Regrouping after a setback at the U.S. Supreme Court, Steven Zalesin of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler came up big this week for client Coca-Cola Co., clearing it of long-standing false advertising claims by juice-maker POM Wonderful LLC.
POM, which was seeking $77.5 million, accused Coca-Cola of misleading consumers with its labeling on a pomegranate-blueberry flavored juice. POM claimed that Coca-Cola led consumers to believe the drink was primarily pomegranate and blueberry juice, when in reality it was a blend made mostly of less-expensive types of fruit juice. On Monday, Zalesin won a full defense verdict after a six-day trial before a Los Angeles federal jury. Zalesin, who’s spent most of the past three decades as a commercial litigator at Patterson Belknap, described the win as a highlight of his career.
