Our firm is proud to announce our newest recognition as one of the Top 20 Labor & Employment jury verdicts obtained in California this past year. We were ranked as number 12 for Case Saied v. Centro Medico Community Clinic! For more information on this case involving retaliation, wrongful termination, and labor & employment please visit the news section of our website!

The recent mudslides in Santa Barbara County should not have happened, or would not have been so catastrophic, if not for the Thomas Fire which burned nearly 300,000 acres a few weeks before the mudslides.

Insurance companies should be covering all Californians for the damages that suffered to their homes and businesses as a result of the recent fires, rains and mudslides.

In fact, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today issued a formal notice to all property/casualty insurers reminding them of their duty to cover damages from the recent mudslide and debris flows if it is determined that the burning of hillsides and vegetation by the Thomas and other fires was the “efficient proximate cause” of the mudslides.

Jones put insurers on notice that both the California Insurance Code and case law have established the legal doctrine of “efficient proximate cause,” meaning if it’s shown the Thomas Fire, a covered peril, caused the subsequent mudslides then damage caused by those events should be covered under a property owner’s insurance policy.

“Californians have suffered greatly with all of the devastating losses from wildfires that struck the state in the last three months of 2017,” Jones said in a statement. “Preliminary indications are that the Thomas Fire burned vegetation which would otherwise have absorbed rainfall and held soils in place, which in turn resulted in the mudflows, mudslides, debris flows or landslides. If the evidence shows the Thomas Fire or another peril covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy was the efficient proximate cause of mudflow damage, I expect insurance companies to step up and cover these financial losses.”

All Californians with homeowners or business insurance that are located in areas of the recent fires, storms and mudslides, should have their claims for damages covered by their insurance companies as we agree with the California Insurance Commissioner that the fire is the efficient proximate cause of the damage.

If your insurance company has wrongfully delayed or denied your claim for damage to your home or business, call us now for a free consultation.

We have recovered millions of dollars for policyholders that have had their claims wrongfully denied.

Timothy D. McGonigle P.C. filed a lawsuit on September 7, 2017, seeking to set aside the Los Angeles City Council’s (“City Council”) approval of a mixed-use real estate development project known as the “Hollywood Ivar Gardens Project” (the “Project”) which is to be a 21-story hotel to be constructed at 6407-6411 West Sunset Boulevard, 1512 North Cahuenga Blvd., and 1511 North Ivar Avenue in Los Angeles, California, at the intersection of Ivar Avenue and Sunset Boulevard.

The City Council approved the Project without requiring any Environmental Impact Report. The lawsuit alleges that the City Council failed to require that the Project’s developer properly analyze and mitigate the Project’s impact in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Resources Code, §21000 et seq.) (“CEQA”).

CEQA requires public agencies to prepare an Environmental Impact Report whenever the approval of a project may cause significant adverse effects on the environment. The purpose of the Environmental Impact Report under CEQA, is to provide the agency and interested members of the public with detailed information about the effect that a proposed project is likely to have on the environment, to list ways in which the effects of the project might be minimized, and to indicate alternatives to the project. If a project may result in a significant effect on the environment, then the lead agency cannot adopt a negative declaration, but must instead prepare an EIR. (Pub. Resources Code §§ 21080, subd. (d); 21082.2, subd. ( d); CEQA Guidelines, §15063, subd. (b)(1), 15064.)

An agency must prepare an Environmental Impact Report whenever it can be fairly argued on the basis of substantial evidence that a project may have a significant environmental impact. If there is substantial evidence both for and against preparing an Environmental Impact Report, then the agency must prepare the Environmental Impact Report. The City Council was presented with substantial evidence – including extensive expert opinion testimony- demonstrating that the Project’s MND was flawed and failed to fully disclose and analyze potential impacts (e.g. noise, traffic, GHG, air quality, land use consistency, etc.). Multiple objectors informed the City that there was a fair argument contrary to the MND’s CEQA findings, and requested a more thorough Project-specific EIR. Despite the objections, the City Council approved the project.

