Complete Victory After Bench Trial, Contractor Hit With Punitive Damages 

NB's client started up a limited liability company to completely remodel an existing apartment complex. After running into a number of snags along the way, the general contractor hired to complete the remodel made off with the construction drawings and permits, leaving the project unfinished and in severe debt and leaving NB's client in a lurch. NB filed a lawsuit against the general contractor entity and its principal to get the drawings and permits returned so the project could be completed. The general contractor brought a cross-complaint against NB's client and the LLC, alleging hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages and claiming an ownership interest in the real property.

Taking an aggressive approach right out of the gate, NB obtained an immediate emergency writ of possession, forcing the contractor to return the construction drawings and permits. After simultaneously removing the contractor from the property via an unlawful detainer action, NB had the mechanic's lien which had been placed on the property removed by the court. Finally, after a 5 day bench trial, NB achieved a total victory in court. After less than a five minute deliberation, the judge awarded NB's client damages for the time it was deprived of its property and in addition awarded punitive damages against the general contractor based on his intentional and malicious actions. The general contractor's cross-complaint, consisting of eleven legal claims, was denied in whole.

Lead attorney Travis Bray was happy to help NB's client out of a nightmare situation. "Our client went through a great deal during the course of this project, and was facing a claim which had the potential to take away everything he had worked for-and then some," said Bray. "More than anything, it was great to free up the property from the bogus mechanic's lien and allow him to close this chapter in his life. The punitive damages award further reinforced who the wrongdoer was in this case and gave our client some additional measure of satisfaction."