Elaine Charlson Bredehoft

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Elaine Charlson Bredehoft

Elaine Charlson Bredehoft

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Ms. Bredehoft, a native of Northern Minnesota, has been successfully trying cases in state and federal courts in Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland since 1984.

Ms. Bredehoft has been consistently recognized in publications as one of the Top Lawyers in Virginia, Washington, D.C. & Baltimore, frequently – including in 2023 – ranked as one of the top ten lawyers as selected by her peers, and has been repeatedly recognized by Virginia Business magazine as one of Virginia’s Legal Elite (as published in Virginia Business Magazine). Ms. Bredehoft has been selected for inclusion as a Super Lawyer in Virginia and Washington, D.C. for many years. In April 2009, Ms. Bredehoft was recognized as one of Virginia’s Most Influential Women by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Ms. Bredehoft has been included in The Best Lawyers in America every year since 1997.

In 2003, Ms. Bredehoft was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, an honor limited to the top 1% of attorneys in each state; in 2005, Ms. Bredehoft was inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an honor limited in the United States to 500 trial attorneys under the age of 70; and in 2007, Ms. Bredehoft was chosen for Fellowship in Litigation Counsel of America, an honorary society comprised of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Ms. Bredehoft served for many years on the Boyd Graves Conference, a collaboration of Judges, Legislators and Attorneys addressing and repairing legal inequities. Ms. Bredehoft is also a Permanent Member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference.

Ms. Bredehoft was hired by Amber Heard to represent her in assisting UK counsel for the Sun newspaper and Editor-in-Chief Dan Wooten with its defense of the libel lawsuit brought by John C. Depp II. Ms. Bredehoft traveled to the UK, quarantined with Ms. Heard, prepared her for trial and worked with and assisted UK counsel in preparation for the trial, and accompanied Ms. Heard and worked with Ms. Heard and UK counsel throughout the trial. The trial ended successfully with the London High Court finding in favor of the Sun and Mr. Wooten and against Mr. Depp, and further finding that the evidence supported that Mr. Depp committed domestic violence against Ms. Heard on at least 12 occasions. Ms. Bredehoft then returned to the US and represented Ms. Heard in bringing the Counterclaim against Mr. Depp. Ms. Bredehoft also acted as lead counsel in managing the litigation across the country with extensive motions and discovery in California and Virginia, as well as in other jurisdictions. Ms. Bredehoft led the trial team through trial, which resulted in verdicts in favor of Mr. Depp and in favor of Ms. Heard. Ms. Bredehoft filed the appeal notices to the main claims, including the challenge that the UK judgment should have applied to Mr. Depp’s US claims as they were identical and Mr. Depp had chosen the UK as his preferred jurisdiction and court, and lost. The case resolved without a final determination on these pivotal appellate issues.

Ms. Bredehoft’s extensive trial experience and history has led to the vast majority of her cases now settling before trial.

Elaine Charlson Bredehoft 15 Year Award Super LawyersElaine Charlson Bredehoft Top 10 Lawyers in VAElaine Charlson Bredehoft Super Lawyers Top 10 in Washington DC


HONORS, AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
  • Invitee, Boyd Graves Conference (1999-2009); Steering Committee (2004 – 2009)
  • Permanent Member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
  • “Best Lawyers in Washington, D.C.” (selected by peer recognition) by Washington Post
  • National Trial Lawyers “Top 100 Trial Attorneys”
  • “Top 10 Lawyer in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area” by C. Magazine
  • “Best Attorneys in Washington, D.C. & Baltimore area” (selected by peers; published in Best Lawyers)
  • “Top 10 Virginia Super Lawyers,” in Super Lawyers Magazine
  • “D.C. Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine
  • “Virginia’s Legal Elite” by Virginia Business Magazine
  • Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Lawyers
  • “Top 10 Lawyer in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area” by C. Magazine
  • “Virginia Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine
  • “Top Virginia Lawyers”, Virginia, Richmond – Times Magazine
  • “Best Employment Lawyers” by Washingtonian
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • “Legal Eagle” in Virginia Living
  • “Top Rated Lawyers – Washington D.C. & Baltimore’s Legal Leaders” by Wall Street Journal (2015)
  • “Top Ten D.C. Super Lawyers in Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area” by Washington Post
  • Best Lawyers in Virginia (selected by peer recognition; published in Best Lawyers)
  • “Best Legal Minds,” by Washingtonian Magazine
  • “Best Lawyers Employee Lawyer of the Year” in the Washington DC Area
  • “Top 500 Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America” by LawDragon
  • One of Virginia’s Most Influential Women by Virginia Lawyers Weekly
  • “Best Employment Lawyers” by Washingtonian
  • The Legal Times’ Almanac of Leading Lawyers
  • “Top 12 Employment Lawyers in the Washington Metropolitan Area” by Legal Times
  • “75 Best Lawyers” by Washingtonian (2002)
  • “Forty Top Lawyers Under Forty” by Washingtonian (1998)
  • “Fifty Best Lawyers in Washington” by Washingtonian (1997)