The lawsuit alleges that the City Council prejudicially abused their discretion and failed to proceed in the manner mandated by CEQA by approving the Project and adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration (“MND”) for the Project instead of requiring preparation of an EIR. The lawsuit further alleges that the City Council further violated CEQA by failing to even require the Developer to commit to carrying out all of the noise mitigation measures called for by the Developer’s own experts.

The complaint requests that the court grant a peremptory writ of mandate ordering the City Council and Los Angeles Planning Department to set aside and void the Project Approval, pending the City’s full compliance with CEQA and its Municipal Code including preparation of appropriate CEQA documentation and zoning findings.

–Clinic fired doctor who reported illegal management practices and exploitation of patients–
Bakersfield, CA – On February 9, 2017, Timothy D. McGonigle, PC, a plaintiff’s professional malpractice and business litigation firm, achieved a $6.1 million verdict on behalf of Dr. Saied Ibrahim Saied and Dr. Nagy Philips Bebawy against Centro Medico Community Clinic, Inc. for wrongful termination. Lead Counsel Timothy McGonigle proved that Rigaud and Veney, the primary operators of Centro Medico Community Clinic, fired Dr. Saied and Dr. Bebaway in retaliation for reporting the clinic’s illegal practices and exploitation of patients.

“The defendants violated their nonprofit charter by turning away patients who did not have the money to be treated, recommended medically unnecessary tests so they could overcharge patients, and allowed someone who was not a doctor to act as Medical Director,” said McGonigle. “These practices were illegal and exploitative. We’re pleased that the jury arrived at the same conclusion, achieving justice for Dr. Saied and Dr. Bebawy and bringing much-needed reform to the clinic.”

In addition to the verdict, the Honorable David L. Minning appointed a Receiver for the clinic which resulted in judicial supervision of the clinic that brought about vast improvements to its services, and it is now fulfilling its mission as a nonprofit to treat patients regardless of their ability to pay.

In the case of MedInformatix v. Acermed, Timothy McGonigle’s client prevailed in a breach of contract/copyright infringement lawsuit. Timothy McGonigle’s client was awarded the sum of $785,704. Timothy McGonigle’s client also prevailed on the cross-complaint seeking in excess of four million dollars in damages.

MedInformatix’s predecessor and C.A.R.E.I.S. #1 were parties to a 1996 Reseller Agreement. In 2001, C.A.R.E.I.S. #1 and another company, Systems West, joined forces to form a new company, Acermed, which continued doing business with MedInformatix as it has been doing before.

Acermed carried on the business of C.A.R.E.I.S. #1 by continuing to sell MedInformatix’s software, holding itself out to be an authorized reseller of the product, benefiting by MedInformatix’s success and goodwill, and making a profit from the sales; basically, Acermed accepted all the benefits of the Reseller Agreement.

However, the relationship deteriorated as Acermed refused to cure its large overdue account, refused to acknowledge the Reseller Agreement, and began developing a competing product. As a result, in July of 2005, MedInformatix terminated Acermed’s reseller authority.

Despite the fact that Acermed was no longer authorized to demonstrate, distribute or sell MedInformatix software, MedInformatix received complaints from third parties that Acermed was still demonstrating the MedInformatix product. Then MedInformatix discovered that Acermed copied the MedInformatix software in an effort to create its own competing software.

Accordingly, in September of 2005, Timothy McGonigle filed a complaint on behalf of MedInformatix against Acermed in the United States District Court for copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, breaches of contracts, unfair business practices, account stated and goods sold and delivered. Michael McCarthy of the law firm of Nemecek & Cole joined the case as co-counsel for MedInformatix.

Acermed retained the Newport Beach firm of Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Roth to represent it in the litigation. Acermed filed a counter-claim against MedInformatix seeking in excess of four million dollars in damages.

