San Francisco
Four Embarcadero Center
Seventeenth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Practices
Peter S. Hecker
Print PDFPartner
Mr. Hecker is a partner in the Business Trial practice group in the firm's San Francisco office.
Areas of Practice
Mr. Hecker has substantial experience defending major consumer litigation, including cases involving alleged false advertising, product defects, and the disclosure of fees and services by a variety of businesses, including computer, software, telecommunications, rental car, self-storage, food and drug, insurance brokerage, and auto finance companies. In particular, he has defended numerous actions brought by consumers under Section 17200 challenging alleged unfair business practices.
Mr. Hecker is a nationally recognized authority on “force-placed” or collateral protection insurance (“CPI”) litigation brought by consumers against banks and auto finance companies. He acted as lead outside counsel in the defense of CPI class actions in California, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Washington, New York and Idaho. He has also defended banks, mortgage lenders and insurance companies in class actions challenging procedures for placing CPI.
In addition, Mr. Hecker’s practice emphasizes complex commercial litigation, particularly in the area of real estate transactions. He has represented diverse clients in the real estate field including lenders, developers, property owners, title companies, landlords, tenants, architects and engineers. He has litigated disputes relating to the development of office complexes, condominiums and apartment houses. Mr. Hecker has also represented an international hotel chain and management company in its disputes with co-developers, construction managers and owners.
In addition to his class action and real estate litigation practice, Mr. Hecker has handled major commercial litigation in federal and state courts on behalf of clients in the heavy-duty truck, steel, pipe, airline, motion picture, stock brokerage, savings and loan, investment banking, microwave technology, licensing and accounting industries, among others.
Education
- J.D., University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1973, Order of the Coif
- B.A., Carleton College, 1970, magna cum laude, with distinction in Comparative Modern Literature
Admissions
- California
- New York
Representative Engagements
Represented Hertz in class actions challenging fuel and service charge in California, Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma and Nevada, including leading cases of Guerra v. Hertz, 504 F. Supp. 2d 1014 (D. Nev. 2007), and Schnall v. Hertz, 78 Cal. App. 4th 1144 (2000).
Represented Palm in class actions alleging damage to personal computers from electrostatic discharge; and litigation challenging termination of wireless service, in which class certification was denied. Eichorn v. Palm, 2008 WL 102222 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008) (unpublished).
Represented flash memory and hard drive manufacturers in class actions challenging disclosures about storage capacity.
Represented McDonald’s in highly publicized, multiple class action “french fries” litigation involving alleged non-disclosure that fries contain beef flavoring.
Represented major auto finance company as national coordinating counsel in 21 class actions involving leasing practices.
Represented leading self-storage companies in class actions regarding late charges.
Represented major insurance brokerage firm in class action litigation challenging its disclosure of commissions and fees.
Represented SsangYong in federal court bench trial involving alleged theft of trade secrets for microwave technology used in radar jammers in F-16 aircraft.
Represented Ford Motor Credit Company in nationwide RICO class action regarding force-placed insurance. Gordon v. Ford Motor Credit Company, 868 F. Supp. 1191 (N.D. Ca. 1992).
Represented title company’s insureds in declaratory relief action involving trustee duties in foreclosure proceedings. Perez v. 222 Sutter St. Partners, 222 Cal. App. 3d 938 (1990).
Represented nationwide hotel chain in four-week arbitration regarding termination of management contract for flagship property.