Detective Doug Beard declares that Serhat Daniel Gumrukcu is suspected of multiple felonies based on an investigation. Gumrukcu is suspected of defrauding Ersin Akyuz of $930,000 in a real estate scam involving a property on Dicks Street in West Hollywood. He is also suspected of depositing bad checks totaling $11,700 at Wells Fargo, causing the bank to lose money. Additionally, Gumrukcu is suspected of defrauding Gregory Gac and his company Quadrant Financial of $600,000 by depositing bad checks. Based on the losses exceeding $1 million, Beard requests the court preserve up to $3 million of
Gumrukcu - Motion for Termination of Probation and "Reduce the Matter to Misd...Hindenburg Research
This document is a notice of motion and motion filed by attorney Donald M. Re on behalf of his client Serhat Gumrukcu. It requests (1) early termination of Gumrukcu's 5-year probation after he has served 2.5 years and satisfied all financial conditions, and (2) relief under Penal Code Section 1203.4, including withdrawal of Gumrukcu's plea, reduction of the offense to a misdemeanor, and dismissal of the matter. Both the California Attorney General and Gumrukcu's probation officer consent to these requests. The document provides background on Gumrukcu's plea and sentence and argues he has performed well on probation.
Jerry Banks is accused of kidnapping GD on January 6, 2018 in Danville, Vermont. GD's wife MD reported that a man claiming to be a US Marshal arrested GD for racketeering and took him away in a white vehicle. GD's body was later found shot in Barnet, Vermont. The FBI investigation identified two prepaid phones, a 911 phone and 201 phone, purchased by the same individual around the times of the kidnapping and murder. Surveillance footage showed a bearded white man matching Banks' description purchasing one of the phones. Cell site data placed both phones near the crime scenes around the relevant times. Banks is charged with kidnapping resulting in death.
Ersin Akyuz v Serhat Gumrukcu - Santa Monica Court Real Estate Fraud.pdfHindenburg Research
This document is a complaint filed by Ersin Akyuz against Serhat Gumrukcu and ERMES LLC alleging fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, breach of contract, and abuse of trust. Akyuz claims that Gumrukcu fraudulently induced him to invest over $930,000 by falsely claiming they had purchased a property together, providing forged documents, and misappropriating funds for remodeling costs, when in fact the property was never purchased. Despite promises of repayment, Akyuz has not received any of his investment back or profits owed. The complaint seeks damages and requests a jury trial.
This document is a complaint filed by Enochian Biosciences, Inc. against Serhat Gumrukcu, W. Anderson Wittekind, G Tech Bio LLC, SG & AW Holdings LLC, Seraph Research Institute, and unnamed defendants (Does 1 through 50). The complaint alleges that the defendants engaged in a scheme to defraud Enochian by manipulating and falsifying data related to research on hepatitis B and coronavirus/influenza treatments, causing Enochian to pay the defendants nearly $25 million based on the fraudulent results. The complaint brings causes of action for breach of contract, fraud, civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment and unfair business practices.
Detective Doug Beard declares that Serhat Daniel Gumrukcu is suspected of multiple felonies based on an investigation. Gumrukcu is suspected of defrauding Ersin Akyuz of $930,000 in a real estate scam involving a property on Dicks Street in West Hollywood. He is also suspected of depositing bad checks totaling $11,700 at Wells Fargo, causing the bank to lose money. Additionally, Gumrukcu is suspected of defrauding Gregory Gac and his company Quadrant Financial of $600,000 by depositing bad checks. Based on the losses exceeding $1 million, Beard requests the court preserve up to $3 million of
Gumrukcu - Motion for Termination of Probation and "Reduce the Matter to Misd...Hindenburg Research
This document is a notice of motion and motion filed by attorney Donald M. Re on behalf of his client Serhat Gumrukcu. It requests (1) early termination of Gumrukcu's 5-year probation after he has served 2.5 years and satisfied all financial conditions, and (2) relief under Penal Code Section 1203.4, including withdrawal of Gumrukcu's plea, reduction of the offense to a misdemeanor, and dismissal of the matter. Both the California Attorney General and Gumrukcu's probation officer consent to these requests. The document provides background on Gumrukcu's plea and sentence and argues he has performed well on probation.
Jerry Banks is accused of kidnapping GD on January 6, 2018 in Danville, Vermont. GD's wife MD reported that a man claiming to be a US Marshal arrested GD for racketeering and took him away in a white vehicle. GD's body was later found shot in Barnet, Vermont. The FBI investigation identified two prepaid phones, a 911 phone and 201 phone, purchased by the same individual around the times of the kidnapping and murder. Surveillance footage showed a bearded white man matching Banks' description purchasing one of the phones. Cell site data placed both phones near the crime scenes around the relevant times. Banks is charged with kidnapping resulting in death.