Acermed compelled the matter to Arbitration with the Honorable Gary Taylor, a retired judge of the United States District Court. After a two week arbitration, Judge Taylor concluded that MedInformatix owned a valid copyright to its software program and product.
Judge Taylor found that Acermed copied MedInformatix’s copyrighted materials.

Judge Taylor also found that MedInformatix’s software was the subject of considerable creative effort.

Judge Taylor concluded that Acermed treated MedInformatix’s materials as if they were an industry standard, in the public domain, for use by others. Judge Taylor found that there was ample evidence of intent to copy MedInformatix’s software. Acermed’s plan was to develop a competing product by standardized and more efficient design, through incorporation of existing materials from other sources. Acermed treated MedInformatix’s materials as non-protected, and disclaimed the agreement between the parties with its protective provisions.

Judge Taylor found that Acermed had improperly intended to copy MedInformatix’s copyrighted software. Judge Taylor awarded MedInformatix statutory damages in the amount of $150,000 for Acermed’s willful infringement.

Judge Taylor also awarded breach of contract damages against Acermed in the amount of $279,397, as a result of Acermed’s failure to pay MedInformatix the amounts due under their contract. Judge Taylor found in favor of MedInformatix against Acermed on its multi-million dollar counterclaim. A copy of Judge Taylor’s decision can be found on the firm’s website.

Finally, Judge Taylor also found that MedInformatix’s counsel, Timothy McGonigle and Michael McCarthy, did an excellent job in presenting their case. Judge Taylor awarded attorney’s fees to MedInformatix’s counsel under the Copyright Law in the amount of $356,307.

Because of the trying economic times, there has been a lot of buzz in the news about different kinds of foreclosures and the serious consequences of a foreclosure. However, within the legal system there are different types of foreclosure with different proceedings, which makes the entire process of foreclosure complicated.

The two most important aspects of this process to know are what the differences between non-judicial and judicial foreclosures and the specific requirements for foreclosures.

A judicial foreclosure goes entirely through the courts and ends with a sheriff’s sale where the highest bidder becomes the newest owner of the property. On the other hand, non-judicial foreclosures are not handled by the court, but instead rely upon the state’s already established laws pertaining to foreclosure. When the loan stops being paid, the homeowner is mailed a default letter and given the opportunity to make the appropriate payments on the loan. However, if the homeowner still does not rectify the loan payments, then the homeowner will receive a letter of intent to sell and other public postings will be displayed throughout the area informing neighbors of the foreclosure. Then at the auction, the home goes to the highest bidder.

Consequently, within the non-judicial realm there are some legal loopholes within California that have judges disagreeing with each other.

Recently in California, in Kachlon v. Markowitz it came to light that Civil Code Section 2924 asserts publication of these notices as privilege under Civil Code 47.

But that section claims to have both a litigation privilege which is absolute and also a common interest privilege, which is qualified by lack of malice. The non-judicial foreclosure section does not state which section of Civil Code 47 privilege applies to, which opens the door to differing opinions from within the California courts.

In another case, the 4th district court held that privilege was absolute, making the non-judicial foreclosure case fall under litigation privilege.

Then in the Court of Appeals, the 2nd district court directly disagreed with the 4th district court’s decision and determined that holding privilege is the common interest privilege. Therefore, under common interest, privilege applies only when the defendant lacks malice.

In this particular case, Kachlon v. Markowitz, the privilege does apply because they did not find malice. With these conflicting Court of Appeal perspectives, any judge within California is free to choose the view that suits them best. Markowitz’s attorney Timothy D. McGonigle, a Los Angeles litigation lawyer, asserts that in these types of situations it’s a case of first impressions and that the judge expanded the potential of trustees when involved on foreclosure properties.

Obviously, in California there are a lot of differing judicial perspectives about non-judicial foreclosures and ultimately depends on both your lawyer and judge