Costco Gets Conflicted Counsel Disqualified in Slip-and-Fall Row

Costco Wholesale Corp. convinced a federal judge in California to disqualify the law firm representing a woman seeking to hold the retailer liable for the injuries she suffered after falling in a store.

Costco moved to disqualify Zoila Sierra’s counsel, Downtown L.A. Law Group, based on an alleged conflict of interest caused by one of its attorneys, Anthony Werbin. Werbin purportedly represented Costco in numerous cases while employed with another firm. Costco argued that he has confidential attorney-client information related to the case, and that the conflict has spread to the new firm.

Judge Jeffrey S. White of the ...