Ersin Akyuz v Serhat Gumrukcu - Santa Monica Court Real Estate Fraud.pdfHindenburg Research
This document is a complaint filed by Ersin Akyuz against Serhat Gumrukcu and ERMES LLC alleging fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, breach of contract, and abuse of trust. Akyuz claims that Gumrukcu fraudulently induced him to invest over $930,000 by falsely claiming they had purchased a property together, providing forged documents, and misappropriating funds for remodeling costs, when in fact the property was never purchased. Despite promises of repayment, Akyuz has not received any of his investment back or profits owed. The complaint seeks damages and requests a jury trial.
This document is a complaint filed by Enochian Biosciences, Inc. against Serhat Gumrukcu, W. Anderson Wittekind, G Tech Bio LLC, SG & AW Holdings LLC, Seraph Research Institute, and unnamed defendants (Does 1 through 50). The complaint alleges that the defendants engaged in a scheme to defraud Enochian by manipulating and falsifying data related to research on hepatitis B and coronavirus/influenza treatments, causing Enochian to pay the defendants nearly $25 million based on the fraudulent results. The complaint brings causes of action for breach of contract, fraud, civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment and unfair business practices.
This document is Defendants' memorandum in opposition to Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction and in support of Defendants' motion to dismiss the lawsuit. It provides background on the agreement between the parties where Defendant Wolfe was to serve as CFO for Plaintiff Enochian Biosciences. When Enochian terminated the agreement in December 2018 and failed to fully pay what was owed, Defendant filed a lawsuit in Denmark as required by the agreement. Enochian then secretly filed this lawsuit in Vermont seeking to prevent the Danish case.
This document is a motion by prosecutors in the United States Attorney's Office requesting detention of the defendant, Serhat Gumrukcu, pending his trial. Gumrukcu has been charged with murder-for-hire conspiracy resulting in death. Prosecutors argue Gumrukcu poses a significant flight risk and danger to witnesses given the strong evidence against him, his foreign ties, substantial financial resources, and prior instance of fleeing prosecution. They request the court order Gumrukcu detained.
The document discusses the benefits of exercise for mental health. Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood and cognitive function. Exercise causes chemical changes in the brain that may help protect against mental illness and improve symptoms.
1) Defendants Crossfield, Inc. and Robert Wolfe oppose a motion by Plaintiffs Enochian Biosciences Denmark and Enochian Biosciences, Inc. to voluntarily dismiss a lawsuit with prejudice.
2) The Plaintiffs filed the lawsuit 14 months ago alleging breach of contract, fiduciary duty, and duty of loyalty related to Robert Wolfe's disclosure of information in a Danish lawsuit, but now do not want to provide discovery requested by Defendants.
3) Defendants argue that a dismissal on the Plaintiffs' terms would be unfair and unjust after 14 months of litigation, and that judgment should instead be entered in Defendants' favor.
The SEC filed a complaint against Martin Sumichrast alleging he engaged in undisclosed conflict-of-interest transactions that benefited him while managing Stone Street Partners, a private fund. Specifically, Sumichrast doubled his salary without disclosure or consent, and caused Stone Street to engage in transactions to strengthen the balance sheet of cbdMD, a company where he was CEO, prior to its public offering, in ways that prioritized cbdMD's interests over Stone Street's. Through these actions, the SEC alleges Sumichrast violated several securities laws governing disclosure of conflicts and duties to investors.
This document summarizes the legal ownership of a Certificate of Deposit (#405100-92) originally issued by the Mitsui Bank in Tokyo, Japan. It provides details of the certificate's ownership history, including:
1) The original owner, Soichi Iizuka, assigned ownership to U.S. Mortgage and Trust Co. in 1983 through a notarized Deed of Assignment.
2) In 1985, a U.S. attorney provided a legal opinion confirming U.S. Mortgage and Trust Co.'s legal ownership of the certificate.
3) The certificate's validity was verified in 1983 at the U.S. Embassy in Japan through signatures from Mitsui
This Is Reno’s second public records lawsuit against the City of Reno and Ren...This Is Reno
Petitioner Robert Conrad, who operates the news website ThisIsReno.com, has filed a petition for a writ of mandamus against the City of Reno regarding numerous public records requests. The petition alleges that the City has improperly withheld, redacted, and delayed the disclosure of requested records on various police matters. It also claims the City has improperly closed some requests and demanded payment for records not listed in its fee schedule. The petition seeks an order requiring the City to comply with the Nevada Public Records Act and provide timely access to public records.
Sparks Fire Dept. investigative report into Timothy Egan dropping a senior ci...This Is Reno
This report by Christopher Darcy of the Fairfax Consulting Group found Sparks Firefighter Timothy Egan instigated an altercation with a senior citizen, lied about it and violated department policies and state laws. Egan claimed he was attacked by Maureen Hvegholm, then 84, in December of 2022 when Hvegholm was feeding cats in an alleyway in Sparks, Nevada.
“Egan was responsible for creating the physical altercation between himself and Hvegholm,” Darcy wrote. “Egan initiated contact by approaching Hvegholm, attempting to take and throw away items she believed were hers. Egan used what officers described as disproportional force by throwing Hvegholm to the ground, causing her to land face first and injuring her forehead.”