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

While a significant majority of cases in the past 15 to 20 years have settled for undisclosed, confidential amounts, some select verdicts or judgments in business, employment and discrimination/civil rights cases include:

  • Depp v. Heard, C.A. No. 2019-0002911 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2022)(Defamation main claim and Counterclaim – Judgment in favor of both parties, one on main claim and the other on Counterclaim, appealed, resolved before completion of appeal);
  • Loose v. CSRA, Inc., (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2020) (Breach of Contract – Judgment of $494,561)
  • JK Moving & Storage, Inc. v. Winmar Construction, Inc., et al., (E.D. Va. 2018) (Breach of Contract – Judgment of $74,688.42, plus $411,410.39 awarded in attorneys’ fees)
  • Holman v. Dominion Mechanical Services, Inc., (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2017) (Breach of Contract – Judgment of $1,462,500)
  • Torres Advanced Enterprise Solutions, LLC v. Namir El-Akabi, et al., (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2016) (Fraud, conspiracy, and piercing the corporate veil – Judgment of $19,823,777.07/$350,000 punitive damages)
  • Torres Advanced Enterprise Solutions, LLC v Sabre International Security, (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2015)(Breach of Contract and Actual/Constructive Fraud – Judgment of $10,161,089.47 compensatory/$350,000.00 punitive damages)
  • Taylor v. Republic Services, Inc., et al., (E.D. Va. 2013)(Title VII Sexual Harassment/Retaliation – $853,084.36 judgment, $620,559.36 fees and costs awarded)
  • York v. DynCorp International, LLC., (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2012) (Breach of Contract – $5.4 million judgment, including prejudgment interest)
  • Sara K. Payne v. Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC, (E.D. Va. 2012)(Represented individual and successor employer Lockton in successfully defending against temporary restraining order in dispute challenging validity of covenants, February 2012)
  • Crowe, et al v. Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC, (E.D. Va. 2011)(Represented individuals and successor employer, Lockton in obtaining ruling by Court striking covenants not to compete and confidentiality provisions as invalid, May, 2011)
  • Shannon v. Randy Andrews, et al., (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2011) (Breach of Contract – $856,653.54 jury verdict)
  • Grissom v. The Mills Corporation, (E.D. Va. 2007)(Sarbanes-Oxley wrongful termination, breach of contract, and defamation per se – $459,566.82 judgment, fees and costs awarded, appealed and settled)
  • Ivarone v. CACI Commercial, Inc., et al., (AAA Arbitration, March 2007)(defamation per se, $300,000.00)
  • Hyland v. Raytheon Company, et al., (Fairfax Cir. Ct., Oct. 2005)(Represented former Senior Vice President in defamation, fraud and tortious interference – $3.5 million verdict, reduced to $1.875 million, reversed and remanded (twice) for retrial, settled while on appeal)
  • Jackson v. Government Micro Resources, Inc., et al., (Prince William Cir. Ct., Dec. 2004) (Represented former President and CEO in defamation and breach of contract – $6.2 million jury verdict; reduced to $1.5 million, $5.5 million judgment reinstated by Virginia Supreme Court, Jan. 2006)
  • Scott v. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., et al., (E.D. Va. 2004)(pregnancy discrimination, retaliation, FMLA and constructive fraud — jury verdict valued at $2.2 million; reduced to $675,000; $350,000 awarded in attorney’s fees and costs)
  • Luba v. Motient Corporation, (AAA Arbitration, May 2003)(Breach of Change in Control Agreement, $203,625.27)
  • Moore v. United International Investigative Services, (E.D. Va. 2002)(Defamation and Conversion – $254,460.01 verdict, conversion claim dismissed on post-trial motions, $200,000 defamation verdict upheld by Fourth Circuit )
  • Swinton v. Broadwing Communications Services, Inc., (E.D.Va. 2001) (Breach of contract – change in control provisions for Internet backbone Chief Architect transferred to work on the Last Mile – $350,854.15 verdict – value of vested stock options at time of attempted exercise)
  • Pasko v. Broadwing Communications Services, Inc., (E.D.Va. 2001) (Breach of contract – change in control provisions for Internet backbone Manager and Designer transferred to work on the Last Mile – $290,335.44 verdict – value of vested stock options at time of attempted exercise)
  • Stiles v. Town of Leesburg, et al., (E.D.Va. 2000) (Section 1983 Whistleblower action by former Chief of Police of Town of Leesburg terminated for reporting illegal acts of Town Manager and Council Member–$3.1 million jury verdict, $261,000 awarded in attorney’s fees and costs)
  • Davison v. FastComm Communications Corp., (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 1998) (Represented former COO and Director in breach of contract for stock options – $1.288 million jury verdict)
  • Shaw v. Titan Corporation, (E.D.Va. 1998) (Gender, age and race-based discrimination of white male, $465,000 verdict, reduced to $415,000)
  • Hetzel v. Prince William County, et al., (E.D.Va. 1995, 1998)(Race and sex discrimination and retaliation in the Prince William Co. Police Dept. — $750,000 verdict, $186,000 court award of attorney’s fees, liability upheld, on remand from U.S. Supreme Court retrial on damages, $45,000 damages, $69,000 attorney’s fees and costs)
  • Grier v. Titan Corporation, (E.D.Va.1996) (Retaliation and wrongful termination/ constructive discharge — $635,000 verdict, after second trial $829,500 verdict, reduced to $27,500, $95,351.94 awarded in fees and costs)
  • Robinson v. The Hill, (D.D.C. 1998) (Race based termination, $100,000 verdict, $118,000 attorney’s fees and costs award)
  • Berman v. The Washington Times Corporation, (D.D.C. 1995) (Sex discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation in advertising department — $789,000 jury verdict, October 24, 1997, $200,000 awarded in attorney’s fees).

