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The Firm Obtains Dismissal of Case Midway Through Deposition
Category: News, Results | Thursday, January 21st, 2016 | Comments Off on The Firm Obtains Dismissal of Case Midway Through Deposition
In Jorgensen, et al. v. First American, Case No. 2:2016CV00068 — a lawsuit against an escrow company filed in the State of Washington — the Firm exposed the plaintiffs’ real estate broker’s perjurious testimony in the middle of his deposition and leveraged that testimony to cause the plaintiffs to immediately dismiss the case against our client midway through the broker’s deposition.
Early Sullivan Obtains Summary Adjudication for Nursing Home Operator
Category: News, Results | Friday, January 8th, 2016 | Comments Off on Early Sullivan Obtains Summary Adjudication for Nursing Home Operator
In Dalsukhbhai K. Patel v. Preimesberger, et al., LASC Case No. VC064586, Los Angeles Superior Court, Hon. Margaret Bernal, the firm obtained summary adjudication for one of the leading nursing home operators in California on claims of corporate alter ego status, thereby gutting the plaintiff’s entire case.
Early Sullivan Successfully Defends First American Title Insurance Company Against Tort and Contract-Based Claims
Category: News, Results | Sunday, November 8th, 2015 | Comments Off on Early Sullivan Successfully Defends First American Title Insurance Company Against Tort and Contract-Based Claims
The Firm represented First American Title Insurance Company in Gul Jaisinghani v. U.S. Bank, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case, No. SC125165. We defended an action brought by a borrower/developer who asserted numerous tort and contract-based claims relating to a multi-million dollar property in Malibu, California. After four rounds of the Firm’s demurrers, and following multiple efforts by opposing counsel to add numerous legal theories and claims in several amended complaints, the Court entered judgment in favor of the Firm’s client First American.
Early Sullivan Obtains Summary Judgment on Behalf of Secured Lenders
Category: News, Results | Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 | Comments Off on Early Sullivan Obtains Summary Judgment on Behalf of Secured Lenders
In Wolkowitz v. Fidelity Mortgage Lenders, et al., a bankruptcy trustee for a recording studio filed adversary proceeding against certain secured lenders, arguing that the $1.5 million deed of trust securing their debt was invalid because the loan was not approved by a supermajority of the debtor’s principals. The Firm obtained summary judgment on behalf of the secured lenders and against the bankruptcy trustee, after arguing that the subject provision of the written partnership agreement was not enforceable against the secured lenders.
Bryan Sullivan Represents Marcel Granier in Sale of Rare Ferrari
Category: News, Results | Thursday, September 17th, 2015 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Represents Marcel Granier in Sale of Rare Ferrari
Bryan Sullivan represented Venezuela media mogul, Marcel Granier, in the sale of Mr. Granier’s multi-million dollar collector’s item Ferrari to Ferrari dealer DK Engineering. The Ferrari was a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB of which only 200 were made and far less still available in the world. The transaction involved significant customs issues with the Ferrari being transported from Venezuela to the United States.
Judge Grants Salma Hayek Permanent Restraining Order Against Alleged Stalkers
Category: News, Results | Friday, September 4th, 2015 | Comments Off on Judge Grants Salma Hayek Permanent Restraining Order Against Alleged Stalkers
Early Sullivan Partner Bryan Sullivan recently obtained a permanent restraining order on behalf of Oscar-nominated actress Salma Hayek. According to the court filings, two women repeatedly harassed Ms. Hayek, impersonating her on multiple occasions and threatening to kidnap her daughter. Today, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carol Boas Goodson extended the temporary order, ruling that the individuals must stay away from Ms. Hayek and her family, and not attempt to contact her for the next three years.
Devin McRae Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2016 for Intellectual Property Litigation
Category: Awards, News, Publications, Results | Tuesday, August 18th, 2015 | Comments Off on Devin McRae Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2016 for Intellectual Property Litigation
Early Sullivan Partner Devin McRae was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2016 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Litigation – Intellectual Property. Best Lawyers® is one of the oldest and most respected guides to the legal industry. Inclusion is exclusive, based on a comprehensive peer-review process designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. Corporate Counsel magazine has called The Best Lawyers in America “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”
Salma Hayek Gets Temporary Restraining Order Against Women Accused Of Impersonating Her
Category: News, Results | Monday, August 17th, 2015 | Comments Off on Salma Hayek Gets Temporary Restraining Order Against Women Accused Of Impersonating Her
Early Sullivan Partner Bryan Sullivan recently obtained a temporary restraining order on behalf of well-known actress Salma Hayek. According to the filing, two women repeatedly impersonated Ms. Hayek and made threats to kidnap her child. After hearing Mr. Sullivan’s petition on Friday, Superior Court Judge M.D. Fried ordered that the individuals must stay 100 yards away from Ms. Hayek and her family.
Early Sullivan Successfully Represents United General Title Insurance Company on Appeal in RNT Holdings, LLC v. United General Title Insurance Company
Category: News, Results | Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 | Comments Off on Early Sullivan Successfully Represents United General Title Insurance Company on Appeal in RNT Holdings, LLC v. United General Title Insurance Company
Early Sullivan successfully represented United General Title Insurance Company (“United General”) in opposing RNT Holding’s appeal of Early Sullivan’s underlying summary judgment victory for United General. RNT is a company owned by billionaire mogul Ronald N. Tutor. The Court of Appeal’s decision in RNT Holdings, LLC v. United General Title Insurance Company, Case No. B250089 is of paramount importance to the title insurance industry. The decision provides clarity regarding the interpretation of key title insurance Exclusion 3(a) (which language is included in most title insurance policies) ruling that Exclusion 3(a) is triggered if the insured’s conduct was intentional, regardless of: (a) whether the insured actually intended to create a title defect through its conduct, and (b) whether the insured knew that a title defect might occur from the insured’s intentional act. The decision also establishes for the first time that an insured lender’s release of its insured interest in a subject property terminates the insurer’s potential liability under the policy, regardless of the occurrence of a covered risk at the time of the release. Click on “Download PDF” to the right to read the full decision.
Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae’s Appeal Prevails in Moorefield Construction, Inc. v. Intervest Mortgage Investment Company
Category: News, Results | Tuesday, October 14th, 2014 | Comments Off on Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae’s Appeal Prevails in Moorefield Construction, Inc. v. Intervest Mortgage Investment Company
In the recently published appellate decision Moorefield Construction, Inc. v. Intervest Mortgage Investment Company, et al., D065464, the California Court of Appeals reversed a trial court’s decision awarding a general contractor $2.2 million on its mechanic’s lien. The Court of Appeals upheld a subordination agreement that the general contractor (Moorefield Construction, Inc.) had signed with Early Sullivan client Intervest Mortgage (formerly known as Sterling Savings Bank), “subordinating” Moorfield’s mechanic’s lien claim to Intervest’s Deed of Trust, which was security for the construction loan. This Court of Appeals’ reversal establishes case law ensuring that via the subordination agreement (standard in deals between lenders and general contractors) a lender’s deed of trust is in first position, trumping the general contractor’s mechanic’s lien. Subordination agreements are the lifeline of construction lending because they provide construction lenders with confidence that they will always be in first position in the event of a default. If the Court of Appeals would have upheld the trial court ruling, then the uncertainty of a lender’s position in the event of a default would have dramatically impacted construction lending. Click on “Download PDF” to read the published decision.