Krista Lee Baughman

As a partner of Dhillon Law Group with over a decade of experience in the courtroom, Krista has managed precedent-setting cases, including those that:

• Established that university Title IX proceedings are protected forums for speech under California’s anti-SLAPP statute;
• Defined the parameters of California’s “revenge porn” law as applied to elected officials;
• Achieved a landmark settlement to ensure the First Amendment rights of students at UC Berkeley;
• Eradicated unconstitutional speech-restricting policies in a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of San Clemente on behalf of its citizens;
• Clarified the 9th Circuit standard for due process liability against police, and government qualified immunity, in crowd control situations.

Krista is driven by helping people find solutions for the most stressful and high-stakes problems in their business and personal lives. Krista’s clients appreciate her insightful assessment of legal issues, her creativity in crafting a strategy that thinks three steps ahead, her attention to detail in the execution, and her integrity throughout. Krista is admitted to practice in New York and California and litigates in state and federal courts around the nation. She is proficient in French. On the weekends you can find her going on a family hike, experimenting in the kitchen, or engaging in legal or philosophical debates with her husband.

Reiterman v. Abid (U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, pro hac vice). Obtained take-down orders in initial stage of defamation lawsuit, in connection with anonymous cyber campaign published about client on Reddit, Google, Microsoft, WordPress, Change.org, and others. Obtained $6.5 million judgment for client following victory on appeal and successful motion for summary judgment.

Alonso v. Chahal (San Francisco Superior Court). Defeated appeal and ultimately obtained $12,102,994.07 judgment for professional marketing executive client who was publicly defamed by her former employers.

Katherine Hill v. Kenneth Heslep et al. (Los Angeles Superior Court). In conspiracy and revenge porn matter involving journalist’s reporting of alleged illegal and unethical conduct by a member of Congress, obtained anti-SLAPP order striking complaint and awarding attorneys’ fees in favor of journalist clients.

Woodell v. Bernstein et al. (San Mateo Superior Court). Obtained case-terminating sanctions following successful motion concerning plaintiff’s intentional destruction/ spoliation of evidence in case involving opposing candidates for Menlo Park Fire Protection District Board.

Pekgoz v. Ehrhardt (Los Angeles County Superior Court, 2016). Obtained anti-SLAPP order striking complaint and awarding attorneys’ fees on behalf of client who was sued for defamation in connection with statements made in a university Title IX proceeding. Case created new precedent establishing that Title IX proceedings are protected forums for speech under the anti-SLAPP statute.

Young America’s Foundation v. Napolitano et al. (U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 2018). In federal free speech, retaliation, due process, and equal protection lawsuit involving university’s discriminatory application of a policy to restrict on campus speech by students, achieved landmark settlement to ensure the First Amendment rights of students at University of California, Berkeley.

Malamud et al. v. City of San Clemente (U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2019). In federal free speech and due process lawsuit involving city’s efforts to stifle clients from speaking out against city at city council meetings, achieved settlement protecting the citizens of San Clemente by eradicating the City’s use of unconstitutional speech-restricting policies.

Hernandez v. City of San Jose, 897 F.3d 1125, 1132 (9th Circuit, 2018). Achieved precedent-setting 9^th Circuit decision that clarified the standard for due process liability against police, and government qualified immunity, in crowd control situations.

Hubbard v. TaskRabbit, Inc. (Cal. Court of Appeals, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, 2020). In matter involving alleged personal injury, obtained defense judgment for TaskRabbit following victory on appeal and successful motion for summary judgment.

A.H., a minor, et al. v. Saint Francis High School, et al. (Santa Clara County Superior Court, 2021). Defeated anti-SLAPP motion by private high school seeking to strike clients’ defamation claim, in matter involving high school’s arbitrary and capricious expulsion and defamation of minor students.

Dal Santo v. Nguyen et al. (Los Angeles Superior Court, 2021). Obtained anti-SLAPP order striking complaint and awarding attorneys’ fees in favor of client in defamation lawsuit involving client’s lawful speech on social media.

RPLAC v. Barnett (Los Angeles Superior Court, 2010). In lawsuit by competing political faction to improperly control fundraising and operations of political party organization, obtained anti-SLAPP order striking complaint and awarding attorneys’ fees to political party organization client.

1. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
2. United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
3. United States District Court:
   1. Central District of California
   2. Northern District of California
   3. Eastern District of California
   4. Southern District of California
   5. Southern District of New York
   6. Eastern District of New York

• Lehigh University, B.A. International Relations, magna cum laude
• Brooklyn Law School, J.D., cum laude

• First Amendment law and litigation
• Defamation/ trade libel
• Anti-SLAPP law and litigation
• Pre-publication review

★★★★★
Excellence in every aspect of her job

Krista is that very rare gem of an attorney who exceeds one’s expectations at each and every facet of her profession. I came to her with an important First Amendment case involving a government entity. Her enthusiasm to “fight the good fight” was immediately evident. Her grasp of the issues and attention to detail were impressive, as was the speed with which she evaluated the facts and issues. She communicates very effectively and responds quickly, both with the unexpected bonus of always being courteous and pleasant. At the same time, she has a strong writing voice which results in skillfully worded and firmly precise legal documents. Her initial assessment of the case proved to be entirely accurate, as well as completely successful. She approached the defendants aggressively, and swiftly negotiated a fully favorable outcome. There is no better endorsement than prompt success. I wholeheartedly recommend Krista to anyone needing professional and effective representation.

– S Barr

See more reviews of Krista here