Blog

Court Awards Nearly $5 Million to the FDIC-R

Wed 3rd Sep 2014, Blog, Case Successes

On a motion for summary judgment brought by Bienert | Katzman, a federal district judge in Miami, Florida ordered Defendant Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund, Inc. (“ATIF”) to pay nearly $5 million to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, as Receiver for Washington Mutual Bank (“FDIC-R”) for ATIF’s failure to reimburse funds that ATIF’s closing agents had misappropriated from Washington Mutual Bank (“WaMu”) in connection with several residential real estate transactions in southern Florida.  Steven Jay Katzman, Michael R. …

Court Rules Eighteen Felony Counts Including Conspiracy and Grand Theft are Barred by the Statute of Limitations

Mon 28th Jul 2014, Blog, Case Successes

On July 28, 2014, Jim D. Riddet of Bienert | Katzman obtained a dismissal of all eighteen felony counts including two counts of conspiracy and 16 counts of grand theft. The client was indicted by a grand jury over 3 years ago, but Mr. Riddet was able to obtain a dismissal of that indictment. Thereafter, the District Attorney filed a felony complaint alleging additional charges. After a two-day hearing, the court accepted Mr. Riddet’s argument that all …

Bienert | Katzman is pleased to announce that Michael R. Williams has joined the firm as a partner.

Fri 9th May 2014, Blog, Firm Accomplishments and Recognition

Bienert | Katzman Selected as Counsel for the Official Retiree Committee in the City of San Bernardino Chapter 9 Bankruptcy Matter

Thu 27th Mar 2014, Blog, Case Successes

The Committee serves as a representative and fiduciary to the interests of the approximately 2,000 retired employees (the “Retirees”) in the City’s bankruptcy. Bienert | Katzman has zealously represented the interests of the Retirees, negotiating with the City to ensure that the Committee has a represented voice in the process, seeking clarification with the Court to confirm that a claims bar deadline is not imposed prematurely on Retirees and substantively participating in the Court ordered mediation …

Steven Jay Katzman was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2014 in the field of Litigation-Bankruptcy

Thu 9th Jan 2014, Blog, Firm Accomplishments and Recognition

Thomas H. Bienert, Jr. was installed as the 2014 President of the Orange County Bar Association during the January 16, 2014 Judge’s Night and Annual Meeting at the Irvine Marrott. Read more: Southern Grace, Orange County Lawyer, January 2014, Vol. 56 o. 1, p. 10.

Thu 9th Jan 2014, Blog, Firm Accomplishments and Recognition

Bienert | Katzman is pleased to announce that Jim D. Riddet has joined the firm, Of Counsel.

Thu 9th Jan 2014, Blog, Firm Accomplishments and Recognition

Steven Jay Katzman has been named Orange County’s Litigation-Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year for 2013 by Best Lawyers.

Mon 9th Dec 2013, Blog, Firm Accomplishments and Recognition

Court Dismisses Eight of Thirteen Felony Charges Against Former Public Executive

Sat 27th Jul 2013, Blog, Case Successes

Following a week-long preliminary hearing in which Jim D. Riddet of Bienert | Katzman represented a former Orange County Public Works Executive, the court dismissed eight of thirteen felony counts against his client, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to require the defendant to stand trial. Over the course of the preliminary hearing, Mr. Riddet was able to establish through cross examination of prosecution witnesses that many of the charges were not even supported by probable cause. …

Lesser Sentence for Business Owner, Struggling to Keep Business Afloat

Wed 27th Feb 2013, Blog, Case Successes

A federal judge in Orange County, California, acknowledged the pressure of trying to maintain a struggling business during the economic recession of 2008 as a factor to consider in imposing sentence in a business fraud case. On February 25, 2013, U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney sentenced Cheryl Fu to 36 months based on her guilty plea to bank fraud. Government attorneys had argued for a higher sentence of 46 months in prison. Counsel for …