[2] In February 2014, Papiano was declared "not eligible to practice law" by order of the State Bar Court of California.
[3] In the mid-1970s, Papiano was hired by Oakland Athletics owner Charlie Finley to file a restraint-of-trade lawsuit against Major League Baseball and Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.
In the spring of 1976, Finley commenced a "fire sale" of the team's highly paid players, including Reggie Jackson.
When Finley sold Vida Blue to the New York Yankees and Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers to the Boston Red Sox, Kuhn voided the sales as being contrary to the "best interest of baseball.
"[4] Papiano and Finley lost the case, as the court ruled that "the Commissioner has the authority to determine whether any act, transaction, or practice is not within the best interest of baseball, and upon such determination, to take whatever preventative or remedial action he deems appropriate, whether or not the act, transaction, or practice complies with the Major league Rules or involves moral turpitude."
[6] Papiano and Taylor cited two articles, one that said she had brought liquor into her hospital room when she was ill and another that said she was suffering from lupus.
While neither side would disclose the amount of the settlement, Papiano said, "Miss Taylor is very delighted with it, and small things do not make her happy.
The suit was unsuccessful, and in November 1996 Superior Court Judge Fumiko Wasserman ordered Taylor and Fortensky to pay $432,600 to cover the Enquirer's legal costs.
The tabloid newspaper published a story in 1991 that included photographs taken with a high technology lens of Collins and a male guest and their conduct while on private property.
In addition to claims for invasion of privacy and defamation, the suit filed by Papiano on Collins' behalf alleged that the taking of the photographs and the publication and distribution of the article were "racketeering" activities and attempted to allege a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) cause of action.
Papiano represented actress-turned-director Sondra Locke in a lawsuit against Warner Bros., accusing the studio and Clint Eastwood of conspiring to keep her out of work.
[12] Locke's lawsuit alleged that after Eastwood ended his relationship with her, he settled her palimony claim in part by telling Locke he had set up a three-year, $1.5 million development deal for her at Warner Bros.[12] After the studio rejected all of her projects, she accused the studio of conspiring to keep her from directing and producing as a favor to Eastwood, one of Hollywood's biggest stars.
[12] Papiano defended Locke when she was sued by her previous attorney, Peggy Garrity, for cutting the lawyer out of $1 million in fees.
Papiano successfully argued to the Court of Appeal that the arbitration agreement signed by Matthau with the agency was not binding on his son.
"[18] In 2004, Papiano filed a libel action on behalf of a Napa priest in a lawsuit filed against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles stemming from an accusation to the Church that the Monsignor had molested a grade-school girl more than 30 years earlier in Southern California, even though he had never been criminally charged.
"[19] Papiano said that his client wanted the woman, the law firm and SNAP to drop their allegations of abuse and issue apologies.
[21] The regional director of the Survivors Network, Mary Grant, noted at the time: "Church leaders for too long have been allowed to isolate victims, blame them as though the crime was their fault.
"[21] Grant called tho woman a "brave survivor" and said that because the priest remained in active ministry, "we are worried about the safety of youngsters around him.
"[25] At the time of the settlement (which included more than 500 other claims), Cardinal Roger Mahony made a public apology, saying: "There really is no way to go back and give them that innocence that was taken from them.
"[25] In 2007, Papiano represented Robert Raphaelson and two others in an eight-day jury trial in Las Vegas federal court.
[26] Papiano argued his client was forced into secrecy because plaintiff allegedly sabotaged previous deals by wanting to hold out too long for the highest possible price.
Plaintiffs' attorney said: "What do you think is the best outcome: Pay to settle the case … or … have a jury of your peers tell the world that you committed breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and fraud and that you acted with oppression and malice?
Plaintiffs also asked the court to refer aspects of the case to law enforcement for an investigation into alleged fraudulent documents.
A jury returned verdicts on both the state and RICO claims against the Andrews, awarding Pincay $670,685 and McCarron $313,000 in compensatory damages.
On remand, Pincay elected to pursue the remedy on his California law claim, and judgment was entered in his favor on July 3, 2002.
The case was tried in San Diego County Superior Court and the jury awarded Weddington $160,000 alternatively based upon breach of contract or conversion [civil theft].
"[28] The Los Angeles Times also reported that an independent hearing officer reported that "Papiano told ethics officials that he would provide detailed information about how money from Bernson's officeholder account was used to buy Hollywood Bowl tickets if ethics officials would agree to drop the case against Bernson.
[36] Papiano made a donation to the Los Angeles Zoo for a children's play park which bears his name.