Jeffrey G. Huron Member

Partnership and Business Disputes

• Tanager NK, LLC, et al. v. Hankey Capital, LLC, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No.19STCV00833 [JAMS]. Obtained a $7.2 million award, plus an additional $2.3 million in attorney’s fees and costs, after an 11-day arbitration. Client sued managing member of LLC for breach of the operating agreement and fiduciary duty in connection with the real estate development of a $30 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills.
• Young v. D'Elia, et al., including three related lawsuits, Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2013-00659963. Obtained a defense verdict for client, who was sued by his partner for $30 plus million. Plaintiff claimed he was entitled to half of client's investment in Mitsukoshi (a mall in Shanghai) based on an alleged oral partnership.
• Vakili, et al. v. Shahbaz, et al., Orange County Superior Court Case No. 01CC09894. Obtained a unanimous verdict for $7.2 million, including $1.3 million in punitive damages, against defendants after a three week jury trial. The jury found that defendants fraudulently induced client to sign agreements to acquire his business and real estate.
• Moir/Marie Entertainment, LLC, et al. v. Moir, American Arbitration Association. Obtained an award, including a six figure attorney's fee award, in favor of client against her former partner for breach of the LLC operating and breach of fiduciary after a thirteen-day arbitration.
• Del Rio et al. v. Oberfeld, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC507652. Successfully settled partnership dispute for confidential amount. Client alleged that partners breached their fiduciary duty by characterizing capital contributions as loans and then leveraging the loans for additional equity and control over the business.
• Art & Coin Television, LLC, et al. v. Thomas, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC630989. Successfully settled partnership dispute for confidential amount. Client alleged that he bought defendant's interest in the partnership and later discovered that defendant had already started a competing business.
• F&M Ornamental Design, LLC v. Hale, American Arbitration Association. Obtained an award in favor of attorney-client for the return of her investment after a 30-day arbitration. Proved that client's business partner made misrepresentations to induce client to invest in business.
• Sobrato v. Granum, American Arbitration Association. Obtained an award, including attorney's fees, for client against his former partner, a billionaire Silicon Valley real estate developer, after a five-day arbitration before three arbitrators.
• TenTex Tallow, Inc. v. AltAir Paramount, LLC (Delek), Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC616064. Successfully settled case after five-day bifurcated bench trial of the client's affirmative defenses before jury trial of plaintiff's claim for breach of contract. The parties' contract dispute concerned the supply of tallow to produce biofuels for jets.
• Tummers v. 89908, Inc., et al., Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2013-00651172. Successfully settled breach of fiduciary duty complaint against majority shareholder for alleged self-dealing and oppression in connection with sale of a closely held corporation.
• Leon v. Del Rio, American Arbitration Association. Obtained a defense award, including attorney's fees, for client sued by his partner for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud after a five-day arbitration.

Lender Disputes

• CFS Financial Services v. Safety Storage, Inc. et al., Orange County Superior Court Case No. 02-CC-04956. Obtained a $10.2 million verdict, including $1 million in punitive damages, for lender on its claims for intentional interference and fraudulent conveyance against defendant, which acquired its borrower's assets.
• Ortiz v. Universal Bank, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. EC026534. Obtained a defense verdict after eight-day jury trial. Plaintiff alleged that Universal Bank and several executives represented he would receive a commission in connection with an international business investment.
• Brizuela v. First Wilshire Finance, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC318480. Obtained a defense verdict for First Wilshire Finance against lender liability claims after a seven-day jury trial.
• Universal Savings Bank v. Bankers Standard Insurance Co., et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. KC 033262. Reversed directed verdict against Universal Bank on appeal and then successfully settled claims that insurer was equitably estopped to deny coverage because its agent failed to procure loss payee coverage for more than $1 million.
• Universal Bank v. [confidential], Los Angeles Superior Court. Obtained a $4.5 million settlement after jury selection. Universal Bank alleged that a national accounting firm recommended a client for a loan without disclosing its knowledge of its client's fraudulent business practices.
• Unify Financial Federal Credit Union v. Gjelina Group, LP, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 21STCV05614. Obtained a capital receiver for restaurant pending judicial foreclosure of deed of trust.
• Universal Bank v. Central Escrow, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC629391. Recovered a seven-figure amount for the bank against defendants for short sale fraud that the bank did not discover until years later.
• Alexander v. GMAC Mortgage, et al., C.D. Cal. Case No. 09-05841. Obtained dismissal of various claims, including fraud, related to client's loan used to purchase real property.

