- FraudRecently, we circulated a risk management tip regarding a recent increase in wire fraud instances. The California Department of Real Estate (“DRE”) has now published an article entitled, “Buyer, Seller, Real Estate Agents and Escrow-Holders BEWARE: Criminals are targeting your wire read more...
- MisdemeanorsIn Skulason v. California Bureau of Real Estate, a California Appellate Court recently held that the California Bureau of Real Estate ("CalBRE") had no mandatory duty to remove from its website publicly available information about a real estate licensee's convictions, including convictions that were subsequently, dismissed. In Skulason, licensee Brenda Skulason, sued CalBRE claiming that it had improperly refused to remove from its public website a document revealing that she had been previously convicted of three (3) misdemeanors.
- Assault
- Business FormationOur office assists clients in creating proper legal entities to manage their investments, developments, joint ventures, and other real-estate related projects. These services include advice regarding the different legal entities, formation of the entities and annual compliance with reporting requirements.
- Business Disputes
- Business TransactionsOur office represents real estate agents, individuals and businesses requiring assistance in any real estate transaction. The services include preparation of specialized transactional documents, and advice and counseling on the implications of existing documentation, handling of residential and commercial transactions from the date of agreement through the close of escrow and drafting recordable agreements, notices and other documents to accomplish the goals of our individual clients.
- Non-compete AgreementIn SingerLewak LLP v. Gantman, a California appellate court upheld an arbitrator’s decision, even though the arbitrator may have misinterpreted the law. In SingerLewak, defendant Gantman was a partner in the accounting firm of SingerLewak. He left the firm and took several clients with him. In accordance with the parties’ non-compete agreement, the accounting firm demanded that Gantman pay the firm $260,000.
- Sexual HarassmentIn Patterson v. Domino’s Pizza, LLC, an employee of a Domino’s franchise sued the franchisee and Domino’s Pizza, LLC, the franchisor, for sexual harassment and assault by a manager. The plaintiff alleged that the owner of the franchise testified that he was told by a Domino’s Pizza “Area Leader” to fire the manager.
- Real Estate LitigationUpon graduating with honors from the University of Southern California Law School, Ms. Jones practiced for three years with the Walnut Creek law office of Bowles & Verna. She subsequently practiced with the international law firm of Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold ("Sedgwick, Detert"), based out of San Francisco. At Sedgwick, Detert, she represented many large national and international companies in business and real estate disputes. She also successfully defended an insurance company in a $125 million insurance bad faith case.
- Construction LitigationOur office represents general contractors, subcontractors, and developers of real property in preparing appropriate contracts, resolving disputes related to their business activities and advising them of their obligations under the law. Our office also handles resolving disputes and litigation involving contracts and developers including construction defect, nondisclosure and mechanic's lien actions.
- Real Estate TransactionsThe Law Group also represents numerous general contractors, developers and subcontractors, as well as individuals and other businesses in real estate transactions, construction matters and business issues.
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesIf an owner has a tenant and needs to issue a notice to a tenant, agents are advised to refer that owner to a qualified California landlord-tenant attorney for handling. As indicated, this is an area of substantial risk and the agents are ill advised to become involved.
- Property Damage
- WillsMark Chuang’s practice focuses on disputes arising from residential and commercial real property transactions. Mr. Chuang obtained an undergraduate degree in Economics and a minor in Business Law from the University of Southern California in 2011. He graduated cum laude from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2015. At Hastings, Mr. Chuang served as an editor for the Hastings Law Journal and was a recipient of both the CALI Excellence for the Future Award and the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence for receiving the highest grade in Property Law and Wills and Trusts. Mr. Chuang enjoys spending his free time hiking and exploring San Francisco.
- Trusts
- Power of Attorney
- BankruptcyIn Re Anderson, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court awarded commissions from thirteen (13) transactions to the Trustee of real estate agent’s bankruptcy estate. In Anderson, debtors, Steven and Melanie Anderson were licensed real estate agents. They filed a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petition. As of the filing of the petition, they had thirteen (13) real estate transactions in escrow, which had not yet closed.
- Foreclosure“My wife and I hired Shannon Jones when we were going through short sale process on our home- The bank was not following California law, and foreclosure sale was imminent. Shannon and her office were able to help halt that sale, and help us understand our rights better. Along with staying in communication with the bank, it helped us feel more at ease that we actually had someone on our side! Well worth the investment in hiring Shannon”
- Tax Law