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASES

  • Tyler v. Molchon (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2000) ($1.3 million verdict for wrongful death “suicide by cop” against psychiatrist who prematurely released decedent, upheld by Virginia Supreme Court, 2001)
  • Johnson v. Kaiser Permanente (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 1993) ($950,000 verdict for emotional distress of grandmother misdiagnosed with AIDS).

PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Ms. Bredehoft is a frequent lecturer at Continuing Legal Education seminars sponsored by Virginia CLE, the Virginia Supreme Court, Virginia State Bar, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Virginia Bar Association, Fairfax Bar Association, Virginia Law Foundation, National Employment Lawyers’ Association, Southern Methodist University Labor and Employment Conference, and other organizations. Recent examples include:

  • “Business Torts in Virginia” (VA CLE, April-May 2020)
  • “How to Try an Employment Law Case to a Jury” (DC Bar Series, April-June 2018)
  • “Top Ten Tips on Effective Cross Examination” (MWELA Trial Boot Camp, April 2017)
  • “Effective Trial Techniques for the 21st Century” (MWELA Annual Conf. April 2014)
  • “Changing Currents: Restrictive Covenants in Employment Context and Trade Secret Law” (DC Bar Oct. 2013)
  • “Taking and Defending Depositions of the Plaintiff and Alleged Harasser in a Harassment Case” (VBA Labor & Emp. Law Annual Conf, Oct. 2013)
  • “Employment Law Update” (FBA, October 2010)
  • “Looking Behind the Curtain” (VBA 40th Annual Conference on Labor Relations and Employment Law, October 2010)
  • Annual Employment Update (VA CLE, May 2010)
  • “Top Ten Employment-Related Torts” (VTLA Annual Convention, March 2010)
  • “Preparing for Oral Argument on Appeal” (NELA, Dallas, March 2010)
  • “What Every Civil Defense Lawyer Needs to Know About Employment Law” (VADA Annual Convention, October 2009)
  • “Hot Topics in Employment Law” (FBA, October 2009)
  • “Maximizing Recovery in Light of Economic Changes” (VA CLE, May 2009)
  • “Punitive Damages after Exxon v. Baker” (VA CLE, March 2009)
  • “Damages: Maximizing Your Client’s Recovery” (NELA, Chicago, Oct. 2008)
  • “A Comprehensive Analysis of Fraud Claims/Business Torts” (VA CLE, August 2008)
  • “17th Annual Employment Update: Evolving Theories of Recovery” (VA CLE, May 2008)
  • “Successful Trial Techniques: Effective Cross Examination” (NELA, March, 2008)
  • “25th Annual Business Law Seminar – Business Torts Update” (VA CLE, October 2007)
  • “Trial Tactics: Litigating Employment Cases – A View from the Bench” (Georgetown Law Center, November 2006)
  • “Wrongful Termination in Virginia – the past 25 Years” (VWAA, October 2006)
  • “The Plaintiff’s Guide to a Successful Jury Trial” (NELA, June 2006)
  • “Trial Tactics in Employment Litigation” (Virginia CLE, May 2006)
  • “Effective Closing Arguments” (Virginia Trial Lawyers’ Annual Convention, April 2006)
  • “Ethics in Litigation” (VWAA, March 2006)
  • “Litigation Strategies and Trial Tips in Employment Law Cases” (Georgetown Univ., November 2005)
