What's New: Verdicts

JURY VERDICT REPORT:

LAUSD v. Dixon, et al.

LASC Case No. BC 191578

ANOTHER SUCCESS! JURORS PRAISE FIRM'S TRIAL PRESENTATION

Praising the outstanding quality of this firm's trial presentation, jurors delivered a whopping verdict of $3,433,727, a factor of almost seven times LAUSD's initial written offer!

"The jurors were unanimous in their praise of our trial presentation," said Jed Springer, the Dixons' trial counsel. "The jurors understood our valuation testimony much better because of our trial graphics and computer presentation."

"In sharp contrast," said Springer, "the jurors were critical of plaintiff's witnesses and presentation. They stated that plaintiff's witnesses were not credible and plaintiff's value opinions were simply not reasonable."

"The initial written offer on the property was only $520,000," said Tony Dixon, the owner. "Throughout the time they were kicking us out, LAUSD never seriously negotiated or provided any substantial help whatsoever. Of course, by kicking us out and offering almost no money, they killed my business. This verdict is wonderful news and a great relief to me, my wife and my sister."

After the verdict was announced, the jury foreman, Robert Manuel, asked how the verdict compared to the plaintiff's pretrial settlement offer. We told him how little it was and informed him that the verdict was even higher than our final settlement offer. The jury foreman said, "I hope this sends a message to LAUSD to be more reasonable."

We couldn't agree more!

SUMMARY OF CASE

In the action, LAUSD sought to acquire a one acre industrial property in South Gate improved with a metal building approximately 27,000 square feet in area and a 2,800 square feet wood frame and stucco office building. The tenant on the property was Southwest Wire Corporation ("SWC"), owned by Tony Dixon. SWC was an industrial business, engaged in the wire drawing business. In this business, huge machines pull wire through a series of dies reducing its diameter and yielding high tensile strength. A summary of the appraised values and the jury verdict is as follows:

	PLAINTIFF'S APPRAISALS	DEFENDANT'S APPRAISALS	JURY VERDICT
Real Estate	$ 655,000	$ 1,145,000	$ 1,070,294
Machinery and Equip.	$ 1,281,958	$ 2,044,552	$ 1,901,433
Goodwill	-0-	$ 554,000	$ 460,000
Total	$ 1,936,958	$ 3,743,552	$ 3,433,727

TRIAL PRESENTATION SYSTEM

With so many issues in the case, defendants alone had almost 500 trial exhibits. The coordination and effective presentation of this quantity of exhibits was made possible by computer technology.

We used a combination of sophisticated trial presentation software, a fast lap top computer, a bright LCD projector, and a 6 foot screen to display photographs and trial exhibits. We also used our "big screen" to show a video of the business in operation before it was forced to close.

Terry Randerson, a skilled and experienced paralegal, promptly displayed exhibit after exhibit.

The jurors gave effusive compliments to both the computer technology and the defendants' presentation of the evidence. They were appreciative of these efforts to help them understand the issues.

CONCLUSION

LAUSD's initial written offer was only $520,000. During the time when the business was being forced out, LAUSD did not increase this offer. With this combination of an unreasonable offer and an unyielding attitude, LAUSD drove this long standing industrial business to its knees and strangled the financial life out of it.

DDS&F helped the property and business owner obtain truly just and fair compensation of over $3,433,000, an amount almost seven times the initial written offer!!