Press Release
Press Release
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Taina Rosa, Olivia Meyer
08.13.26
A team of Pillsbury lawyers secured a significant trial victory for client Anna Yu, a Hong Kong-based sourcing executive, and her company, Elva Green Clothing Company Ltd, in a hard-fought commercial dispute in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The August 10, 2026, verdict awards Yu and Elva Green Clothing approximately $2.2 million, including interest, and marks a dramatic reversal of fortunes. Previously, in 2024, the court had ruled against Yu and Elva Green Clothing, awarding $1.98 million to the other side. After taking over the case, Pillsbury successfully vacated that original judgment and then won approximately $2.2 million at trial, including interest. Taken together, Pillsbury’s success in vacating the prior $1.98 million judgment and securing the affirmative recovery represents an over $4 million turnaround for the clients following years of contentious litigation.
Minnie Rose LLC, a New York-based clothing company owned by Lisa Shaller-Goldberg, hired Yu and her company in 2009 to serve as its sourcing agent in China. In 2016, Minnie Rose sued Yu and Elva Green Clothing, alleging that Yu had inflated factory invoices and caused Minnie Rose to pay approximately $1.4 million in excess commissions and other costs, resulting in at least $2.2 million in damages to Minnie Rose.
In 2024, the court entered judgment against Yu and Elva Green Clothing for $1.98 million in damages and dismissed all of Yu’s counterclaims and third-party claims with prejudice.
Pillsbury took over representation in March 2025 and immediately persuaded the court to vacate the judgment in its entirety and order a new trial.
Following an intensive trial, which concluded on August 10, 2026, the jury returned a sweeping verdict in favor of Yu and Elva Green Clothing. The jury rejected the fraud and unjust enrichment claims asserted against Pillsbury’s clients. It instead found Minnie Rose and its owner, Shaller-Goldberg—who also served as the designer behind the well-known Juicy Couture brand—liable for fraud. The jury also ruled in Yu’s favor on claims against Minnie Rose for unjust enrichment, breach of contract and account stated.
The Pillsbury Litigation team included Litigation partners Geoffrey Sant, Amanda Freyre and Carol Lee; Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defense partner Richard Donoghue; Litigation associates Fangwei Wang and Constance Tian; and Litigation legal manager Hanzhi Lin.