Orange County Superior Court Trial
Result: $6,500,000 to Client (phase 1 only)
Gregory G. Brown obtains $6,500,000.00 for client in first phase of trial. Phase 2 will commence later this year, where additional amounts in excess of $25,000,000 will be sought for breach of fiduciary duty, violation of Family Code Section 1101 and a shareholder derivitive action. B&C represented the spouse of a decedent who had a community property interest in a $142,000,000 manufacturing business. When her husband died, it was learned that the business had been improperly transferred to a trust. After death, the business was then run by Trustees of the trust and wife was excluded from running the company she had help build since 1976. There were 5 defendants (and their law firms) opposing B&C in trial.
Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court (Jury Verdict)
Result: 7 figures to Client
B & C represents Plaintiff paving company against general contractor related to a written subcontract to provide labor, services, equipment and materials necessary to perform onsite grading and related work on the Rhodes Elementary School in Chino Valley, CA. Plaintiff contends that the contractor breached the subcontract by failing to pay the balance due, failing to make timely and complete progress payments, and failing to timely pay for change orders. Before trial, Plaintiff had previously settled with 2 other defendants for $1,100,000. Against the lone remaining defendant, Plaintiff sought $131,000 in damages. This defendant had never offered more than $2500! After eight day jury trial, jury entered verdict in favor of Plaintiff in the amount of $130,790.94 for breach of contract and $130,790.94 for quantum meruit. The key issue, however, is the recovery of prevailing party attorneys' fees which will be in excess of $250,000. This verdict brought the total recovery to $1,230,790 PLUS ATTORNEYS' FEES.
Los Angeles Superior Court (Settlement in Trial)
Result: 7 figures to Client
B & C represents client, who was sexually abuse as a minor by Sylvester Laudermill, Jr., a pastor of Ward A.M.E Church ("Ward"), a church belonging to the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Inc. ("AMEC"). Suit was filed against Ward, AMEC and Bishop John Richard Bryant alleging among other things sexual battery, breach of fiduciary duty and negligence in the hiring, supervision and training of pastors, ministers and other employees. The matter settled with minor player, Ward, for $300,000 a month before trial was set to begin. Once trial began, AMEC and Bishop John Richard Bryant both settled with Plaintiff by paying many multiples of the other settlement, the terms of which are confidential.
Orange County Superior Court (Jury Verdict)
Result: Client avoids Millions and gets reverse judgment in excess of a quarter million dollars
B & C represented the defendant attorney in this legal malpractice, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty case involving the attorney's representation of his client in a multi-home construction defect case. Mr. Brown tried both the underlying complex construction defect matter as well as the legal malpractice matter. The highly contentious 4 ½ month jury trial was tried before the Honorable Gregory H. Lewis. Mr. Brown successfully defended the eleven cause of action complaints. Plaintiffs sought over $2,000,000 plus punitive damages. There were 5 legal malpractice causes of action, 3 declaratory relief causes of action, 2 breach of contract causes of action, and 1 fiduciary duty cause of action. The complex case involved approximately 110 motions in limine that were argued and ruled on upon over a 3 week period. The jury returned a unanimous decision of 12-0 on 75 of 76 jury verdict questions, netting B & C's client a substantial reverse judgment.
Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court (Settlement)
Result: $1,100,000 to Client
B & C substituted in as trial counsel in a breach of contract and fraud case after 3 ½ years of litigation. The matter involved six parties and sureties and related to public work contracts and several complex government code issues. B & C obtained a settlement for its client for $1,100,000 with the two main defendants.
Orange County jury awards over $1,615,000 with interest to B&C client
After a 5-1/2 week jury trial, Gregory Brown delivered a closing argument resulting in almost twice the amount of prior offers by defendants. Mr. Brown's client suffered catastrophic injuries in an auto collision.
Orange County Superior Court (Settlement)
Result: $400,000 to Client
In a trip and fall case against the world's largest theatre chain, Regal Entertainment Group and Edwards Theatres, Inc., B&C obtains huge settlement after trial begins. After favorable trial rulings on motions in limine, Billion dollar defendant pays up (over $100,000 out of its own pocket) to avoid enormous punitive damage exposure.
