Show of Strength
NBC Universal parent seeks tax refund on L.A. County property.
NBC Universal parent Comcast produces lawsuit to recover Universal City property taxes.
Monrovia Property Wins $24 Million Gold Line Settlement
A Monrovia owner of property deemed essential for a Gold Line maintenance yard has settled his legal fight against the light-rail line for $24 million.
Brief Delay Holding Up New Hires for Law Firm
LAW: Litigation prevents Rutter Hobbs vets from joining Glusker.
After getting hit with a $10 million malpractice verdict stemming from the actions of a retired partner, 30-attorney downtown L.A. law firm Rutter Hobbs & Davidoff LLP dissolved Jan. 31.
Cooks Turn Up Heat on Alma Mater
Graduates claim Le Cordon Bleu doesn’t deliver.
Former cooking students allege that Le Cordon Bleu’s job promises were all sizzle and no steak.
Surrogacy Coverage Fathers Heated Competition
Brokerages have due date in court over allegedly stolen products.
Coverage for surrogate pregnancies has given birth to a heated rivalry and legal battle between two local firms.
Managed Care Provider Earns Clean Bill of Health
Molina sees Obamacare reform further boosting growth.
Investors’ positive prognosis for managed care provider Molina has sent stock soaring.
Supercharged for Speedy Edge
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About 20 years ago, attorney Tim Lappen fell in with a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who went on long rides together.
Retail Star on Hollywood Looking for Stage Name
CIM Group selling naming rights to Hollywood & Highland.
Hollywood & Highland is striving to get a name sponsor at the same time it may need a new name for its Kodak Theatre.
Forced-Labor Law Binds Business?
Companies fear state act will spur lawsuits.
Retailers and manufacturers fear state’s new forced-labor law will put them under the yoke of activist lawsuits.
‘Bully’ Pushing to Change DJ Tunes
Karaoke firm tries to sink L.A. pirates.
Karaoke company sounds off on song piracy by cueing up lawsuits against L.A. DJ’s and venues.
Summit Merger Could Put Roar in Lions Gate Shares
Investors wait for terms of what could be ‘transformational’ deal.
Lions Gate stock fails to roar to new heights despite reports of impending deal for Summit.
American History at A Surplus
96-year-old seller of military items opens museum at shop.
Oxman’s Surplus’ 96-year-old owner marshals military items into in-store museum.
Marriage-Minded Lawyers Came a-Courtin’ in 2011
LAW: L.A. firms paced country by joining in half-dozen unions.
The final numbers are in and it’s official: 2011 was a comeback year for law firm mergers, and nowhere more than in Los Angeles.
Land Deal Upended by Demise of Redevelopment
Monrovia property owner still wants more for train yard site.
Monrovia property owner still rails against Gold Line offer as too low.
Clothing Chain Picks Up Property Near Grove Mall
Developer Alan Casden had sought site for residential project.
Developer Alan Casden loses potential site for residential project to Ross Dress for Less chain.
Reality TV’s Revenge of The Nerds?
Tech geeks to take top billing in show about local startups.
Tech geeks take their turn in the reality spotlight on a new program that tracks local startups.
Covering Up the ‘Dfect’
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Having worked for decades as a construction attorney, Robert S. Mann thinks he knows a thing or two about minimizing errors.
Works for Scale
Plaintiff’s attorney Thomas V. Girardi tries to keep things light as he handles heavy cases for clients, including the Dodger Stadium assault victim.
Plaintiff’s attorney Thomas V. Girardi argues that his cases against companies are a boon for businesses.
Police Make Business of Seizures
Taking of inventory may spell end for XYZ.
Secondhand goods dealer XYZ got a firsthand look at law enforcement’s increased practice of asset seizure.
L.A. Firms Hope to Court South Korean Clients
LAW: Free-trade agreement with U.S. spurs plans for overseas offices.
It’s not just automakers, semiconductor manufacturers and other U.S. goods exporters that stand to benefit from the recently passed South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement – law firms hoping for a foothold in Seoul have been keeping an eye on it, too.
Equipment Maker Dials Up More Front Office Turmoil
MRV chief exec exits amid calls for overhaul of board.
Struggling equipment maker MRV breaks connection with another top executive.
Partnership Split Separating Developer, Properties
Rivals eye sites slated for two prized projects of Alan Casden.
Rival developers look to poach properties proposed for two projects by Alan Casden.
Big in Shorts
Firm scores by processing high volume of short sales
Peak Corporate Network has hit it big with short sales but some rivals question its claimed case load.
1,000 Dolls to Inspire Blood Donations
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Isaac Larian is feeling generous this year, and who could be surprised? After all, he scored $309 million against rival Mattel Inc. in April after a lengthy legal dispute over Bratz dolls.
Insulin Inhaler Too Puffed Up?
Investors allege MannKind misled on testing.
