Payday finally arrives for firm involved in refinery litigation. (Law).ENDING a dispute resulting from the handling of litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. following explosions in 1992 and 1996 at Texaco's Wilmington oil refinery, a Superior Court judge has awarded $5.8 million in attorney's fees attorney's fee n. the payment for legal services. It can take several forms: 1) hourly charge, 2) flat fee for the performance of a particular service (like $250 to write a will), 3) contingent fee (such as one-third of the gross recovery, and nothing if there is no to Davis & Heubeck LLP LLP - Lower Layer Protocol . An April 5 order by Judge Ricardo Tones released the funds, which had been held in escrow escrow Instrument, such as a deed, money, or property, that constitutes evidence of obligations between two or more parties and is held by a third party. It is delivered by the third party only upon fulfillment of some condition. for nearly three years. Litigation over damages from the explosions has been marred by internecine in·ter·nec·ine adj. 1. Of or relating to struggle within a nation, organization, or group. 2. Mutually destructive; ruinous or fatal to both sides. 3. Characterized by bloodshed or carnage. legal battles. Joel Freis, a sole practitioner in Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. , took over the case on behalf of thousands of claimants in 1995 when the original attorneys were charged with insurance fraud. (They were later acquitted.) In 1996, when the second explosion occurred, Freis brought in Davis & Heubeck as co-counsel to handle much of the litigation, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Davis & Heubeck's trial brief filed in the courts. The firm sued Freis a year later, claiming he settled multiple personal injury and property damage suits against Texaco without its knowledge. Freis received $3 million in the "secret" settlement, while the courts held about $6 million in fees, said Gregory Gorman, partner at Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory LLP representing Davis & Heubeck. "I think it is rare to have this much litigation over attorneys' fees," Gorman said. "These circumstances are very rare, where you have one attorney who's paid quite a bit of money and there's a trial for the rest of the money." Davis & Heubeck still has a lawsuit pending against Texaco for interference with a contract and fraud, Gorman said. Freis and his attorney, Louis Krass, did not return phone calls seeking comment. Davis & Heubeck has already been awarded $8.8 million in a separate judgment against Freis. All the plaintiff's claims against Texaco for the oil refinery explosions were settled in 1999. Staff reporter Amanda Bronstad can be reached at (323) 549-5225 ext. 225, or at abronstad@labusinessjournal.com. |
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