Verdicts & Settlements Real Estate Matters

Avalon Carson Mobilehome Park
Cecile Earle, et al. v. Darryl Wong, et al.
Los Angeles Superior Court, Central District Case No. TC009543

We represented 70 residents against the park owner who tried to illegally remove the residents from the park so that he could develop the property as a commercial shopping center. The owner tried to force the residents out by failing to maintain the park and closing the common area facilities at the park. When the residents tried to sell their homes, the park owner refused to allow the homes to remain in the park. A jury awarded $11,700,000 to the residents. The verdict was reduced by the trial judge and a judgment was entered against the defendants in the amount of $9,917,717.

Simi Country Estates
Susan Dragoo, et al. v. Simi Country Estates, et al.
Los Angeles County Superior Court, Central District Case No. BC110775

We represented 90 homeowners in Simi Country Estates in litigation arising from the January 1994 earthquake. A portion of the community was built on an old riverbed, which was subject to liquefaction during earthquakes. Through a seismologist and geologists, we were was able to demonstrate homes located on the riverbed sustained more earthquake damage than other homes in the community because the community developers did not install proper subsurface drainage. A few of the homesites were also effected by contaminated ground water. The case settled while awaiting a courtroom for trial for $1,500,000.

Country Estates Mobilehome Park

In 1998, we assisted the Ventura Country Estates Homeowners Association in a $3.2 million purchase of the mobilehome park they lived in. We were responsible for the legal work necessary to obtain a $2.4 million loan from Washington Mutual, the permits from the State to issue and sell membership shares for $26,000 each, and City of Ventura loans totaling $215,000 to allow low income residents to participate. Residents make no payments on the loans until their homes sell. After the purchase, participating residents now pay a much smaller monthly fee than they did before the purchase.

Sunrise Terrace Mobilehome Park

We assisted the Sunrise Terrace Homeowners Association in purchasing the mobilehome community in which its members lived from Merrill Lynch. Located in San Luis Obispo County, the community is comprised of 300 homesites, with a golf course, tennis courts, a clubhouse, pool and spa. The selling price was $8.3 million. Mr. Semelsberger assisted the residents in applying for and obtaining a $5 million loan from Home Savings of America, and the necessary permits from the State to issue and sell membership shares so that the purchase price plus closing costs could be paid. The total transaction amounted to $9 million.

In addition to guiding the Association through the purchase process, we have continued to assist the Association with its legal and management matters for the past six years.