had the unique legal career of handling some of
the nation's most significant cases in both civil and criminal law.J. Simpson trial brought Johnnie national recognition, he
was accustomed to representing many high-profile clients. This historical verdict, obtained by Senior partner, Jock
Smith, was the largest verdict in the U.

Business Editors/Legal Writers

CHICAGO----DRI-The Voice of the
Defense Bar today hailed the passage of the Class Action Fairness Act,
calling it a common sense reform to an abused system. Other notable cases include litigation
involving the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Average Wholesale Price Drug litigation,
United Airlines litigation, Exxon Mobile Securities litigation, and Louisiana
Pacific Siding litigation.

Contacts:
Steve Berman, 206-623-7292
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, LLP
steve@hbsslaw .

hurd residing

His
career included a position in the criminal defense division of the City
Attorney's office in Los Angeles, serving as the Assistant District Attorney
for Los Angeles County, as well as litigating civil and criminal cases in
private practice. Johnnie's strength in the courtroom was his dedication to
his clients and their protection within the judicial system.

comprehension excerpt

Vince Imhoff, Managing Partner of The Cochran Firm-Criminal Defense
section, states: "I am privileged to be carrying out Mr."
Although the O. Sampson: "Over the
last 10 years, abuses of the class action mechanism in state
courts have increased the cost of consumer goods and
undermined public respect for and confidence in the judicial
system, all the while burdening the very courts forced to deal
with them. The
lawsuit was originally filed in June 2001, and charged Raytheon and certain of
its officers with violating federal securities laws in connection with an
April 2000 sale to Washington Group International.
Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro and lead
attorney for the plaintiffs, said that this case had substantial challenges to
recovery, but the settlement ultimately resulted in a victory for investors.5 million settlement of
The Boeing Company litigation.

reflects unfettered

Representation of clients in both criminal and civil cases throughout his
legal profession won Johnnie recognition by the Los Angeles Bar Association.
He was the only attorney in Los Angeles ever to receive both the "Criminal
Trial Lawyer of the Year ," as well as the "Civil Trial Lawyer of the Year. DRI members made
the following statements:

DRI President Richard T. The
Class Action Fairness Act will assure fair and prompt
recoveries for class members with legitimate claims and lower
the burden that is ultimately shouldered by American taxpayers
and consumers.
DRI also has an international presence , seeking to enhance
understanding of the law among members of the defense community who
have reason to be concerned with the expanding globalization of
litigation defense. According to the suit, the RE+C division had cost overruns of
approximately $700 million that were known to exist at the time of sale, but
were not disclosed to investors.

balin sued

National Legal Defense Organization Hails Signing of Class Action Fairness Act into Law; DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar Says New Law ''Puts Common Sense Bac

The suit alleged that Raytheon deliberately misrepresented the financial
condition of its Raytheon Engineers + Constructors (RE+C) division in order to
sell the division to Washington Group International at an artificially
inflated price.

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The firm will continue to be known as The Cochran Firm.6
billion verdict for a client against an insurance company for breach of
contract and fraud.

About Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, LLP
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, LLP is a law firm with offices in Seattle,
Cambridge, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.

libel scenarios

threatened reflects

WGI Investors to Be Reimbursed $39 Million

SEATTLE, Attorneys representing investors of
Washington Group International, Inc.

comprehension notable

In the 1980's, rape
charges were dismissed against football star Jim Brown, and TV star Todd
Bridges was acquitted of attempted murder, voluntary manslaughter and assault
with a deadly weapon.org

handman publish

Cochran, Jr.

suits slander

Johnnie L."

DRI members are available for further comment. Key provisions of
the Class Action Fairness Act supported by DRI include:

-- Generally transfer class action lawsuits from state to federal
courts in cases with at least $5 million in dispute and where
at least one proposed plaintiff and defendant are from
different states;

-- Require class action counsel fees be based on the value of the
settlement to class members if that settlement provides for
payment in coupons or other non-monetary awards;

-- Require careful judicial scrutiny of any proposed action
settlements where the class members ' award is non-monetary,
such as coupon settlements;

-- Bar settlements that favor some class members over others
based solely on geographic proximity to the court hearing the
case.

