Representative Engagements
REPRESENTATIVE ENGAGEMENTS PROIVDED BELOW ARE FOR REFERENCE ONLY. EACH CASE AND OUTCOME DEPENDS ON UNIQUE FACTORS. CLAYBROOK LLC DOES NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT SIMILAR RESULTS.
Peru Missionary Shoot-down Case. In 2001, a Peruvian fighter pilot, with assistance from a CIA tracking plane, shot down a missionary float plane over the Amazon River, killing one missionary and her infant and seriously wounding the missionary pilot. Mr. Claybrook was lead counsel representing the mission board and the missionaries and their families in negotiating settlements with the Peru and United States Governments.
Schoolchildren Witnessing Case. Elementary schools prohibited their students from distributing literature and materials such as “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” pencils during non-scholastic sessions. Mr. Claybrook prepared a successful amicus brief on behalf of the schoolchildren. Morgan v. Swanson, 659 F.3d 359 (5th Cir. 2011) (en banc).
Pastor Witnessing Case. A California pastor’s attempts to witness at shopping mall space considered a public area was effectively shut down by licensing and space regulations. Mr. Claybrook prepared a successful amicus brief on his behalf. Snatchko v. Westfield LLC, 187 Cal. App. 4th 469 (3d Dist. 2010).
House Church Zoning Case. A county effectively would have shut down a small house church by making the house comply with zoning regulations as if it were a freestanding church. Mr. Claybrook successfully defended the church, resulting in the county rescinding its violation notice after the hearing and even before a decision was rendered.
Small Business Contract Case. The Air Force repeatedly breached its contract with a small business that supplied telephones in its lodging rooms on several bases in Germany. Over the course of a decade, Mr. Claybrook successfully litigated as lead counsel on behalf of the small business, resulting in the government ultimately paying over $200 million for its breaches. Some of the over 20 published decisions in the case include SUFI Network Services, Inc. v. United States, 817 F.3d 773 (2016), and 128 Fed. Cl. 683 (2016). In the latter decision awarding attorney fees, the judge found Mr. Claybrook and his team to have achieved exceptional results and to be uniquely qualified to have achieved them.
Large Business Contract Case. The Navy breached its contract with a large manufacturer to allow it to compete for awards after it spent the money to qualify as a second source for a fighter engine. Mr. Claybrook successfully litigated as co-lead counsel on the merits, after which the case settled for a substantial sum. UTC, Pratt & Whitney, 97-1 BCA 28818 (ASBCA 1997).
Postal Service Contract Case. USPS breached its obligation to a large business that had set up facilities around the country to handle and distribute its package mail service. Mr. Claybrook successfully litigated this case as co-lead counsel, achieving successful rulings on the merits, with the case settling shortly before the damages trial for a substantial sum. Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc. v. United States, 47 Fed. Cl. 461 (2000).