Cassidy Viser

Commercial Litigation, Energy and Class Actions

• Trial counsel for Rice Drilling D, LLC in a jury trial in which plaintiffs sought over $60 million in damages for allegedly trespassing on and converting their oil and gas below the surface. Successfully defeated several claims prior to trial with dispositive motions and, after a two-week jury trial before the Chief Judge of the Southern District of Ohio, secured a unanimous jury verdict in the client’s favor. TERA II, LLC et al v. Rice Drilling D, LLC et al., 2:19-cv-02221 (S.D. Ohio).
• Counsel for EQT Corporation lawsuits related to the terms of oil and gas leases under Ohio law bringing claims for trespass and conversion.
• Secured final judgment and permanent injunction against Plants & Goodwin, Inc. and its CEO, requiring them to maintain the confidentiality of EQT Corporation’s proprietary information.
• Represented a leading aviation maintenance and financial-support provider as defendant and counter-claimant in litigation brought by a European airline seeking tens of millions of dollars for alleged fraudulent inducement and breaches of contract, including improper termination. Resulted in favorable settlement.
• Counsel for TotalEnergies SE and multiple subsidiaries in climate change litigation pending in jurisdictions across the United States. Successfully achieved dismissal from lawsuits in California and Oregon and prevailed on motions to dismiss in lawsuit brought by Delaware Attorney General.
• Counsel for EQT Corporation, along with certain of EQT's affiliates, in putative class action litigation concerning abandoned gas wells in West Virginia. In 2024, the court struck a proposed class of West Virginia landowners alleging trespass and negligence against Diversified. Settlement achieved.

Multidistrict Litigation

• Currently representing Archroma and Huntsman in multidistrict litigation involving alleged PFAS contamination.
  

Restructuring

• Represented Sinclair Broadcast Group and affiliated entities in a nineteen-count adversary proceeding filed by Diamond Sports Group and affiliated debtors alleging constructive and intentional fraudulent conveyance, breach of fiduciary duty and alter ego claims. Settlement achieved.
• Represented Express and its affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Achieved a successful sale, allowing Express to continue as a going concern.
• Represented Cineworld Group plc, the parent company of Regal Entertainment Group, which is the second-largest cinema chain in the world, and 104 of its debtor affiliates in their Chapter 11 cases and in related litigation proceedings. Kirkland secured a temporary restraining order and then preliminary injunction in an adversary proceeding addressing violations of automatic stay by National Cinemedia, a contractual counterparty that provides advertising services to Cineworld, which was sending letters to competitors trying to prevent them from negotiating an alternative deal with Cineworld. Settlement achieved with National Cinemedia. Reorganization plan approved.
  

Personal Injury Litigation

• Counsel for private equity company and portfolio companies in wrongful death personal injury litigation in Texas State Court. Settlement achieved.
• In re Astroworld Litigation: Counsel for personal injury and wrongful death litigants in Texas State Court multidistrict litigation in connection with the 2021 Astroworld music festival.*
• In re KMCO Litigation: Trial counsel for personal injury for personal injury and wrongful death litigants in Texas State Court multidistrict litigation in connection with catastrophic 2019 plant explosion.*
• Lead trial counsel for personal injury litigant in Texas State Court in connection with catastrophic automobile accident. Secured favorable settlement.*

*Matters handled prior to joining Kirkland.