Theodore B. Kiviat

Member

Phone: 240-772-5933
Fax: 301-291-5028
Email: TKiviat@LVGLawFirm.com
Address:
- 10411 Motor City Drive
  Suite 750 #6E
  Bethesda, MD 20817

A seasoned civil litigator, Theodore Kiviat has over twenty years of multi-jurisdictional experience at the trial and appellate level zealously safeguarding the interests of individuals, organizations, and businesses of all sizes. Ted began his legal career in California, where he honed his skills litigating inside the nation’s largest court system – the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Ted’s practice in Maryland and DC has included the representation of litigants at the trial and appellate level in contract disputes, real estate litigation, insurance claims related litigation, construction defect litigation, product liability litigation, probate litigation, sports law, and general commercial litigation. In Maryland, Ted assisted in the successful appeal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals of a trial court ruling ordering the minority owners of an NBA sports franchise to sell their interests to the majority owner at an unfair price. Ted has also represented the manager of the iconic rap group N.W.A. in litigation against the group’s record label and the estate of its founder Eric “Easy E” Wright. While practicing in California, Ted’s efforts for his clients resulted in two jury verdicts that awarded punitive damages, including a multimillion-dollar fraud verdict against movie director Peter Bogdanovich. Additionally, the firm is a Member of the Maryland Building Industry Association (MBIA), and Ted regularly attends briefings regarding activities and changes in laws which address the commercial and home building industry.

After returning home to practice law in Maryland, Ted practiced in the Civil Litigation Division at two of Maryland’s largest law firms prior to joining Longman & Van Grack in 2014. Recently, as first chair, Ted obtained a defense jury verdict for his client in the Circuit Court for the City of Baltimore in a fraud action wherein the Plaintiff was seeking an award of punitive damages and compensatory damages in excess of $400,000.

Ted regularly advises and represents individuals, businesses, and nonprofits in litigation matters. From case onset through discovery to trial and appeals, Ted brings with him a keen ability to recognize and account for critical issues before they develop. Combined with a practical understanding of the technical and legal issues that encompass the areas within which he practices, Ted is well positioned to champion his clients’ interests with dynamic legal solutions that provide the best strategy for success.

Education

J.D. California Western School of Law, San Diego California
B.A. Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana

Bar Admissions

State of Maryland
Maryland Court of Appeals
Maryland Court of Special Appeals
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
State of California
Supreme Court of California
United States District Court for the District of Maryland
United States District Court for the Southern District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Notable Representations

Obtained a defense jury verdict in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland in an Unfair Competition and Unfair Trade Secrets Act Lawsuit that sought to enjoin the Defendant from continuing to operate its business.
Obtained a defense jury verdict in the Circuit Court for the City of Baltimore in a fraud action where the Plaintiff was seeking compensatory and punitive damages relating to the award of a government procurement contract.
Obtained a jury verdict in the Circuit Court for Carroll County relating to claims revolving around the historic renovation of a 19^th century residence. The jury’s verdict found no liability for Mr. Kiviat’s clients on the claims brought against them by the Plaintiff and awarded Mr. Kiviat’s clients monetary damages, including their attorney’s fees, on their counterclaim for violation of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.
Obtained dismissal in AAA arbitration of the Plaintiff’s attempt to certify construction deficiency claims against his national builder/developer client as a class action arbitration, which would have resulted in thousands of new home buyers in the state of Maryland asserting claims against Mr. Kiviat’s client in an arbitration forum.
Obtained a jury verdict for the Plaintiffs in a fraud claim against director Peter Bogdanovich, which included an award of compensatory damages of $687,000 and a punitive damages award of $3.25 million.
Litigated nationwide construction and product defect litigation on behalf of a prominent national hotel chain, with tens of millions of dollars in dispute and involving a myriad of construction defect, products liability and business tort issues.
Represented Jerry Heller, the manager of the iconic rap group N.W.A. in litigation against the group’s record label and the estate of its founder Eric “Easy E” Wright, wherein Mr. Heller sued to recover fees and royalties that were withheld after Eric Wright’s death.
Represented the marketer of a home safety product in a products liability lawsuit brought by a national home shopping cable TV network.
Represented the Plaintiff in insurance bad faith litigation relating to the collapse of a multi-story apartment complex during the 1994 Northridge California earthquake and an insurer’s denial of insurance claims relating thereto.
Represented a California municipality in constitutional claims relating to the city’s commercial sign ordinances.
Represented the operator of a pay-per-view in room hotel video movie provider in claims asserted by a competitor relating to alleged violations of the Unfair Trade Secrets Act.

Theodore B. Kiviat