Raytheon Settles Securities Class-Action Suit

Information about defamation, libel, and slander law.

unfettered worried

He successfully defended hip-hop star Sean "Puffy"
Combs, boxing champion Riddick Bowe, rapper Snoop Dogg and basketball star
Latrell Spreewell.

publish defamation

LOS ANGELES, The Cochran Firm, founded by famed
attorney Johnnie L ., and one of America's largest personal injury
plaintiff's law firms, has announced it will combine its practice with Imhoff
and Associates, one of the nation's largest and foremost criminal defense
firms. Boyette: "The Class Action Fairness
Act is a measured and necessary solution to an aspect of our
legal system plagued with abuse. The firm has developed a
nationally recognized practice in class-action litigation.com

suits balin

"

DRI Executive Director John R . DRI provides numerous
educational and informational resources to its more than 21,000
members and offers many opportunities for liaison among defense trial
lawyers, corporate America, and state and local defense organizations. The suit alleged that as a result of these
cost overruns and Raytheon 's refusal to reimburse Washington Group, Washington
Group's stock plummeted severely and the company ultimately sought protection
under bankruptcy laws.

leaflet plaintiffs

plaintiffs defamation

I
will commit myself and our attorneys to upholding Mr.
In March 2005, Johnnie Cochran died at the age of 67. More than a
celebrity lawyer, he had made an impact on the American justice system. He
was relentless in his efforts to make a difference in the community and the
lives of the clients he represented."
With the merger of these two powerful firms, The Cochran Firm continues to
execute Johnnie's vision of a national law firm capable of handling an even
wider scope of legal cases, and will now be able to offer their clients the
benefit of one of the most elite combinations of criminal defense and civil
plaintiff legal talent and resources available."

DRI Immediate Past President William R. Also, as part of the settlement agreement, the Raytheon Corporation
makes no admission of wrongdoing.

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Cochran's reputation of
providing quality service to people in need of legal representation.

reflects sued

Johnnie also defended mega-star Michael Jackson against
charges of child molestation, and the late rapper Tupac Shakur , who was
acquitted of weapons charges.
The Cochran Firm's civil case history includes numerous record-setting,
multimillion dollar verdicts and settlements including a $700 million judgment
and settlement for victims of environmental pollution, and a recent $1. It preserves access to the
courts for genuinely aggrieved claimants and assures
defendants a level playing field . Visit DRI at www.

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America's Largest Personal Injury Law Firm Merges With America's Largest Criminal Defense Firm

S. announced that they have reached a
proposed $39 million settlement with the Raytheon Corporation (NYSE: RTN). The firm also served as counsel in several other high-profile
cases including the Washington Public Power Supply litigation, which resulted
in a settlement of more than $850 million , and the $92.com

Mark Firmani, 206-443-9357
Firmani + Associates, Inc.

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Cochran 's legacy.
The settlement is subject to certain conditions, including approval by the
court .

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Cochran, Jr.
The Cochran Firm-Criminal Defense Section will handle cases in Federal,
State , Juvenile and Appellate courts in all 50 states. I
have devoted the entirety of my legal profession to helping individuals
charged with crimes, enabling them to achieve justice in the legal system . The net effect results in
more confidence and fairness in the civil justice system.

DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar, is the national organization of
defense trial lawyers and corporate counsel.dri.

reflects slander

Johnnie and his firm continue to be some of the most respected and sought-
after lawyers in America. Kouris: "We now have reform
that puts common sense back into the class action system.
"We worked long and hard to unearth evidence of Raytheon's actions and put
pressure on the company," said Berman. "We are pleased to see those efforts
come to fruition, and feel that this settlement rightly benefits the
investors."
According to the terms of the proposed settlement , Raytheon Corporation
will pay $39 million to the settlement class of shareholders who purchased WGI
stock or bonds from April 17, 2000 through March 2, 2001.

leaflet hurd

The attorneys of The
Criminal Defense Section will remain committed to handling cases involving
most types of criminal charges and employ a team of attorneys, case managers,
case analysts, research specialists and investigators who are dedicated to the
successful representation of their clients. The Class Action Fairness Act is a common sense
reform desperately needed by everyone who cares about justice
in America .
mark@firmani.

suits comprehension

The firm is co-lead
counsel in litigation to recover losses from Enron employees ' retirement
funds, and represented Washington and 12 other states in lawsuits against the
tobacco industry that resulted in the largest settlement in the history of
litigation.

handman reflects

for the year 2004 .