Real estate professional alleged breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, fraud, and battery against his partner/broker after the parties agreed the plaintiff would have an ownership interest in the business. After a jury found in the plaintiff’s favor in phase one of a bifurcated trial, Judge Salkin guided the parties to a settlement of the entire case prior to the second phase of the trial. Plaintiff sought several million dollars in punitive damages.
Long-term real estate investors in numerous properties disputed whether to sell or develop some of the properties. The principals alleged bad faith and fraud. Judge Salkin assisted the parties in settling a portion of their dispute and later presided over a court trial over others.
Commercial lender brought suit against homeowner and title company after title company failed to record a deed of trust securing the loan and homeowner sold the property in order to avoid repayment of the loan.
An identity thief impersonated a property owner, sold the property to a third party using forged documents, and pocketed the sale proceeds. Although the fraudster was apprehended and sentenced to a prison term, not all of the money was recovered. The original owner (who was a victim of identity theft) and the purchaser (who contended he was a bona fide purchaser) disputed the right to possess and use the property.