The law firm reviewed the facts of the case and determined that Mr. Tenant has a claim against Shoreline Rentals for twice his security deposit amount of $5,600 since they did not return it or provide an itemized statement within 21 days as required by law. However, Shoreline Rentals may argue that Mr. Tenant owes rent for May and June since he did not provide the required 28 days notice before vacating. The law firm recommends Mr. Tenant first try to negotiate a settlement with Shoreline Rentals before deciding whether to initiate litigation, which could result in a judgment between $1,000-$2,800 if successful but risks dismissal.
This document is a complaint filed by Hindenburg Research LLC against Enochian Biosciences Inc. It alleges that after Hindenburg published a report revealing that Enochian's co-founder and "inventor" Serhat Gumrukçu was actually a con man with fake degrees who was charged with murder, Enochian launched a defamation campaign against Hindenburg. The complaint provides background on Hindenburg's role investigating public companies and exposing fraud, and details its investigation revealing Gumrukçu's criminal history before his arrest for conspiracy to commit murder. It asserts Enochian's statements about Gumrukçu and subsequent defamation of Hindenburg damaged Hindenburg's reputation.
Natera Class Action Lawsuit Alleging Deceptive Billing PracticesHindenburg Research
This document is a class action complaint filed against genetic testing company Natera, Inc. alleging deceptive billing practices. It summarizes that Natera advertises genetic tests with out-of-pocket costs of no more than $249 but patients regularly receive bills for thousands of dollars. The named plaintiff received a $8,000 bill for a Panorama test 22 months after the test. The complaint alleges Natera violates consumer protection laws and breaches implied contracts through these misleading billing practices that leave patients with unexpected high costs. It seeks to represent a nationwide class of patients who were billed over $249 for Natera tests.
The SEC alleges that Defendants James Patten, Peter Coker Sr., and Peter Coker Jr. perpetrated a fraudulent stock manipulation scheme involving two companies - Hometown International and E-Waste Corp. Specifically, the Defendants took control of the outstanding shares of the two companies and artificially inflated their stock prices through matched and wash trades executed through affiliated nominee accounts. This inflated the market capitalization of the companies to amounts greatly exceeding their actual operations and revenues. The Defendants profited from selling and holding the inflated stock, and also caused the companies to transfer funds to them through purported consulting agreements. The SEC is seeking to enjoin further violations and obtain penalties, disgorgement, and a penny stock bar against the Defendants.
Vegas physician, America's Frontline Doctors sued after Reno man died from ta...This Is Reno
The estate of Jeremy Parker last week sued the anti-vaccination, right-wing group America's Frontline Doctors for alleged wrongful death. Dr. Medina Culver, an osteopathic physician and Instagram influencer based in Henderson, Nevada, is also named in the case. The lawsuit alleges negligence by the group and Culver for the death of Parker last year.
"Based on information provided by America's Frontline Doctors, Mr. Parker became convinced, along with several of his co-workers, that hydroxychloroquine was an effective treatment for COVID-19," the suit alleges. "On or about August 26, 2021, Mr. Parker had a telemedicine visit with Dr. Culver, at which time Dr. Culver prescribed Mr. Parker with hydroxychloroquine and/or ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment or 'preventative therapy.' Dr. Culver never performed a physical examination of Mr. Parker."
According to the suit, Parker developed cold-like symptoms in late January of 2022. His body was found Feb. 3, 2022. The Washoe County coroner listed Parker's cause of death as "sudden in the setting of therapeutic use of hydroxychloroquine."
Dennis Carry Affidavit in Support of Warrant This Is Reno
Former Washoe County Sheriff’s Sergeant Dennis Carry is facing seven felony charges, including bigamy – being married to two different people at the same time.
Carry is also accused of burglary, forgery, surreptitious intrusion of privacy, giving false evidence and perjury.
The case goes back to 2019 when Reno police started investigating Carry. He is alleged to have broken into the Washoe County courthouse to modify married records in an attempt to cover up his dual marriages.
The Reno Police Department and City of Reno said this document is 100% confidential, and Washoe County District Court Judge Kathleen Drakulich agreed, even though This Is Reno obtained the unreacted affidavit from Reno Justice Court. The Nevada Supreme Court June 2023 ordered Drakulich to reconsider her decision.
Trina Olsen versus Washoe County School DistrictThis Is Reno
This motion seeks a preliminary injunction preventing the Washoe County School District (WCSD) from taking any adverse employment actions against the plaintiff, Trina Olsen, without court approval. The motion argues that Olsen is likely to succeed on the merits of her due process and retaliation claims against WCSD. An arbitrator previously found WCSD terminated Olsen in violation of her due process rights and in retaliation for reporting misconduct. Despite the arbitrator's ruling, WCSD has not complied with the order to reinstate Olsen and has not provided the required notice that her dismissal will not be recommended, putting her at risk of further retaliation. The motion requests injunctive relief to prevent further violations of Olsen
Doc723 motion to vacate claims & stay further proceedingmalp2009
The Chapter 11 Trustee filed a motion to vacate claims orders and stay further proceedings related to two claims filed against the bankruptcy estate. The claims, totaling $275,000 each, were based on promissory notes related to the debtor's purchase of a company called Premier. After the claims orders were entered allowing the claims in part, an indictment was filed describing how organized crime figures took control of the debtor and looted it for their personal benefit through fraudulent transactions like the one involving Premier. The indictment revealed that one of the claimants, Learned, was controlled by one of the crime figures and was used to defraud the debtor and launder money as part of the scheme.
