George D. Ruttinger is a partner in the Government Contracts and International Dispute Resolution groups. The Washingtonian Magazine described George as "one of the city's top contracts lawyers [with] a track record of obtaining summary judgments in some of the most heralded defense industry-related lawsuits." He has represented clients in a broad range of industries, including aerospace, technology, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
George chairs the firm's International Dispute Resolution Group. He has represented domestic and foreign clients in international arbitrations before tribunals of the International Chamber of Commerce, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, Netherlands Arbitration Institute and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
George is a versatile litigator and trial lawyer who has successfully represented clients in complex antitrust litigation and mass torts cases. He won summary judgment for Caterpillar in the Welding Fumes litigation, resulting in dismissal of over 3,000 cases that had been centralized in the Eastern District of Ohio.
George served as a law clerk to The Honorable Malcolm R. Wilkey of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
George is a member of the California and District of Columbia bars as well as the bars of seven federal courts of appeals, five federal trial courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
George's pro bono work includes serving as general counsel of the Equal Rights Center, the leading civil rights enforcement agency in D.C., and on the Executive Committee of the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. In 2011, the Lawyers' Committee presented George with the Wiley A. Branton Award in recognition of his "commitment to civil rights leadership and service" and the National Law Journal named him as a "Champion" who has "upheld the profession's core values through public service, pro bono efforts and advocacy for civil liberties."
George has lectured and written on a variety of issues, including government contract claims and disputes, teaming agreements, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution.
Published Decisions
- Obtained summary judgment dismissing all claims against major equipment manufacturer in over 1,000 actions in a federal Multi-District Litigation proceeding in which plaintiffs claimed that client conspired to conceal the alleged health hazards of manganese in welding fumes. (In re Welding Fumes Prod. Liab. Litig., MDL No. 1535 (N.D. OH), 2007 WL 3226951, Memorandum and Order, October 30, 2007).
- Defended public owner in action by contractors challenging default termination of two subway contracts and asserting over $40 million in construction claims. After a 45-day trial, a favorable trial court decision, an appellate remand, and a re-trial, the court upheld client's decision to terminate the contracts, awarded client - the defendant - $40 million on its counterclaim for extra costs of completion after the termination. (Mergentime Corp. v. WMATA, No. 89-1055, 2006 WL 416177 (D.D.C. Feb. 22, 2006), on remand from 166 F.3d 1257 (D.C. Cir. 1999)).
- Defended aircraft engine contractor in litigation of nine-figure government claim based upon alleged misallocation of overhead expenses to government contracts, rather than to material supplied under international strategic alliances for the manufacture of commercial jet engines. (United Techs. Corp., Pratt & Whitney, ASBCA Nos. 47416, et al., 2001-2 BCA ¶ 31,592 (2001), remanded, Rumsfeld v. UTC, 315 F.3d 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2003)).
- Managed multi-forum antitrust class action litigation against pharmaceutical manufacturer, with results including dismissal of treble damages claims in federal class actions and decision denying motion to certify nationwide consumer class. (In re Warfarin Sodium Antitrust Litig., 212 F.R.D. 231 (D. Del. 2002)); successfully argued for affirmance of class settlement (In re Warfarin Sodium Antitrust Litig., 391 F.3d 516 (3d Cir. 2004)).
- In federal court bid protest litigation, obtained permanent injunction against a 10-year, billion dollar postal service contract for express mail service. (Express One Int'l, Inc. v. U.S.P.S., 814 F. Supp. 93 (D.D.C. 1992)).
- Successfully defended prime contractor against multi-million dollar subcontractor claim for excess costs of disposing of low-level radioactive wastes, and obtained complete recovery on prime contractor's counterclaim. (Nuclear Metals Inc. v. Honeywell, Inc. (D. Mass. 1987), aff'd, 852 F.2d 564 (1st Cir. 1988)).
- Defended public owner in federal court jury trial of claims by construction contractor, resulting in a jury verdict awarding the contractor $100,000 (out of $4.2 million claimed) and allowing owner to retain $400,000 in liquidated damages. (Brinderson Corp. v. Hampton Roads Sanitation Dist., No. 84-1306-A (E.D. Va. 1985), aff'd in part and remanded in part, 825 F.2d 41 (4th Cir. 1987)).
- Obtained summary judgment dismissing Constitutional and common law tort claims against the international construction consortium that built the King Khalid Military City. (Stevens v. Morrison-Knudsen Saudi Arabia Consortium, 576 F. Supp. 516 (D. Md. 1983), aff'd, 755 F.2d 375 (4th Cir. 1985)).
Engagements
- Represented American manufacturer of products for nuclear industry in arbitration convened by the International Chamber of Commerce in London to resolve disputes with an Australian firm relating to its sale to client of intellectual property under an asset purchase agreement and alleged breach of its covenant not to compete (2011).
- Represented small, woman-owned business in classified appeal of termination for default decision, resulting in converting the termination to one for convenience of the government and in payment to the contractor of substantial performance and termination costs (2010).
- Represented airport authority in defending action to enjoin leasing of restaurant space at Reagan National Airport based on alleged violations of statutory requirements for competition; defeated motion for preliminary injunction, resulting in plaintiff's dismissal of action five days before start of new restaurant lease. (Legal Sea Foods v. Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, Case No. 1:09cv711 AJT (2009)).
- Represented Chinese firm in arbitration hearing convened by Stockholm Chamber of Commerce in which a European company asserted claims against our client under a technology licensing agreement (2008).
- Obtained dismissal of qui tam False Claims Act action for failure to prosecute after disqualifying relator's counsel for reviewing client's improperly obtained privileged documents. (Peoples ex rel. U.S. v. Eagle-Picher Indus., Inc. (W.D. Mo. 2003)).
- Represented major transportation corporation in international arbitration with Dutch port operator regarding alleged breach of a long-term contract for use of a deepsea container handling terminal in Rotterdam. (Europe Container Terminus B.V. v. Sea-Land Serv., Inc., NAI Arbitration No. 2541).
- Obtained dismissal of FCA suit brought against client's former subsidiary (US ex. rel Bumgardner v. Datatape, Inc., No. 99-682-A (E.D. Va. 1999)).
- Represented aerospace company in suit to enjoin competitor's use of misappropriated trade secrets, resulting in permanent injunction and award of attorneys' fees. (Raytheon Co. v. GTE Gov't Sys. Corp., No. 96-5983 A (Super. Ct., Mass. 1997)).
- Defended manufacturer of medical supplies against price fixing conspiracy suits in federal and state courts (In re Medical X-Ray Antitrust Litig., No. 93-5904 (E.D.N.Y. 1997)).
- In federal court subcontracting dispute, represented prime contractor in defending against $300 million contract claim arising out of termination of subcontract for testing of F-18 avionics; settled claims for zero dollars after seven weeks of jury trial. (AAI Corp. v. Harris Corp., No. 85-3021 (D. Md. 1989)).
- Represented construction contractor in ADR proceeding to resolve $55 million differing site conditions claim arising out of construction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway for the Corps of Engineers. (Tenn Tom Constructors (ENGBCA 1986)).