Orange County Superior Court (Settlement)
Result: $300,000 to Client
B&C obtains a mid six figure settlement for its client in a negligence action. The plaintiff was injured when a car rented by defendant Hertz made an abrupt lane change in front of plaintiff causing plaintiff's motorcycle to collide with the car. The plaintiff sustained right leg injuries, including a significant knee injury that ultimately required surgical repair. The defendant driver was found to be the primary collision factor. Defendants initially offered $50,000. The settlement was obtained approximately 2 months after the plaintiff filed his complaint.
Orange County Superior Court (Settlement)
Result: $200,000 to Client
B&C successfully recovers a six figure settlement for its client in a personal injury action. The plaintiff was injured when she fell at the defendant restaurant and suffered severe injuries to her hip and shoulder. The floor had been mopped during business hours and there was no warning sign present. In a deposition, the treating paramedic testified that the floor was as "slippery as melted butter."
Orange County Superior Court (Settlement at Trial)
Result: Plaintiff takes nothing!
B&C successfully defends multi billion dollar employer against employee claims of: 1) disability discrimination, 2) failure to accommodate, 3) retaliation, 4) failure to engage in the interactive process and 5) wrongful termination in violation of public policy. The plaintiff was represented by Gloria Allred's firm and was seeking several million dollars in damages. On the eve of trial, the plaintiff agreed to accept a nominal settlement of $25,000 payable to his attorneys to cover approximately half of costs incurred by plaintiff. The plaintiff received nothing!
Orange County Superior Court (Settlement During Trial)
Complex dissolution of marriage bench trial. Michele M. Charbonneau handled this 5 day trial which involved numerous complex legal issues including: 1) The enforceability of an oral prenuptial agreement and 2) the enforceability of a grant deed from sole title to joint title during marriage. The issue regarding the oral prenuptial agreement was a novel and difficult issue involving several family law statutes and the common law statute of frauds. The case ultimately settled during trial.
Ventura County Superior Court (Jury Verdict)
Result: $830,000+ to Client
Fraud, intentional factual concealment and breach of contract case that involved the purchase of a Limousine Service, a well known and well established limousine business in the greater Los Angeles and Ventura areas. Gregory G. Brown tried the 4-week jury trial and successfully proved that the seller had defrauded the buyer by concealing the loss of the business' largest client. The jury awarded an amount over $800,000 including interest, attorney fees and costs against seller.
Orange County Superior Court (Settlement)
Result: $350,000 to Client
In a trip and fall case against anther theatre chain, B&C obtains favorable settlement for client who sustained back injuries.
Orange County Superior Court (Bench Trial)
Result: $50,000+ to Client
Intentional tort/breach of contract case -- oil and gas leases. Gregory G. Brown prevailed in bench rial against one of Huntington Beach's largest oil and gas holders. Amount $50,000 and attorney fees -- estimated at $7,500 plus costs and interest.
San Diego Superior Court (Jury Verdict)
Result: $800,000 to Clients
Jury trial win in Fraud, intentional concealment, and breach of contract case against Catholic Cemetery. Missing cremated remains and the illegal digging up of graves at Holy Cross Cemetery. Gregory G. Brown prevailed in jury trial against one of the largest Catholic cemeteries in San Diego County. Jury awards over $800,000, punitive damages, costs and interest. After the jury reached the verdict, the jurors commented that the power point presentations and visuals assisted them tremendously in understanding the case.
United State District Court (Bench Trial)
Result: reinstatement of $750,000 benefits
B&C obtains rare federal trial win in wrongful termination of long term disability benefits case. Gregory G. Brown prevailed in bench trial against one of the largest insurance companies, MetLife, in an ERISA case. Judge David O. Carter ordered the reinstatement of Davidson's benefits and awarded attorney fees and costs to be recovered from MetLife.
Orange County Superior Court (Jury Trial)
Result: $1,525,000 to Client
An Orange County jury awarded $1,525,000 (including interest, costs, consequential damages and attorneys fees) after a five day trial. The compelling and visually appealing case convinced the jury that a message should be sent to the defendants, both of which were assessed $750,000 punitive damage awards.