This document is Defendants' memorandum in opposition to Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction and in support of Defendants' motion to dismiss the lawsuit. It provides background on the agreement between the parties where Defendant Wolfe was to serve as CFO for Plaintiff Enochian Biosciences. When Enochian terminated the agreement in December 2018 and failed to fully pay what was owed, Defendant filed a lawsuit in Denmark as required by the agreement. Enochian then secretly filed this lawsuit in Vermont seeking to prevent the Danish case.
This document is a motion by prosecutors in the United States Attorney's Office requesting detention of the defendant, Serhat Gumrukcu, pending his trial. Gumrukcu has been charged with murder-for-hire conspiracy resulting in death. Prosecutors argue Gumrukcu poses a significant flight risk and danger to witnesses given the strong evidence against him, his foreign ties, substantial financial resources, and prior instance of fleeing prosecution. They request the court order Gumrukcu detained.
The document discusses the benefits of exercise for mental health. Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood and cognitive function. Exercise causes chemical changes in the brain that may help protect against mental illness and improve symptoms.
1) Defendants Crossfield, Inc. and Robert Wolfe oppose a motion by Plaintiffs Enochian Biosciences Denmark and Enochian Biosciences, Inc. to voluntarily dismiss a lawsuit with prejudice.
2) The Plaintiffs filed the lawsuit 14 months ago alleging breach of contract, fiduciary duty, and duty of loyalty related to Robert Wolfe's disclosure of information in a Danish lawsuit, but now do not want to provide discovery requested by Defendants.
3) Defendants argue that a dismissal on the Plaintiffs' terms would be unfair and unjust after 14 months of litigation, and that judgment should instead be entered in Defendants' favor.
The SEC filed a complaint against Martin Sumichrast alleging he engaged in undisclosed conflict-of-interest transactions that benefited him while managing Stone Street Partners, a private fund. Specifically, Sumichrast doubled his salary without disclosure or consent, and caused Stone Street to engage in transactions to strengthen the balance sheet of cbdMD, a company where he was CEO, prior to its public offering, in ways that prioritized cbdMD's interests over Stone Street's. Through these actions, the SEC alleges Sumichrast violated several securities laws governing disclosure of conflicts and duties to investors.
This document summarizes the legal ownership of a Certificate of Deposit (#405100-92) originally issued by the Mitsui Bank in Tokyo, Japan. It provides details of the certificate's ownership history, including:
1) The original owner, Soichi Iizuka, assigned ownership to U.S. Mortgage and Trust Co. in 1983 through a notarized Deed of Assignment.
2) In 1985, a U.S. attorney provided a legal opinion confirming U.S. Mortgage and Trust Co.'s legal ownership of the certificate.
3) The certificate's validity was verified in 1983 at the U.S. Embassy in Japan through signatures from Mitsui
This Is Reno’s second public records lawsuit against the City of Reno and Ren...This Is Reno
Petitioner Robert Conrad, who operates the news website ThisIsReno.com, has filed a petition for a writ of mandamus against the City of Reno regarding numerous public records requests. The petition alleges that the City has improperly withheld, redacted, and delayed the disclosure of requested records on various police matters. It also claims the City has improperly closed some requests and demanded payment for records not listed in its fee schedule. The petition seeks an order requiring the City to comply with the Nevada Public Records Act and provide timely access to public records.
Sparks Fire Dept. investigative report into Timothy Egan dropping a senior ci...This Is Reno
This report by Christopher Darcy of the Fairfax Consulting Group found Sparks Firefighter Timothy Egan instigated an altercation with a senior citizen, lied about it and violated department policies and state laws. Egan claimed he was attacked by Maureen Hvegholm, then 84, in December of 2022 when Hvegholm was feeding cats in an alleyway in Sparks, Nevada.
“Egan was responsible for creating the physical altercation between himself and Hvegholm,” Darcy wrote. “Egan initiated contact by approaching Hvegholm, attempting to take and throw away items she believed were hers. Egan used what officers described as disproportional force by throwing Hvegholm to the ground, causing her to land face first and injuring her forehead.”
The law firm reviewed the facts of the case and determined that Mr. Tenant has a claim against Shoreline Rentals for twice his security deposit amount of $5,600 since they did not return it or provide an itemized statement within 21 days as required by law. However, Shoreline Rentals may argue that Mr. Tenant owes rent for May and June since he did not provide the required 28 days notice before vacating. The law firm recommends Mr. Tenant first try to negotiate a settlement with Shoreline Rentals before deciding whether to initiate litigation, which could result in a judgment between $1,000-$2,800 if successful but risks dismissal.
