Corporate Litigation:
Our client: An oil company.
Matters of representation: We represent our client in a number of complex business litigation issues. Most notably, we successfully defended SCOC in upholding the removal of the president by the board of directors. We also defended the company in blocking a creditors attempt to force the company into bankruptcy as well as in numerous collections matters.
Eminent Domain:
Our clients: Property owners of over 80 parcels in Lancaster, CA.
The case: The County Sanitation District has condemned properties for a project in the Lancaster, CA area. Property owners have trusted us to recover just compensation for their property loss.
Example outcomes:
Base Offer: $65,000 Base Offer: $9,000 Base Offer: $30,000 Base Offer: $65,500
Settlement: $222,732 Settlement: $24,500 Settlement: $89,630 Jury Award: $258,000
Eminent Domain:
Our client: An auto lube business.
The case: The Inglewood Redevelopment Agency condemned our client’s auto shop for part of a redevelopment project. The City claimed that because our client had never earned profit, there was no loss of goodwill. We argued that our client had not been making profit because of ongoing construction in the area, but that his business had become profitable and would only improve now that the new shopping center across the street was completed. Our client, therefore, was entitled to goodwill benefits because of the “cost to create.”
Outcome: Our client was awarded $200,000 in lost goodwill and the appellate court upheld the cost to create approach, setting a precedent for all eminent domain cases in the future.
Breach of Contract Defense:
Our client: A national installation company.
The case: Our client was sued by a major manufacturer of window shutters for breach of contract regarding a joint venture gone bad also involving the Home Depot.
Outcome: We successfully litigated this action through a mediated settlement, saving our client millions of dollars.
Breach of Contract:
Our client: A land developer.
The case: Our client was purchasing property in Riverside, CA, for development of student housing when the seller backed out of the deal and sold the property to another buyer. Our client is now suing for losses.
Status: The case is currently pending trial.
Intellectual Property Rights:
Our client: An Egyptian national and copyright owner of the song “Khosara, Khosara.”
The case: Our client is suing recording artists Jay-Z and Linkin Park for copyright infringement over the songs “Big Pimpin’” and “Big Pimpin’/Papercut.” The music of both songs infringes on music originally composed by our client’s uncle and to which our client is the copyright holder.
Status: The case is currently pending.
Class Action Defense:
Our client: A national manufacturer of natural dietary supplements.
The case: An alleged customer is claiming adulteration of the product and class action status.
Status: We have stalled the plantiff’s case and defeated a motion for certification of the product and will likely get the case thrown out.