Some investors wonder if MannKind was blowing hot air about the company’s inhalable insulin product.
Sightseeing Rivals Fight Over Site
CitySights L.A. accuses Starline of hijacking ticket-selling location.
Sightseeing-bus rivals may tour the inside of a courtroom in a fight over ticket-selling spot.
Speaking Volumes
Law firms shrink libraries, ax staff as cuts rule
L.A. firms court cost cuts as minding the bottom line becomes the new business model.
Jury Out on Legal Giant’s Merger
O’Melveny loses revenue, partners after East Coast union.
The union with an East Coast firm has cost L.A. law giant O’Melveny partners, prestige and revenue.
Investors Take Rooting Interest in Fertilizer Business
Shares soar for Westwood’s Rentech as IPO for its spinoff nears.
Rentech’s stock reaped gains on the back of its upcoming IPO for its fertilizer spinoff.
Cycling Keeps Him Sane
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While some Angelenos may have spent Sunday morning nursing a hangover, attorney Zia Modabber was up early orchestrating a charity bike ride for hundreds of cyclists.
Fashion Exec Fights for Look at Company’s Books
Max Azria says he’s being squeezed out of firm he co-founded.
Fashion mogul Max Azria alleges his condom company partners are pulling one over on him.
Back Off, Track
GOVERNMENT: Monrovia property owner throws up roadblock to Gold Line after what he calls an unfair buyout offer.
A Monrovia property owner claims he’s being railroaded into selling his site to the Gold Line at a low price.
Pain at the Pumps
L.A. Arco owners say BP driving up business costs
Local Arco owners allege BP policies have pumped up costs for franchisees.
Ezri Namvar Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison
Ezri Namvar, the Brentwood real estate investor convicted of federal wire fraud charges, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison.
WHO’S WHO IN LAW - GORDON BAVA
Special Report
Gordon Bava is known as one of the town’s veteran corporate dealmakers, but he made news this year wearing a different hat.
WHO’S WHO IN LAW - MARY ANN TODD
Special Report
Business Journal makes its case for L.A.’s top lawyers who shepherd the biggest M&A deals.
Partners Develop Only Bad Blood
Cerberus elbows Casden out of Movietown project.
Alan Casden’s estranged partner Cerberus is looking to sell their joint properties – to anyone but him.
Kids’ Restaurant Cuts Cheesiness
Giggles N’ Hugs hopes high-end focus serves up tasty IPO.
One-location restaurant Giggles N’ Hugs is all smiles as it embraces a plan to go public.
Real Estate Lawyer Gets a Leg Up
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Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP partner Tom Sestanovich has had a storied athletic career – despite losing his right leg to a rare form of cancer as a teenager.
Lew Feldman: Stand-Up Guy
Attorney gave up his comedy career for a seat at the table with some of real estate’s biggest movers and shakers.
A funny thing happened on the way to a comedy career for L.A. power-player attorney Lew Feldman.
Self-Storage Business Locks Into Partnership Buyouts
Analysts praise Public Storage while some ex-partners cry foul.
Public Storage has turned away from acquisitions to secure buyouts of partners.
Coffee Maker Buzz Leaves Bad Taste
SEC smells trouble at firm started by Bob Marley’s son.
Coffee distributor Jammin Java’s briefly red-hot stock led to legal heat from the SEC.
Local Boutique to Saddle Up With Dallas Firm
LAW: Downtown’s Hennigan Dorman had sought national platform.
Eyebrows were raised earlier this year when downtown L.A. boutique Hennigan Dorman LLP lost name partner Bruce Bennett and nine other attorneys to Dewey & LeBouef LLP, based in New York.
Dairy Family Raises Stakes Against Former Adviser
Alta Dena heirs file to recover more money from one-time friend.
Alta Dena Dairy founders’ family ratchets up fraud case against former financial adviser.
PR Firm’s Darker Vision of Los Angeles
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Robert Wynne has seen the sci-fi movie “Blade Runner” 17 times.
Trash Companies Dig In on Recycling
Haulers, host cities clash over competing plant plans.
Trash talk between two rival companies’ recycling centers has spilled over into court.
Judge Says No New Trial for Namvar
A federal judge has tentatively denied motions for an acquittal and a new trial for Ezri Namvar, the Brentwood real estate investor found guilty in May of federal wire fraud charges.
Defense Foresees Long Future for Namvar Trial
Attorneys for convicted businessman face big rulings Monday.
Two motions by the defense team could extend the trial for convicted Brentwood investor Ezri Namvar.
Talk About Making It to the Top
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The bucket list for attorney Gary Nelson, 52, just got a little shorter. He climbed Mount Everest during a trip from April to June.
Fitness Company Sweats Copycats
Beachbody brings in muscle on DVD counterfeiters.
Beachbody targets counterfeiters looking to muscle in on company’s fitness tape business.
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