Ret. Judge Stephen E. Haberfeld of JAMS issued an arbitration award in favor of the firm’s client, Burkhalter, Kessler, Clement & George (BKGG) in a dissociation lawsuit brought by former partner, Eric J. Goodman. Mr. Goodman sought the recovery of more than $400,000 pursuant to Section 16701 of the California Corporations Code as his “interest” when he abruptly dissociated from the firm in June 2011. After a week-long hearing before Judge Haberfeld, our client received an award holding that BKGG owed nothing to Mr. Goodman and that, in fact, Goodman owed the firm more than $74,000 due to his negative capital account balance. Judge Haberfeld also ruled that the firm was entitled to statutory attorney’s fees and costs due to Mr. Goodman’s bad faith conduct in secretly drawing down from the firm’s line of credit one day prior to his sudden departure.
JBB handles commercial litigation disputes in both state and federal courts and in arbitration.