Norman Dupont

Norman Dupont
Phone: (949) 202-5818
Location: 3150 Bristol Street, Suite 220, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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Norman Dupont

Partner

Norman (Norm) Dupont advises public and private clients in complex litigation, environmental and municipal law matters. Norm has tried a variety of cases including environmental, antitrust, contract, labor, and tort cases in both bench and jury trials. He has argued on appeals in both environmental and municipal law cases.

Best Lawyers Logo - Norman DupontMr. Dupont has been recognized by Best Lawyers in 2024 and as “Lawyer of the Year” for Environmental Law-Orange County by Best Lawyers in 2023. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers in Environmental Law every year from 2015-2023, and is again recognized in 2024 for the Southern California area. He is active in the ABA and local bar associations. He currently serves as advisor on constitutional law matters to the ABA’s Section of Environment, Energy & Resources and also as a member of the board for one of the Section’s publications, Trends. He previously served as the Publications Officer for the Section and also as a member on the ABA Standing Committee on Publications Oversight.

Mr. Dupont actively participates in his community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Women Against Gun Violence, a Los Angeles based group which supports sensible gun regulation.

Representative Matters

  • Hermosa Fitness LLP v. City of Hermosa Beach (2020-2021): Mr. Dupont served as co-counsel with Mr. Bobko of the firm on behalf of the plaintiff, which filed a writ of administrative mandate in state court together with a federal court section 1983 civil rights and takings claim against the City of Hermosa Beach after a city council resolution effectively closed Hermosa Fitness’ gym. The trial court issued the writ of mandate and the federal section 1983 case was mediated before a federal magistrate judge resulting in a significant settlement in May 2021.
  • Bradford v. City of Compton (2016-2022): Jury trial with a defense verdict in favor of the City of Compton on labor discrimination/retaliation claims. After remand from the Court of Appeal, a second trial resulted in verdict for plaintiff. In October 2021, the Court of Appeal reversed the jury verdict and remanded the case for further proceedings. In June 2022, the California Court of Appeal granted a summary reversal of an award of attorneys’ fees to plaintiff’s lawyers in the second trial.
  • Edwards Lifesciences LLC v. Regional Water Quality Control Board (2020): Writ of administrative mandate challenging order issued by Regional Board in 2018 concerning real property in Orange County. The Superior Court granted the writ, and the Regional Board subsequently rescinded its order in lieu of any appeal.
  • Orange County Water Dist. v. SABIC Innovative Plastics US, LLC (2011-ongoing): In 2013 an initial bench trial resulted in a defense verdict on state Superfund (HSAA) claims alleging groundwater against multiple corporate defendants. This decision was reversed in part by the Court of Appeal in Orange County Water Dist. v. SABIC Innovative Plastics, US, LLC, 14 Cal.App.5th 343 (2017) and remanded back to the trial court. Currently a bench trial is proceeding before the Orange County Superior Court (Complex Civil Division).
  • Vazquez v. City of Pomona (2021-2022): Mr. Dupont served as co-counsel with Mr. Bobko for an individual defendant in the City’s police department in a combined employment and tort case. In June 2022, the trial court granted summary judgment to defendant.
  • In addition to his extensive trial work, Mr. Dupont has authored numerous high-profile amicus briefs supporting Orange County cities including: Barnes v. Superior Court (2021 WL 516055 (Cal.App. 4 Dist., Div. 3) (objecting to the release of all inmates from the Orange County Jail during COVID-19); Huntington Beach, et. al. v. Gavin Newsom (Case No. 30-2020-01139512-CU-MC-CJC) (supporting OC beach cities’ constitutional right to local control in the face of state beach closures); SoCal Recovery, LLC, et al. v. City of Costa Mesa (Case Nos. 20-55820, 20-55870) (9th Cir. 2023) (supporting local government zoning control).

Professional Affiliations

  • ABA Publication Officer for the Section of Environment, Energy and Resources
  • ABA Standing Committee on Publications Oversight
  • ABA Cybersecurity Task Force
  • Orange County Bar’s Environmental Law Section
  • Women Against Gun Violence – Board of Directors
  • Local Home Owners Association – Past President for approximately ten years

Recent Presentations

Publications

  • Litigation
  • Environmental
  • Municipal Law
  • Litigation
    • Environmental
    • Antitrust
    • Contract
    • Labor
    • Tort
  • Administrative and Regulatory

Education

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, magna cum laude
  • B.A., Stanford University with Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions

  • California