  • “Lessons Learned” (VA CLE, November 2005)
  • “Discovery & Effective Settlement Strategies” 14th Annual Employment Update (VA CLE, May 2005)
  • Defamation and Fraud in the Business Context, 23rd Annual Business Torts Update” (VA CLE, April 2005)
  • “The Significance of the Human Resources Investigation in a Hostile Environment Claim: The Plaintiff’s Perspective” (SMU/Virginia Bar Association, Labor Relations and Employment Law Annual Conference, June 2004 and Virginia Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section, September 2004)
  • “Winning Employment Trial Tactics” (VA CLE, May 2004)
  • “Rapid Fire Motions in Limine” (National Employment Lawyer’s Association “NELA,” June 2003)
  • “Whistleblowers: Public Servants or Public Leeches?” (SMU/Virginia Bar Association, Labor Relations and Employment Law Annual Conference, June 2003)
  • “Virginia Point and Counterpoint – 2003: Friendly Adversaries Exchange Fire on Current Litigation Strategies” (Virginia Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Annual Conference September 2003).

Legal contributions, chapters or articles authored or co-authored, in addition to CLE outlines, include:

  • Larry King’s Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (December 2006)
  • “Defamation” and “Fraud” Chapters of Tort Law in Virginia – Virginia Lawyers Practice Handbook (2005-present);
  • “Tort Actions” Chapter of Employment Law in Virginia — Virginia Lawyers Practice Handbook (Virginia Law Foundation, 1997 to present)
  • “The Law of Wrongful Termination in Virginia,” The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (Fall, 1996)
  • “Appellate Litigation Strategies,” Employee Rights Litigation, (John Wiley & Sons, 1997).

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

  • Commonwealth of Virginia
  • District of Columbia

ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & LEADERSHIP

  • Master, George Mason Inns of Court, 1995-2012, Emeritus, 2012-present.
  • Member, National Employment Lawyers Association, Virginia Employment Lawyers Association, Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association.
  • Member, National Trial Lawyers – Business Tort Trial Lawyers Association.
  • Faculty Member, Virginia State Bar Professionalism Committee for Law Students, 2001-05.
  • Faculty Member, Virginia State Bar Professionalism Committee, 1997-2000.
  • Virginia Bar Association, Member, 1984-present. Former member of the Executive Committee of the Young Lawyers Section.  Statewide, regional, and local chair of VBA Model Judiciary Program, 1985-91.
  • Virginia Bar Association Section on Labor and Employment Law, Member of Governing Council, 1994-2008.
  • Fairfax Bar Association, Member, 1984-present. Served on FBA Committees on Professionalism, Law Day, Nominating, Annual Meeting and Diversity Task Force.  Participant as mentor in FBA mentoring program.
  • Virginia Women Attorneys Association, Member, 1997-present.

EDUCATION

  • J.D., The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, 1984
  • B. A., University of Arizona, 1981

 

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