This document is a complaint filed by Hindenburg Research LLC against Enochian Biosciences Inc. It alleges that after Hindenburg published a report revealing that Enochian's co-founder and "inventor" Serhat Gumrukçu was actually a con man with fake degrees who was charged with murder, Enochian launched a defamation campaign against Hindenburg. The complaint provides background on Hindenburg's role investigating public companies and exposing fraud, and details its investigation revealing Gumrukçu's criminal history before his arrest for conspiracy to commit murder. It asserts Enochian's statements about Gumrukçu and subsequent defamation of Hindenburg damaged Hindenburg's reputation.
Natera Class Action Lawsuit Alleging Deceptive Billing PracticesHindenburg Research
This document is a class action complaint filed against genetic testing company Natera, Inc. alleging deceptive billing practices. It summarizes that Natera advertises genetic tests with out-of-pocket costs of no more than $249 but patients regularly receive bills for thousands of dollars. The named plaintiff received a $8,000 bill for a Panorama test 22 months after the test. The complaint alleges Natera violates consumer protection laws and breaches implied contracts through these misleading billing practices that leave patients with unexpected high costs. It seeks to represent a nationwide class of patients who were billed over $249 for Natera tests.
The SEC alleges that Defendants James Patten, Peter Coker Sr., and Peter Coker Jr. perpetrated a fraudulent stock manipulation scheme involving two companies - Hometown International and E-Waste Corp. Specifically, the Defendants took control of the outstanding shares of the two companies and artificially inflated their stock prices through matched and wash trades executed through affiliated nominee accounts. This inflated the market capitalization of the companies to amounts greatly exceeding their actual operations and revenues. The Defendants profited from selling and holding the inflated stock, and also caused the companies to transfer funds to them through purported consulting agreements. The SEC is seeking to enjoin further violations and obtain penalties, disgorgement, and a penny stock bar against the Defendants.
Vegas physician, America's Frontline Doctors sued after Reno man died from ta...This Is Reno
The estate of Jeremy Parker last week sued the anti-vaccination, right-wing group America's Frontline Doctors for alleged wrongful death. Dr. Medina Culver, an osteopathic physician and Instagram influencer based in Henderson, Nevada, is also named in the case. The lawsuit alleges negligence by the group and Culver for the death of Parker last year.
"Based on information provided by America's Frontline Doctors, Mr. Parker became convinced, along with several of his co-workers, that hydroxychloroquine was an effective treatment for COVID-19," the suit alleges. "On or about August 26, 2021, Mr. Parker had a telemedicine visit with Dr. Culver, at which time Dr. Culver prescribed Mr. Parker with hydroxychloroquine and/or ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment or 'preventative therapy.' Dr. Culver never performed a physical examination of Mr. Parker."
According to the suit, Parker developed cold-like symptoms in late January of 2022. His body was found Feb. 3, 2022. The Washoe County coroner listed Parker's cause of death as "sudden in the setting of therapeutic use of hydroxychloroquine."
Dennis Carry Affidavit in Support of Warrant This Is Reno
Former Washoe County Sheriff’s Sergeant Dennis Carry is facing seven felony charges, including bigamy – being married to two different people at the same time.
Carry is also accused of burglary, forgery, surreptitious intrusion of privacy, giving false evidence and perjury.
The case goes back to 2019 when Reno police started investigating Carry. He is alleged to have broken into the Washoe County courthouse to modify married records in an attempt to cover up his dual marriages.
The Reno Police Department and City of Reno said this document is 100% confidential, and Washoe County District Court Judge Kathleen Drakulich agreed, even though This Is Reno obtained the unreacted affidavit from Reno Justice Court. The Nevada Supreme Court June 2023 ordered Drakulich to reconsider her decision.
Trina Olsen versus Washoe County School DistrictThis Is Reno
This motion seeks a preliminary injunction preventing the Washoe County School District (WCSD) from taking any adverse employment actions against the plaintiff, Trina Olsen, without court approval. The motion argues that Olsen is likely to succeed on the merits of her due process and retaliation claims against WCSD. An arbitrator previously found WCSD terminated Olsen in violation of her due process rights and in retaliation for reporting misconduct. Despite the arbitrator's ruling, WCSD has not complied with the order to reinstate Olsen and has not provided the required notice that her dismissal will not be recommended, putting her at risk of further retaliation. The motion requests injunctive relief to prevent further violations of Olsen
Doc723 motion to vacate claims & stay further proceedingmalp2009
The Chapter 11 Trustee filed a motion to vacate claims orders and stay further proceedings related to two claims filed against the bankruptcy estate. The claims, totaling $275,000 each, were based on promissory notes related to the debtor's purchase of a company called Premier. After the claims orders were entered allowing the claims in part, an indictment was filed describing how organized crime figures took control of the debtor and looted it for their personal benefit through fraudulent transactions like the one involving Premier. The indictment revealed that one of the claimants, Learned, was controlled by one of the crime figures and was used to defraud the debtor and launder money as part of the scheme.
