Debra Belaga
Retired Partner
Debra Belaga is a retired partner in O'Melveny's San Francisco office. She is a member of the Firm’s Business Trial and Litigation Practice and the Class Actions, Mass Torts and Insurance Litigation Practice. Debra is an experienced litigator who regularly serves as national litigation counsel for public companies in complex commercial litigation; mass tort and class actions; fiduciary duty, partnership and corporate governance litigation; and real estate litigation. Debra also has significant appellate and bankruptcy litigation experience. Debra was named one of the “Top Women Litigators in California” by the
Daily Journal in 2008 and 2009.
Illustrative Professional Experience
- After an 11-month trial in San Diego Superior Court, the court issued its decision finding in client Lennar Corporation’s favor against a developer who was seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and, instead, awarding Lennar damages on its cross-complaint.
- Successfully appealed to the California Supreme Court a $1 billion class action jury verdict against Bank of America involving the Bank’s practice of applying directly deposited Social Security benefits to pay overdrafts and fees.
- Represented Lennar Corporation in the Delaware bankruptcy proceeding of LandSource Communities Development LLC, one of the largest land ventures in the country.
- Led the O’Melveny team that secured a $48 million reduction of a $61 million jury award in a national-origin harassment and discrimination case against a public company.
- On behalf of Home Depot, negotiated a favorable settlement of a statewide investigation by the California Attorney General’s office and District Attorneys’ offices into the company’s statewide hazardous waste and materials practices.
- On behalf of Contra Costa County, obtained a reversal in the Ninth Circuit of a district court ruling compelling the county to permit use of public libraries for the conduct of religious services.
Professional Activities
Admitted to Practice, U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (and all districts within the Ninth Circuit); U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Member, American Bar Association; San Francisco Bar Association