Glaser Weil Litigators Prevail in $200 Million Claim

Litigators Patty Glaser and Kerry Garvis Wright of the Glaser Weil Law Firm crafted a successful outcome for commercial real estate developer clients LNR California Investments, Inc., LNR Heritage Fields, Inc., and LNR Property Corporation.

At the 11th hour of the litigation process, Glaser Weil litigators Patty Glaser and Kerry Garvis Wright were retained only10 days before jury selection in a lawsuit in which plaintiff Forest Lawn Memorial–Park Association sought more than $200 million dollars in damages.

Forest Lawn had asserted claims for breach of contract and fraud, based on the defendant’s alleged decision not to sell to Forest Lawn a 73-acre parcel of property within the 3700-acre future master-planned community on the former El Toro Marine Base in Irvine, California.

After two years of intensive litigation handled by former counsel, the developers retained Ms. Garvis Wright and Ms. Glaser, who assumed the role of lead trial counsel. The experienced team successfully settled the lawsuit during closing arguments following a 13-week jury trial. The confidential settlement was reached after the defendants prevailed on a motion to exclude Forest Lawn’s key damages expert from testifying in front of the jury, thereby precluding Forest Lawn from putting on any evidence of damages other than its out-ofpocket expenses, which were in the range of $2 million dollars.