This document is an opinion and order from a court case between Ash Grove Cement Company and several insurance companies regarding insurance coverage. It discusses that Ash Grove received a request for information from the EPA under CERCLA regarding a Superfund site, and whether this triggers the insurers' duty to defend. The court provides background on the Superfund site, the insurance policies, and communications between the parties. It will determine whether an EPA information request constitutes a "suit" that triggers the duty to defend under the terms of the insurance policies.
1. Judgment Creditors KPC filed a motion to appoint a receiver to enforce a $2.1 million judgment against Judgment Debtor Stephen Gaggero and his alter ego entities.
2. Gaggero has avoided paying the judgment by transferring his assets to various entities, trusts, and a foundation through an asset protection plan, even though he retains control over the assets.
3. KPC argues that the court has authority to appoint a receiver under the Code of Civil Procedure to enforce the judgment and that a receiver is necessary because Gaggero and his counsel have obstructed and delayed KPC's collection efforts for years.
Fisker's lawsuit against insurance companykatiefehren
A lawsuit filed by Fisker against insurance company XL for denying its claim when 338 Karmas were lost in Sandy flooding, which had a value of $33 million.
This document summarizes an appeal from an order granting a motion to add additional judgment debtors to a judgment in a malpractice lawsuit. The additional judgment debtors included entities (limited partnerships and LLCs) that were previously owned by the plaintiff, an entity that managed the plaintiff's assets, and trusts to which the plaintiff had transferred ownership of the entities. The trial court found all were alter egos of the plaintiff. The additional judgment debtors and plaintiff appealed, raising arguments that they were legally separate and the evidence was insufficient, but the appellate court affirmed, finding the arguments unpersuasive.
This document is a verified complaint filed by Cecil and Natividad Cabalu against multiple defendants. The complaint alleges the following: 1) Isa Atienza of Century 21 misrepresented loan terms and took advantage of plaintiffs' limited English and trust in her to steer them into unsuitable subprime loans; 2) The loans contained unintelligible terms and plaintiffs were not given time to review documents; 3) Plaintiffs seek damages and to invalidate the loans and foreclosure for fraud, elder abuse, and other violations. The complaint provides background on the plaintiffs, defendants, property, and includes 20 causes of action.
REPLY IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS’ EMERGENCY MOTION TO CLARIFY SCOPE OF PRELIMIN...Honolulu Civil Beat
This document is a reply in support of plaintiffs' emergency motion to clarify the scope of a preliminary injunction regarding President Trump's executive orders restricting travel from several majority-Muslim countries. It argues that the government's definition of close family relationships that are protected by the injunction is too narrow, and should include grandparents, grandchildren, siblings-in-law, and other extended family. It also argues that refugees with formal assurances of support from resettlement agencies in the U.S. should be protected. The document aims to clarify the injunction to prevent further harm to individuals and organizations in the U.S. with connections to individuals affected by the travel ban.
This document discusses different types of easements in Texas, including private and public easements. Private easements can be easements in gross, which are owned by an individual, or appurtenant easements, which attach to land. Public easements allow use and enjoyment by the general public. The document examines how private and public easements are created through various legal mechanisms and how they can be terminated. It provides examples and details Texas laws regarding easement establishment and termination.
This document discusses grounds for challenging the validity of a will under Nigerian law. It provides examples of when the form of a will may be challenged, such as issues with proper execution, witnessing, or dating. The substance of a will can also be challenged if the testator lacked mental capacity, was unduly influenced, or did not make reasonable financial provisions for dependents. The document outlines sections of Nigerian law that allow dependents to challenge a will, and provides case examples where wills were invalidated due to defective form, insane delusions affecting the testator, or potential undue influence.
The document discusses several grounds for challenging the validity of a will, including:
1) Challenging the form of the will if it was not duly executed, attested, or dated correctly.
2) Challenging the substance of the will if the testator lacked testamentary capacity, was unduly influenced, or there were suspicious circumstances.
3) Family members can challenge inadequate financial provisions in their breadwinner's will under Section 2 of the Lagos State Wills Law.
The document also examines several court cases that set precedents on challenging wills due to defective form, insane delusion, undue influence, testamentary capacity, and suspicious circumstances.
1) Edward Slater purchased a boat in New Jersey and financed it through Howell State Bank, which filed a financing statement in New Jersey. Subsequently, Slater moved the boat to New York. Howell State Bank's security interest would not be perfected in New York because it did not file in that state, as the boat was moved there after the original filing.
Forweb20 brooklands v jeffrey sweeney us capitaldominickpeck9
http://www.infoannounce.net Provides info to give Legal Suits against jeffrey sweeney us capital partners,
us capital partners, us capital partners complaints, and us capital partners reviews.BROOKLANDS v JEFFREY SWEENEY US CAPITAL PARTNERS
BROOKLANDS, INC v JEFFREY SWEENEY,
US CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTSOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
West Palm Beach Division CASE NO.: 9:14-cv-81298-Hurley/Hopkins BROOKLANDS, INC.
