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EXHIBIT 1
Career Highlights of William M. Audet, J.D., LL.M, LL.D.
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Career Highlights of William M. Audet, J.D., LL.M., LL.D.
Education & Professional Background
Golden Gate School of Law, San Francisco, CA (1984); Juris Doctor, J.D.,
graduated summa cum laude (top 1% of class)
U.W. School of Law, Madison, WI (1987); Masters in Law (LL.M) (authored
published law review and law related articles, and prepared case course material
regarding constitutional and civil rights of inmates, mental health patients and
immigration rights of Mariel Cubans).
Golden Gate School of Law, Doctorate of Law (LL.D) (hc) (2013)
Professor of Law (Clinical) at U.W. School of Law, Madison, Wisconsin (1984-
1987)
Staff Attorney at Legal Assistance to Institutional Program (U.W. School of Law)
(supervised law students in clinical program representing at risk populations and
families in civil and civil rights cases, created manuals and other material to assist
attorneys in immigration proceedings filed against immigrants and petitioning for
asylum requests)
Law Clerk for the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (S.F. Division)
(1987 to 1989)
Law Clerk for the Honorable Fern M. Smith, United States District Court (N.D.
Cal.) (1989)
Law Clerk for the Honorable Alphonso Zirpoli, United States District Court (N.D.
Cal.) (1989 to 1990)
Associate/Partner at Lieff Cabraser Law Firm (SF Office) (1990 to 1998)
Partner, Alexander & Audet, LLP (1998 to 2006)
Managing Partner, Audet & Partners, LLP (2006 to present)
Notable Law School & Community Service:
Golden Gate University School of Law, Law Review (Author and Managing
Editor)
Student Representative on Admissions Committee, G.G.U.
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Graduation Speaker of the G.G.U, School of Law, Class of 1984
Panel Speaker/Moderator (1994 and onward) – moderated and/or presented a variety
of topics including class actions, mass torts & medical device preemption
Awarded ‘Attorney of the Year’ in 2012 by Bar Association of San Francisco
Keynote Speaker at Golden Gate Law School, Class of 2013
Served on Bar Association of San Francisco Judicial Review Committee (2013 to
2016)
Recipient of multiple American Jurisprudence Awards in contract, property rights
and constitutional law
Notable Unique Cases:
Richard X., v. State of Wisconsin (1986) Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Court.
Successfully filed first of its kind case in the United States obtaining early release
of inmate serving 10 years sentence based on his HIV status (file sealed due to
privacy)
Elidio Capela, et. el, v. BP, et al., (2012 and ongoing) – Serving as class counsel in
first class action ever filed in Mexico under new statutory regime and first case
certified under Mexico’s recently enacted Class Action statute
Homeless Coalition v. California Department of Transportation (1994) (Oakland
Superior Court). Filed and resolved first case of its kind relating to property rights
of homeless (statewide consent decree and injunctive relief still in force).
Spoiled Pet Food Clients v. Chinese Pet Food Production Company, San Francisco
(1999) - First class action case filed in the United States asserting violation of
Chinese Constitution against Chinese based pet food manufacturer (dismissed on
immunity grounds)
Class Action/Mass Tort Appointments of Note:
• In re Navistar MaxxForce Engines Mktg., Sales Pracs. and Prods. Liab.
Litig., Case No. 1:14-cv-10318, Northern District of Illinois – Mr. Audet
served as Co-Lead Counsel in a lawsuit brought on behalf truck purchasers
alleging defectively designed vehicles diesel engines. Settlement announced
in May 2019 awarding $135 million to the Class.
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• In re Cosco Busan Oil Spill Litig.(xxx) Mr. Audet was appointed and
served as Co-Lead Counsel in both the State and Federal litigation
representing seafood processors, Native American tribes, fisheries and small
fisherman. Audet successfully sought on an emergency bases the seizure of
the Cosco Busan, a ship responsible for colliding with the San Francisco Bay
Bridge, and obtained a significant post OPA settlement fund.
• Galanti v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Case No. 03-209, District of
New Jersey – Mr. Audet served as Class Counsel in case resulting in an
groundbreaking multinational class wide $324 million settlement involving a
defective radiant heating system.
• In re Santa Barbara Oil Spill of 2015 (Refugio Beach), 2:16-cv-03157-
PSG-JEM United States District Court, Central District California. Mr.
Audet serves as Co-Lead Counsel in a class action case (certified) involving
economic impact of 2015 Oil Spill in Santa Barbara, California.
• In Zyprexa Litigation, MDL No. 1596, Eastern District of New York – Mr.
Audet and his firm represented over 300 clients who allegedly developed
diabetes after ingesting Zyprexa. Mr. Audet was appointed a member of the
Plaintiffs Executive Committee.
• In re: Depakote Litigation, Northern District of Illinois – Mr. Audet
represented individuals that suffered birth defects as a result of parental
ingestion of the drug Depakote. After a number of initial trials on the
‘courthouse steps’, Abbot resolved all claims of the Firms’ clients. .
Publications of Note:
Audet, Fanady & Kuang, Handling Federal Discovery (James Publishing) (24th
Ed./Rev.)
Published Journal of recently enacted Class Action Procedure in Mexico, a primer
for Law Clerks, Judges and Practitioners in Mexico (2014)
Co-Author of Case Course Material for 3rd year law students at U.W. School of
Law (Madison) (entitled: Civil and Constitutional Rights of Institutional Persons)
Prepared CLE material as moderator/speaker on a variety of legal topics (class
actions, mass torts, FDA preemption)
Notable Community Activities:
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Pequeños Pasos de Luz (Audet & Partners, LLP, a family funded program
providing shoes, food, books and educational material and annual Día de Los
Reyes party for underprivileged families and Orphans in Baja, Mexico)
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