions of dollars in alleged damages. Among his representations: Daikin, in wide-ranging PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) litigation, including successfully petitioning for interlocutory review of an order certifying an 11 million member class; U.S. Bank, in multibillion dollar mortgage-backed securities litigation, including securing a major appellate victory on champerty grounds; CBIZ, in successfully defending a $900 million investor class action; and many other clients spanning industries. Louis also won a pro bono appeal on behalf of a man wrongfully convicted of murder, leading to the man's release after a decade in prison.

Louis serves on the boards of The City Club of Cleveland (the nation's oldest active free speech forum) and the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland.

Experience

  • U.S. Bank prevails on summary judgment in case alleging hundreds of millions of dollars in losses relating to residential mortgage-backed securitiesJones Day secured summary judgment on behalf of U.S. Bank National Association in a lawsuit seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in alleged losses concerning investments in certificates issued by residential mortgage-backed securities trusts for which U.S. Bank served as trustee.
  • U.S. Bank defeats class certification in putative class action alleging billions in class-wide losses in connection with residential mortgage-backed securitiesJones Day represented U.S. Bank National Association in a putative class action seeking billions of dollars in alleged class-wide losses in connection with investments in notes issued by 25 residential mortgage-backed securities trusts for which U.S. Bank served as trustee.
  • Goodman defeats class certification in putative consumer class actions alleging sale of failure-prone air conditioner componentsJones Day represents Goodman Global, Inc. and its affiliates, the manufacturers of central air conditioning and heating systems sold under the Goodman, Amana, and Daikin brands, in a series of putative consumer class actions.
  • U.S. Bank prevails on appeal and obtains settlement in putative class action alleging tens of billions in class-wide losses in connection with residential mortgage-backed securitiesJones Day represented U.S. Bank National Association in putative class actions filed in New York state court seeking tens of billions of dollars in alleged class-wide losses in connection with investments in certificates and notes issued by over 800 residential mortgage-backed securities trusts for which U.S. Bank served as trustee.
  • CBIZ and Mayer Hoffman McCann obtain Ninth Circuit affirmance of dismissal of $900 million lawsuitOn February 23, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of Jones Day clients CBIZ, Inc. and Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. in a case filed on behalf of a putative class of investors alleging $900 million in losses from the collapse of Mortgages Ltd., a commercial real estate lender.
  • Manufacturer of bird food defends against putative class actionJones Day defended a manufacturer of bird food in a consolidated putative class action lawsuit alleging that the company sold bird food products that should not have been sold and seeking a refund of funds expended by consumers.
  • U.S. Bank defeats appeal alleging hundreds of millions of dollars in losses related to residential mortgage-backed securitiesJones Day successfully defended U.S. Bank National Association on appeal against an action seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in alleged losses in connection with certificates issued by 98 residential mortgage-backed securities trusts for which U.S. Bank serves as trustee.
  • Bayer prevails in challenge to design, results, and implementation of clinical trialsJones Day represented Bayer HealthCare LLC in obtaining a complete victory in a challenge to Bayer's decision to discontinue further development of a recombinant hemophilia product.
  • Macy's prevails at trial against J.C. Penney for tortiously interfering with Macy's contract with Martha Stewart Living OmnimediaOn June 16, 2014, the Supreme Court of the State of New York granted Jones Day client Macy's, Inc. a complete victory, after trial, against J.C. Penney Corporation, Inc. for tortious interference with a license agreement between a Macy’s affiliate and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. ("MSLO").
  • Cliffs Natural Resources wins Eighth Circuit appeal in dispute concerning post-termination duties under reclamation-services agreementOn August 17, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled in favor of Jones Day client Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., an international iron ore supplier, in an appeal involving litigation brought by a reclamation-services provider.
  • Major appliance manufacturer defends putative nationwide class action alleging design defects in dryersJones Day is serving as lead counsel in defense of a putative nationwide class action alleging that certain dryers manufactured by a major appliance manufacturer include a design defect.
  • Financial institutions win Sixth Circuit appeal dismissing novel public nuisance suit filed by City of ClevelandOn July 27, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled in favor of Jones Day clients Morgan Stanley and RBS Securities, along with 20 other financial institutions, in an appeal involving a novel, high-profile public nuisance claim filed by the City of Cleveland.
  • Diebold securities litigation dismissal upheld by Sixth CircuitJones Day represented Diebold and a group of its current and former officers and directors, which had been sued in a shareholder class action (dismissed and affirmed on appeal) under federal securities law for allegedly making false statements about the status and prospects of Diebold's businesses.
  • Ohio State Bar Association succeeds in returning clarity to Ohio's Corporate Director Advancement StatuteThe Ohio State Bar Association, represented by Jones Day as an amicus curiae, successfully petitioned the Supreme Court of Ohio to review, and then reverse, a decision from the Eleventh District that threatened directors’ right to advancement.
  • KeyCorp defends class actions alleging securities fraud and ERISA violations arising out of investments related to Bernard MadoffJones Day defended KeyCorp and an affiliate that managed a family of funds-of-hedge-funds against class actions arising out of the Bernard Madoff scandal.
  • Timken wins federal district court jury trial on breach of contract claims against Robert Bosch LLCOn May 29, 2009, Jones Day client The Timken Company achieved a complete victory in a jury trial in federal district court in Akron, Ohio, against Robert Bosch LLC, on Timken's breach of contract claims.
  • Zimmer Holdings obtains dismissal of shareholder derivative actionJones Day represented the directors of Zimmer, Inc. in a shareholder derivative action, securing dismissal based on absence of a pre-suit demand upon the board.
  • Ohio Supreme Court strikes down portions of sex offender law as violation of separation of powersJones Day Columbus successfully represented a group of victims' rights organizations and law enforcement personnel as amicus curiae in opposition to Ohio's new sex offender law (Senate Bill 10).
  • Federal appeals court bars a second murder trial of former Ohio death row inmateJoe D'Ambrosio ("D'Ambrosio") was convicted of capital murder, sentenced to death, and ultimately served 20 years in an Ohio prison.
  • Ohio inmate is represented on appeal based on recently discovered forensic evidenceA Jones Day Cleveland team represented an Ohio inmate convicted of murder in 2001, in an appeal before the Eighth District Court of Appeals (Cuyahoga County, Ohio).
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    June 2025 Commentary