Sample complaint for rescission of contract in CaliforniaLegalDocsPro
This sample complaint for rescission of contract in California also contains causes of action for fraud, reformation of contract, usury violations, unfair business practices, cancellation of written instruments, declaratory relief, injunctive relief and an account. The sample complaint was used to sue an individual private lender that defrauded an individual and used undue influence to convince them to sign an amended promissory note with an usurious annual interest rate of 18%, and then started non-judicial foreclosure proceedings by claiming an inflated amount due on the notice of default. The sample complaint on which this preview is based is 16 pages and includes brief instructions and a sample verification. The author is an entrepreneur and retired litigation paralegal that worked in California and Federal litigation from January 1995 through September 2017 and has created over 300 sample legal documents for sale. Note that the author is NOT an attorney and no guarantee or warranty is provided.
Ethanolv.DrizinUnited States District Court, N.D. Iowa, Eastern .docxdebishakespeare
Ethanolv.Drizin
United States District Court, N.D. Iowa, Eastern DivisionFeb 7, 2006
No. C03-2021 (N.D. Iowa Feb. 7, 2006) Copy Citation
No. C03-2021.
February 7, 2006
Be a better lawyer. Casetext is legal research for lawyers who want do their best work.
ORDER
JOHN JARVEY, Magistrate Judge
This matter comes before the court pursuant to trial on the merits which commenced on January 23, 2006. The above-described parties have consented to jurisdiction before a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). The court finds in favor of the plaintiff and awards compensatory damages in the amount of $3,800,000 and punitive damages in the amount of $7,600,000.
In this case, the plaintiff brings numerous theories of recovery against defendant Jerry Drizin arising out of the misappropriation of escrow funds that were to serve as security for financing for the construction of an ethanol plant in Manchester, Iowa. The plaintiff contends that defendant Drizin, in concert with others, knowingly converted funds from an escrow account that were not to have been spent on anything without the plaintiff's prior written permission. Defendant Drizin contends that his only client and only duty of loyalty was to a Nigerian citizen living in Munich who caused the funds to be sent to bank accounts controlled by Defendant Drizin. The court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.
In 2000 in Manchester, Iowa, farmer and President of the local Co-op, Douglas Bishop, began meeting with representatives of the United States Department of Agriculture to explore the feasibility of building an ethanol plant in the Manchester area. The idea was to assist farmers in the area in getting more value for their crops. An ethanol plant produces ethanol and feed grain which can be sold at a profit exceeding that associated with the mere sale of grain.
A series of 40 local meetings culminated in a membership drive. The Plaintiff, Northeast Iowa Ethanol, L.L.C., was later formed in order to sell 2500 shares of stock in the L.L.C. to raise funds for the financing of the plant. The construction of the plant was expected to cost $21 Million. It would have a capacity for producing 15 million gallons of ethanol per year. Through the meetings, Mr. Bishop and others raised $2,365,000. The average investor purchased two shares.
The membership drive ended in September 2001. The original plan was to begin construction in the fall of 2001 and have the plant operating by the fall of 2002. However, the issue of financing for the plant was more problematic than plaintiff had anticipated. Traditional lenders (banks) demanded that the plaintiff raise forty percent of the construction costs. It was clear that the plaintiff could not raise $8 Million. Plaintiff's proposed marketing partner, Williams Ethanol Services, agreed to invest $1 Million in the project. The contractor anticipated to build the facility, North Central Construction from North Dakota,.
Ethanolv.DrizinUnited States District Court, N.D. Iowa, Eastern .docxelbanglis
Ethanolv.Drizin
United States District Court, N.D. Iowa, Eastern DivisionFeb 7, 2006
No. C03-2021 (N.D. Iowa Feb. 7, 2006) Copy Citation
No. C03-2021.
February 7, 2006
Be a better lawyer. Casetext is legal research for lawyers who want do their best work.
ORDER
JOHN JARVEY, Magistrate Judge
This matter comes before the court pursuant to trial on the merits which commenced on January 23, 2006. The above-described parties have consented to jurisdiction before a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). The court finds in favor of the plaintiff and awards compensatory damages in the amount of $3,800,000 and punitive damages in the amount of $7,600,000.
NATURE OF THE CASE
In this case, the plaintiff brings numerous theories of recovery against defendant Jerry Drizin arising out of the misappropriation of escrow funds that were to serve as security for financing for the construction of an ethanol plant in Manchester, Iowa. The plaintiff contends that defendant Drizin, in concert with others, knowingly converted funds from an escrow account that were not to have been spent on anything without the plaintiff's prior written permission. Defendant Drizin contends that his only client and only duty of loyalty was to a Nigerian citizen living in Munich who caused the funds to be sent to bank accounts controlled by Defendant Drizin. The court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.