Real Estate Disputes

• 227 Larchmont Village Partners LLC v. Wachovia Bank, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC410305. Obtained a $1.2 million verdict against Wachovia for breach of lease after a fourteen-day jury trial. The court also awarded client $748,000 in fees and costs.
• MSK, Inc. v. Robert Ives, et al. Obtained a multi-million dollar settlement for a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation against a real estate developer for fraud and construction deficiencies in connection with a condominium building in Beverly Hills.
• Slayton v. Ruscha, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. SC112047. Obtained a verdict against Edward Ruscha for breach of lease after a seven-day jury trial and defensed his cross-complaint.
• Open Top Sightseeing San Francisco, et al. v. Dons Hotel Owner LP, San Francisco Superior Court Case No. CGC-20-586623. Plaintiffs sued client to terminate a lease and guarantee because of the effects of COVID-19. After filing a cross-complaint, obtained right to attach orders against tenant and guarantor for nearly $1 million, including future attorney's fees.
• Newmark of Southern California, Inc. v. Capstone Turbine Corporation, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC446326. Successfully recovered broker commissions from tenant.
• Newmark of Southern California, Inc. v. Missry Associates, Inc., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC488927. Successfully recovered broker commissions from tenant.

Copyrights and Trade Secrets

• Orogem v. De Beers UK, Limited et al., C.D. Cal. Case No. 09-9014. Obtained a multiple seven-figure settlement for alleged violations of jewelry copyrights.
• Eyal R.D. Corp. v. Jewelex New York Ltd., S.D. N.Y. Case No. 07-cv-013. Successfully settled jewelry copyright case for client before jury selection.
• Barkley Court Reporters, Inc. v. Rosenthal, et al., Monterey County Superior Court Case No. 16CV003129. Successfully settled complaint for Barkley against employee, reporter and attorney, who started a competing agency, for breach of loyalty, interference with contractual relations, inducing breach of contract and unfair competition.

Bankruptcy

• In re 110 West Properties, LLC, U.S. Bankruptcy Case No: 2:19-bk-24048-NB. Obtained confirmation of debtor's plan of reorganization (over objections) for sale of several parcels of undeveloped land in downtown Los Angeles for $22 million.
• Universal Bank v. Diramerian, U.S. Bankruptcy Adversary Case No. 2:10-AP-03097-ER. Successfully settled non- dischargeability adversary proceeding after two-days of trial. Bank alleged that defendant/debtor made misrepresented his net worth to induce it to make a multi-million dollar construction loan.
• In Re Trauma Entertainment, LLC, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Case No. SV 02-10990-GM. Filed a petition for involuntary bankruptcy on behalf of recording artist and employees who had not been paid pursuant to recording and employment contracts and then successfully settled claims.

Entertainment

• Chris Lord Alge and Thomas Lord Alge v. Moir/Marie Entertainment, LLC, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC381801. Recording mixers and engineers filed a petition with Labor Commission alleging client violated Talent Agency Act (TAA). Obtained a decision in favor of client from the Labor Commission that the TAA did not apply to recording mixers and engineers. Plaintiffs appealed to the Superior Court. Obtained summary judgment in favor of client on the appeal in the Superior Court and then defeated plaintiffs' petition for writ of mandamus filed with the Court of Appeal.
• Marie Music Group, LLC v. Jack Joseph Puig, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC395633. Successfully settled breach of management agreement against recording engineer after obtaining a six-figure right to attach order.
• Marie Music Group, LLC v. Herzberg, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC386971. Obtained a judgment for client for unpaid commissions after bench trial.

Employment

• Dominguez v. Flexeco Inc., et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 18SCTCV00709. Successfully settled claims by employee for sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations.
• Barragan v. Frida Tacos Pasadena, LLC, et al., JAMS. Successfully settled claims by employee for sexual harassment, wrongful termination and wage and hour violations.
• Clark v. Rush Air Service, LLC, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 20STCV04624. Successfully settled claims by employee for sexual harassment, wrongful termination and wage and hour violations.
• Villagrana v. Seven Friends, Inc., et al., Los Angele Superior Court Case No. BC486608. Successfully settled employee's claims of sexual harassment.

Class Actions

• Lakatosh v. Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd., et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC712875. Obtained summary judgment of plaintiff's nationwide class action alleging various causes of action, including consumer protection laws, on the basis that Milwaukee utility knives are illegal switchblades.
• Burd v. Barkley Court Reporters, Inc., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC556703. Obtained dismissal of class action against a private court reporting agency for allegedly charging transcription rates in excess of statutory rates for public reporters.
• Coordination Proceeding v. Big 5 Sporting Goods Song-Beverly Cases, Case No. JCCP 4667. Successfully settled a class action for alleged violations of the Song-Beverly Credit Card Act.
• Blakemore v. Avon (2006) 129 Cal.App.4th 71. Obtained reversal of orders sustaining demurrers and motion to strike national class allegations.

Financial Elder Abuse

• Knezevich, et al. v. Shirk, et al., Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2013-00679891-CU-MC-CJC. Recovered over $3 million for elderly plaintiff against caretakers and manager that sold her home and borrowed money against her businesses and properties.
• Valadez v. Century City Mortgage, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC501182. Obtained the dismissal of financial elder abuse and fraud claims against lender-client.
• In Re The Frances M. Carle Revocable Trust, dated May 12, 2003, Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2106-00893163. Successfully recovered assets, including real property, from a family member who allegedly obtained them through financial elder abuse and undue influence.