    U.S. Supreme Court Encourages Federal Rule 7(a)(7) Replies—A Potential Boon for Defendants

    April 2025 Alert

    EPA Announces List of Actions to Combat PFAS Contamination

    October 2024 Reprint

    A Class Action Trend Tests Limit Of Courts' Equity Powers (Law360)

    April 2024 Alert

    EPA Designates PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA Hazardous Substances

    April 2024 Alert

    EPA Issues the First-Ever National Drinking Water Standard for PFAS

    December 2023 Commentary

    EPA's PFAS Reporting Rule Requires Broad Retroactive Disclosure of PFAS Data

    December 2021 Alert

    FTC Issues Enforcement Policy Regarding Deceptive Practices Related to Negative Option Marketing

    January 2021 Commentary

    Regulators in the United States and Europe Move to Restrict PFAS in Products and Wastes

    March 2019 Jones Day Publications

    Department of Justice Increasingly Challenges Class Settlements

    March 2019 Commentary

    Increased Scrutiny Means Increased Costs: Amended Rule 23 and Class Settlement Approval
    View All

    Additional Publications

    • Jan/Feb 2013
      Receding Advancements: Legal Fees And Ohio's Corporate Directors, Ohio Lawyer

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • June 11, 2019
      Recent Trends in Consumer-Fraud Class Actions
    • February 5, 2018
      Emerging Trends in Consumer Fraud Class-Action Arbitration
    • November 29, 2017
      2017 Supreme Court Review
    • June 15, 2017
      Legal Implications of Justice Gorsuch's Confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court
    • April 4, 2017
      Emerging Trends in Consumer Fraud Class Action Litigation
    • November 29, 2016
      Supreme Court Review
    • October 26, 2016
      Supreme Court Update: A Look at Significant Cases in the New Term
    • December 1, 2015
      U.S. Supreme Court Review

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