Fraud

Business law firm suggests a class action and class representative to plaintiffs' class-action firm; expects split of $12 million fee award, but defendants say they cannot ethically pay it.

Case Name: Barnes, Crosby, Fitzgerald & Zeman, LLP v. Jerome Ringler; Ringler, Kearney & Alvarez, LLP; Patrick McNicholas; Matthew McNicholas; and McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Sunday, July 10, 2016
Show Details

Koreatown coffee shop sale turns ugly. $400K bench verdict. Los Angeles County.

Minority partner in coffee shop says she was defrauded by the majority owners.

Case Name: Jang v. J.S.M. Heyri, Inc.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Show Details

Nerve surgery goes beyond consent of patient. $1 million. Orange County.

After a piriformis release surgery (left buttocks), plaintiff claims doctor performed an unconsented to and unnecessary second procedure on her left lower leg; claims medical negligence, battery and fraud.

Case Name: Nadine Froesch v. Israel P. Chambi, M.D., et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, February 03, 2016
Show Details

Lawyer, others promise home loan modifications. Fraud. $96K. Orange County.

A lawyer, now disbarred, and his associates offer home loan modification services, but don't perform after taking plaintiffs' money.

Case Name: Atilano Villalon et al. v. Gary Lee Lane, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Show Details

Company fails to pay sales commissions and salary; $2.192 million bench verdict. Butte County.

Sales exec says he brought in business but did not get paid; employer goes bankrupt and plaintiff proceeds on alter ego theory against primary stockholder.

Case Name: Silvestro v. NLP International Corporation, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Show Details

Real estate loans go sour and senior woman blames long-time broker. $1.18 million. U.S. Eastern District Bankruptcy Court.

64-year-old instructs long-time realty broker/financial advisor to sell her rental properties; instead, he refinances properties and invests proceeds in real estate loans that go bad. $1.18 million verdict includes punitives.

Case Name: Andre v. John Roe real estate broker
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, March 20, 2014
Show Details

Defense verdict in breach of contract claim involving sale of dental practice. San Francisco County.

Plaintiff claims breach of contract after buying defendant's periodontal practice. Jury finds for defense.

Case Name: Doina Panaite, DDS v. George K. Merijohn, DDS, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Show Details

$3.9 million verdict when Wyndham Vacation Resorts breaches contract, commits fraud against travel wholesaler. Los Angeles County.

Plaintiff, a wholesale travel sales company, sold certificates to defendant Wyndham Vacation Ownership's timeshares for many years. When the recession hit, defendant broke oral and written contracts, costing plaintiff a majority of its business as it had worked almost exclusively for defendant.

Case Name: Casablanca Express, Inc. vs. Wyndham Vacation Ownership, et al
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Sunday, October 21, 2012
Show Details

$12 million for med mal and medical device product liability, including punitives. San Diego County.

Device intended to minimize swelling after orthopedic surgery causes non-freezing cold injury. Doctor prescribes it despite prior settlement for malpractice over same device and type of injury.

Case Name: Whitney Engler v. Breg, Inc.; David Chao, M.D.; & Oasis, MSO, Inc.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, July 30, 2012
Show Details

$2 million verdict after theology professor is fraudulently hired, his rare books are taken and he is beaten. Los Angeles County.

Plaintiff was hired and agreed to supply theological university with his rare collection of texts. Once university had possession, they immediately fired plaintiff and beat him when he tried to retrieve his property.

Case Name: Yong Pyo Hong v. Moses Joon Suk Lee, World Christian Theological University, Young Soo Lee, Korean Christian Church
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Show Details