Practice Areas

We Practice One Type of Law – Litigation

For over 30 years, clients have turned to Lurie, Zepeda, Schmalz, Hogan & Martin for our efficient, focused approach to resolving litigation. We craft and implement effective strategies by applying knowledge gained from decades of experience practicing in Southern California’s courts. Sometimes, this leads to a negotiated settlement. Other times, the matter’s size and complexity requires extensive litigation, trial and appeal. Regardless of the process, our actions revolve around achieving resolution while helping you to maintain your peace-of-mind during stressful times.

We invite you to learn more about our areas of practice and recent results:

Business Litigation

Won jury verdict of $3 million, increased to $4.2 million with interest, in breach of contract action for attorney-client for over 20 years’ legal fees due from his former client; successfully defended the judgment on appeal.

Trust, Estate & Probate Litigation

Negotiated a multi-million dollar settlement for plaintiff in a breach of trust claim relating to mismanagement of a $40 million estate.

Real Estate Litigation

Defended shopping center developer against former secured lender’s claim for $1.5 million “exit” fee after client refinanced loan.

Corporate & Partnership Disputes

Avoided expensive litigation by negotiating a settlement to resolve a longstanding deadlock between two equal business partners who lacked a buy-sell agreement.

Appeals

Represented physician in trial and on appeal in a case involving fair hearing issues in hospital peer review hearings in El-Attar v. Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, 56 Cal.4th 976 (2013).

Employment Litigation

Expediently defended a national retail chain against former employee’s allegations of sexual orientation and race discrimination.

Intellectual Property Disputes

After one-month jury trial, achieved a verdict in client’s favor for claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract against a former employee.

Professional & Fiduciary Liability

Successfully defended an Am Law 100 law firm against allegations it had assisted a trustee in the breach of fiduciary duties.

Insurance Litigation

While trial judge in a personal injury action kept jury’s verdict under seal, engineered a three-way, multi-million dollar settlement between an insurer, driver (defendant) and injured passenger (plaintiff) for the insurer to pay for damages caused by defendant.

ADA Defense

Defended shopping center developer against former secured lender’s claim for $1.5 million “exit” fee after client refinanced loan.