Results Driven

Successes

Rome LLP Wins $16.2 Million Jury Verdict for Specialty Payments in ISO Residuals Dispute

In 2025, Rome LLP won a $16.2 million jury verdict on behalf of Specialty Payments in a high-stakes dispute over ISO residual commissions and interference with agent agreements. Rome LLP founder Eugene Rome and co-counsel Christopher Schwegmann proved that Paynetworx LLC and merchant defendants ERI Brands LLC, Rocket Systems Inc., Elisabeth R. Imhoff, and Jared J. Davis (collectively, the “ERI Defendants”) conspired to unlawfully cut Specialty out of its earned commissions on more than $297 million in processing volume. The jury awarded $7.385 million against the ERI Defendants for tortious interference, and $723,684.43 against Paynetworx for civil theft, plus attorneys’ fees. Jurors also imposed punitive damages of $7 million against Davis and $600,000 each against ERI and Rocket Systems.

Rome LLP Secures Class Action Victory on Behalf of Merchants Assessed Hidden Chargeback Fees

In Print Your Plaques, the merchants were assessed an Enhanced Chargeback Fee buried deep in the merchant agreement. While appearing to be a monthly charge, the subject fee was assessed on a “per transaction” basis, leading to substantial amounts being debited from merchant accounts. Rome LLP commenced a class action against Choice and Esquire Bank on behalf of a client who was charged in this manner. Following months of litigation, Rome LLP is pleased to report that the case has been settled in full.

Rome LLP Secures Defense Win on Behalf of Former CEO in $9M Dispute

In 2022, Eugene Rome and Sridavi Ganesan successfully defended a former CEO of a 1500-person engineering firm accused of perpetrating a “rent-a-vet” scheme. The case spanned three years and culminated in a 3-week long evidentiary hearing before a AAA arbitration panel in Delaware. Rome LLP came into the case after the engineering firm had self-reported to the DOJ and was fined in the amount of $5.27 million. Subsequently, the engineering firm sought to recover more than $9 million from its former CEO / pursued its former CEO for over $9 million in resulting losses / in Federal Court and a AAA arbitration. The arbitrator, in an 89-page opinion, cleared the firm’s client of claims of breaches of fiduciary duty and fraud, ultimately awarding the engineering company nothing on its claims.

Appletec Ltd., P.C. v. Namecheap, Inc.: Court Rules in Favor of Client Namecheap, Israeli Defamation Judgment Not Enforceable in U.S.

A plaintiff obtained a default judgment in Israel against our client Namecheap for nearly $800,000 based on allegedly defamatory statements posted on the Internet. Namecheap was not accused of making any of the defamatory statements. It was merely the internet service provider used by anonymous third-parties. Namecheap is a U.S. -based company, but the plaintiff chose to sue in Israel because if it had sued in the United States, its claims would have failed due to free speech protections under the First Amendment and other U.S. laws. This phenomenon of litigants filing defamation lawsuits in international forums with plaintiff-friendly policies is known as “libel tourism.“

In response, we successfully obtained a court order holding that the Israeli judgment was not enforceable in the United States. Among other things, the court concluded that the Israeli judgment was inconsistent with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act as well the federal SPEECH Act, a law enacted in 2010 to address libel tourism. The ruling represents a victory for free speech on the Internet.

Namecheap vs. ICANN Arbitration: Arbitration Panel Rules Against ICANN and Calls for Policy Reform

Served as California co-counsel in connection with a large-scale international arbitration against the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) where, in a 172-page ruling, the arbitration panel found that ICANN violated its Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation and called for corrective measures and long-term policy change.

Rome LLP Settles Two Brain Injury Cases

In 2019, Mr. Rome and Ms.Ganesan settled two complicated personal injury matters involving traumatic brain injury claims. The first matter entailed a premises liability claim where a toddler sustained a severe brain injury and his family members who observed the incident suffered severe emotional distress. After two years of contentious litigation, Mr. Rome and Ms.Ganesan secured an $18.5 million global settlement for the family. In a separate matter, Mr. Rome and Ms.Ganesan represented a passenger in a horrific car wreck that resulted in traumatic brain injury to the passenger. That case settled for over $2 million within a year of filing.

