Knez Law Group, LLP Cases of Note

Knez Law Group has a rich history of incredible outcomes, settlements and verdicts. Although most cases settle out of court to avoid costly litigation, we are prepared from day 1 to go to trial and verdict when necessary. Below we’ve outlined a few cases that we’ve handled, but over the last 30+ years Knez Law Group has handled countless cases involving business litigation, personal injury, commercial real estate disputes, professional malpractice and divorce & custody matters.

Fire Sprinkler Systems, Inc. v. Viking Corporation, et al.; and Thorpe Design, Inc. v. Viking Corporation, et al.

Knez Law Group represented Fire Sprinkler Systems, Inc. (FSS) and Thorpe Design, Inc. (Thorpe) in lawsuits against Viking Corporation, a Michigan corporation, with regard to defects in a Viking Residential Sprinkler Head known as the VK-457. FSS brought its suit in Riverside Superior Court and Thorpe brought its lawsuit in Federal Court in San Francisco. The two cases were prosecuted by the Knez Law Group under a joint discovery agreement and then settled shortly before trial in July 2017. In preparing for trial, multiple experts were retained by the Knez Law Group to investigate the cause for premature activations of the VK-457 sprinkler head, which have flooded homes in California and other parts of the United States. The trial preparation included depositions of engineers at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in Chicago, Illinois and multiple depositions of engineers and other management level employees of Viking Corporation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The settlement reached by Knez Law Group included reimbursement of FSS and Thorpe for their out-of-pocket losses associated with premature activations of the VK-457 sprinkler head and a replacement program whereby Viking Corporation is paying for replacement of the VK-457 sprinkler head under a replacement program. The settlement also includes an agreement by Viking Corporation to indemnify FSS and Thorpe with regard to future claims associated with premature activations of the VK-457 sprinkler head.

This Case In The News: https://www.sacbee.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article203280449.html

National Environmental Waste Corp v. Willem C. Onink & Marsha Onink
Represented Plaintiff in claims of Unfair Business Practices contending predatory pricing. After a jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of $5,423,825.

Holzman v. Dynachem Corp
Represented Plaintiff for wrongful termination of employment. After a jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of $1.5 million.

Fryan v. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., et al.
Represented Plaintiff is claims of personal injury, products liability and negligence.  Plaintiff was a 46-year old salesman for a bread company and was unloading bread products at a dock of a distribution center.  After unloading the truck and while the plaintiff was closing the back door of the truck, a co-employee started the truck and the truck began moving backwards and ultimately crushed the Plaintiff’s legs between the bumper of the truck and the concrete wall of the dock.  Plaintiff claimed the truck was in gear and the clutch was not engaged when the co-employee started the truck and the neutral safety switch was not functioning because it had been bypassed by the Defendant and not repaired.   Plaintiff sustained multiple fractures of the legs, including a close fracture of the right tibia with displacement and fracture of the neck of the right fibula with displacement, and bone loss.   The Defendants denied liability, contending that the neutral safety switch was not a necessary part of maintenance and repair, that the transmission was in neutral or that the clutch was engaged, and that the truck was not powered to go backwards.  After a 10-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict for $1.112 million.

Gloria McDonnel v. Los Angeles National Bank
Represented plaintiff in an arbitration for claims of reverse race discrimination resulting in an arbitration award of $1.3 million

Knight v. Cargnelutti
Represented Plaintiff in a legal malpractice action. Defendant attorney absconded with client trust funds in excess of $400,000. Knez Law Group aggressively sought action and obtained a Stipulated Judgment for the full amount.

John Doe v. Law Firm
Represented Plaintiff in a legal malpractice action. Defendant Law Firm failed to keep secure attorney-client communications with regard to wire transfer information wherein a email spoofer was able to redirect client wire transfer instructions resulting in a loss in excess of $400,000. Defendant settled for nearly the full amount.

Garcia Juarez Construction, Inc. v Allen B. Felahy and Felahy Law Group
On behalf of Garcia Juarez Construction, Inc., Knez Law Group brought a legal malpractice case against Attorney Allen B. Felahy and the Felahy Law Group in Orange County Superior Court. The lawsuit claimed that Mr. Felahy and the attorneys at his firm failed to timely respond to Requests for Admission and failed to timely and properly respond to a motion brought by the Plaintiffs in the underlying case to have the Requests for Admission deemed admitted. After service of the complaint on Mr. Felahy, the Knez Law Group received threats from Mr. Felahy that if the case was not dismissed he looked forward to “putting you out of business.” Mr. Felahy projected that the Knez Law Group would “never see a penny out of this case.” Shortly before trial, the case was settled for $328,000.00.

Business v. John Doe
Represented Defendant and Cross-claimant in a defense of contract and prosecution of a business squeeze out. After considerable litigation and discovery disputes, including sanctions against the Plaintiff and Cross-defendant, Plaintiff and Cross-Defendant settled the matter for $192,500.

Turbo Chilled v. Sunset Marquis Hotel
Represented Plaintiff, Turbo Chilled in a breach of contract dispute. Plaintiff alleged Defendant failed to pay for its manufacturing, labor, parts and services for the installation of the Sunset Marquis Hotel’s HVAC air conditioning system. Defendant filed a Cross-Complaint against Turbo Chilled for negligence alleging defects and deficiencies in the work.  Turbo Chilled was awarded a settlement of $110,000.

Padilla v. Verdin
Plaintiff was struck by Defendant’s vehicle while he was riding his bike along the side of a two-way road.  The Defendant had just come around a curve in the roadway and due to his unreasonable rate of speed he was unable to maneuver in time to avoid collision with the Plaintiff.  The impact caused Plaintiff to fall into the hood of the vehicle and against the windshield, and tumble over the vehicle and onto the asphalt.  The parties settled for the policy limits of $100,000.

Delaware Life Insurance Company v. Alexander, et al.
Defended proceeds to a life insurance policy wherein other family members made claims to the proceeds, including claims of undue influence. Judgment in favor for 100% of proceeds.

TransAmerica Life Insurance Company v. Avila, et al.
Defended proceeds to a life insurance policy wherein other family members made claims to the proceeds, including claims of change of beneficiary and undue influence. Judgment in favor for 100% of proceeds.

Adams v. BMW of North America
Represented Plaintiff in a products liability lawsuit involving a defective BMW motorcycle. Plaintiff claimed he was injured after the breaking system of the motorcycle malfunctioned. Knez Law Group filed claims of negligence and strict products liability. After substantial discovery and litigation, including expert discovery, Plaintiff and Defendant settled prior to trial for a confidential monetary amount.

Mullen v. Arrowhead Evaluation Services, Inc.
Represented Plaintiff employee who alleged she was physically assaulted at work, harassed, and eventually discharged from employment. Knez Law Group filed claims of harassment, assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and wrongful termination. After substantial discovery and litigation, Plaintiff and Defendant settled prior to trial for a confidential monetary amount.

Anderson v. TransAmerica Life Insurance Company
Represented Plaintiff who alleged insurance bad faith after Defendant Insurance company denied life insurance benefits. Knez Law Group filed claims for breach of contract and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. After substantial discovery and litigation, Plaintiff and Defendant settled for a confidential monetary amount.