Chocolates, roses just don't appeal in rights lawsuit.

WHERE is the love?

A three-judge panel in 2nd Appellate District threw out claims brought by Los Angeles consumer attorney Morse Mehrban that an auto show producer violated the civil rights of men and broke California's unfair and illegal business practice law when it gave away chocolates and roses to women on Valentine's Day, 2002.

"'It was nonsense," said Edward Gartenberg, a partner at Thelen Reid & Priest LLP representing Motor Trend Auto Shows Inc., a division of Primedia Inc.'s consumer automotive group. "He apparently picked up something on the Internet in which our client was offering to give out a rose and a Hershey's Kiss to the first 'x' number of people who showed up. It was given out to women without asking, and men had to ask for it."

Mehrban, representing Citizen Justice LLC, brought the suit in July 2002. A lower court also tossed it out.

Mehrban, through an assistant, declined comment.

The cause of action is familiar terrain for Mehrban, who has sued several California nightclubs, including Grand Avenue and the Century Club, for similar violations in their "ladies night" promotions.

It is also the second case Mehrban has filed against Motor Trend. The first, filed on behalf of a non-profit organization called Consumer Cause Inc., was thrown out in June 2002, Gartenberg said.

But don't expect the roses and chocolate to be back this year. "'The promotional effort in doing that wasn't worth the expense and cost of further litigation," Gartenberg said.

Committee Heads

Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman Machtinger & Kinsella LLP announced two new members to its five-person management committee.

Joining the committee are Gregory' Aldisert, chairman of the firm's collections committee, and Lawrence Iser, head of its litigation department and partner in charge of marketing.

They join managing partner Norman Levine, Dennis Ellman and Richard Posell, who were reelected.

New Role

Libel attorney Gary Bostwick has left Davis Wright Tremaine LLP for Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, where he will be a partner in the entertainment and media practice group.

Bostwick has represented political commentator and recall candidate Arianna Huffington and served as defense counsel in a hotel fire disaster in Puerto Rico.

Branching Out

The former head of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP's Los Angeles employment group has left to join Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC as a partner. Loft Bowman, who was at Orrick for 16 years, represents employers in discrimination, wrongful termination and wage-and-hour disputes.

Staff reporter Amanda Bronstad can be reached at [phone] ext. 225. or at [e-mail].