$2,400,000 Judgment

In 2016, Mr. Rome and Ms.Ganesan secured an $2,400,000 judgment against an international art fraudster in a case concerning a sale of two Marc Chagall paintings. The dispute arose when our client, Opera Gallery, purchased two $400,000 Chagall pieces that they later learned were fake which the seller refused to deliver. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/opera-gallery-gilles-dyan-gailord-bovrisse-640784.

$9 Million Verdict

In 2016, after a two-week jury trial, Mr. Rome obtained a $9 million verdict consisting of $1.5 million in actual damages and $7.5 million in a cross-border payment processing dispute involving an elaborate web of individuals and companies working in concert to divert funds belonging to his clients.

$735,465 in Actual and $1.45 Million in Punitive Damages

In February of 2015, Eugene first-chaired a jury trial in Santa Ana Federal Court. In the action, Eugene represented a prominent businessman in an action for breach of oral agreement and fraud arising out of a failed referral relationship in the complex international payment processing space. After about two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict in plaintiff’s favor on all counts, awarding in excess of $735,465 in actual damages and $1.45 million in punitive damages on the fraud and conversion claims.

$329,000 in Actual and $987,000 in Punitive Damages

In September of 2014, Eugene Rome of Rome LLP first-chaired a jury trial on behalf of an investor against a public company and the promoter of its stock. In the action, the investor was defrauded out of his funds in a sophisticated swindle entailing multiple shell companies, nominee agents and stock manipulation. After 3 days of trial, the case was settled as to the company and its CEO in exchange for additional issue of stock and cash payments by the company and the company’s former securities attorney. Trial proceeded as to the stock promoter and Eugene procured a verdict of $329,000 in actual damages, $987,000 in punitive damages and an award of attorneys’ fees.

Electronic Frontier Foundation

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) released a new report and scorecard that shows what online service providers are doing to protect users from baseless copyright and trademark complaints. Out of a multitude of companies, including Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube, only WordPress and Rome LLP’ client, registrar Namecheap, Inc. procured a 5-star rating.

https://www.eff.org/press/
releases/which-service-providers-side-users-ip-disputes.

Rome LLP played an integral part in the development and implementation of the policies and terms which resulted in this terrific finding by the EFF and participated in the review process which resulted in the 5-star rating.

Complex Fraud Settlement

Procured a settlement consisting of stock and cash from a public company on the fourth day of a jury trial in a case involving a complex fraud perpetrated by the stock promoter during the reverse merger of the company.

Namecheap, Inc. v. Amecheap.com

In a matter entitled Namecheap, Inc. v. Amecheap.com, et al., the attorneys at Rome LLP initiated an action against 46 domain names infringing Namecheap’s marks, the registrants of the domain names and individuals monetizing said domains. On January 3, 2013, California Central District Court Judge Gary A. Feess entered judgment in Namecheap’s favor, finding each domain and related registrant liable for $50,000 in statutory damages for a total of $1,300,000. Further, Judge Feess entered an injunction against the operators of the domains as well as the registrars, prohibiting further infringement and instructing a transfer of the domains to Namecheap, Inc. pursuant to the in rem provision of the ACPA.

$3.75 Million Judgment

Obtained a $3.75 million dollar judgment on behalf of a client against the main perpetrator of a ponzi scheme that was set up as a futures trading company. In the same repesentation, secured a $3.75 million judgment against the defendant’s attorney who enabled the fraud.

Andy Warhol Diamond Dust Painting

Successfully represented the owner of a prominent Andy Warhol diamond dust painting in an action involving competing claimants to the proceeds from the auction of the subject painting. The client recovered a substantial portion of the sale price.

Solid Host, NL v. NameCheap, Inc.

Represented the defendant in Solid Host, NL v. NameCheap, Inc., No. 08-5414, 2009 WL 2225726 (C.D. Cal. May 19, 2009) in a precedent-setting matter. Persuaded the California District Court to limit the direct liability of anonymous registration service provider for violations of the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) and to restrict third party beneficiary claims brought under the provisions of the ICANN Registrar Accreditation Agreement.

Successfully Defended the World-Renowned Opera Singer Sara Brightman

Successfully defended the world-renowned opera singer Sara Brightman in a Ninth Circuit appeal arising out of a purported breach of contract. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the lower court’s decision.