FINDINGS OF FACT
In 2000 in Manchester, Iowa, farmer and President of the local Co-op, Douglas Bishop, began meeting with representatives of the United States Department of Agriculture to explore the feasibility of building an ethanol plant in the Manchester area. The idea was to assist farmers in the area in getting more value for their crops. An ethanol plant produces ethanol and feed grain which can be sold at a profit exceeding that associated with the mere sale of grain.
A series of 40 local meetings culminated in a membership drive. The Plaintiff, Northeast Iowa Ethanol, L.L.C., was later formed in order to sell 2500 shares of stock in the L.L.C. to raise funds for the financing of the plant. The construction of the plant was expected to cost $21 Million. It would have a capacity for producing 15 million gallons of ethanol per year. Through the meetings, Mr. Bishop and others raised $2,365,000. The average investor purchased two shares.
The membership drive ended in September 2001. The original plan was to begin construction in the fall of 2001 and have the plant operating by the fall of 2002. However, the issue of financing for the plant was more problematic than plaintiff had anticipated. Traditional lenders (banks) demanded that the plaintiff raise forty percent of the construction costs. It was clear that the plaintiff could not raise $8 Million. Plaintiff's proposed marketing partner, Williams Ethanol Services, agreed to invest $1 Million in the project. The contractor anticipated to build the facility, North Centr ...
1095 jury intstuctions for forfeiture allegationsmalp2009
This document provides jury instructions for a criminal trial in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey regarding forfeiture allegations against seven defendants: Nicodemo S. Scarfo, Salvatore Pelullo, William Maxwell, John Maxwell, David Adler, Gary McCarthy, and Donald Manno. The instructions explain the nature and purpose of the forfeiture proceeding, the standards for forfeiture related to the RICO conspiracy charge in Count One and the securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering charges in Counts Two through Twenty. The instructions also list specific property alleged to be subject to forfeiture in connection with the charged offenses.
Complaint for breach of contract, constructive fraud, constructive trust and unfair business practices against Joshua Macciello, self-pronounced bidder for the Dodgers and alleged film producer. Anyone with knowledge of Mr. Macciello's whereabouts, or who "invested" or "lent" money to Mr. Macciello, please contact CharismaticScam@gmail.com
The court granted a motion to add additional judgment debtors to a $1.8 million judgment against plaintiff Stephen Gaggero. The additional judgment debtors included six entities (four limited partnerships and two LLCs) that were formerly owned by Gaggero, totaling $35-40 million in assets in 1998. It also included the trustee, Joseph Praske, of three trusts that now owned the entities, after Gaggero transferred ownership of the entities to the trusts in 1998 as part of an "estate plan". The court found all were alter egos of Gaggero based on evidence that Gaggero controlled the entities and trusts, and used them to avoid creditors like the defendants in this case. The additional judgment
Citizenfour producers-face-legal-challenges-over-edward-snowden-leaksWaqas Amir
This document is a complaint filed in United States District Court against Edward Snowden, filmmakers involved in the documentary Citizenfour, and their production companies. It alleges that Snowden breached his security agreements and oath by stealing and disseminating classified government information. It further alleges that the filmmakers aided and abetted Snowden's illegal acts by collaborating with him to profit from the stolen information and cloak his actions as whistleblowing rather than espionage. The complaint seeks a constructive trust over profits from Citizenfour to remedy damage to national security and unjust enrichment by the defendants.
Similar to Ersin Akyuz v. Serhat Gumrukcu Complaint.pdf (20)
This SEC complaint alleges that Stephen Burns, former CEO of electric vehicle company Lordstown Motors, made negligent and materially inaccurate statements about pre-orders for Lordstown's pickup truck. Specifically, Lordstown claimed to have over 27,000 pre-orders from commercial fleets based on non-binding letters of intent, but the company had no effective processes for vetting customers or tracking pre-orders. The SEC alleges Burns' statements about pre-orders created an unrealistic depiction of demand in violation of securities laws.
The document is a letter from Nathan Anderson to the Board of Directors, Executives and Auditors of Tingo Group Inc. listing 38 questions regarding Tingo Group's business operations and financials. The questions raise serious doubts about the legitimacy of Tingo's reported revenues, customer and supplier relationships, licenses and permits. Key issues highlighted include a lack of evidence for Tingo's claimed cash balances, inventory, export volumes and mobile network operations.
1) Osirius Group LLC filed a complaint against Ideanomics Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Osirius provided engineering services to Via Motors from July 2022 to December 2022, invoicing Via Motors monthly. Via Motors failed to pay the invoices, owing Osirius over $2 million.
2) Ideanomics acquired Via Motors in January 2023 and had previously agreed to pay any remaining debt owed by Via Motors to Osirius. However, Ideanomics failed to pay the outstanding amount owed for Osirius' services.
3) Osirius is suing Ideanomics for breach of contract and
This 6-page legal document outlines the charges in a criminal case. It describes the defendant and their alleged crimes, which include wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Further details are provided about the scheme, the victims impacted, and evidence collected. If convicted on all counts, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of 32 years in prison and $1 million in fines.
1) Acuitas Capital invested $20 million in Ideanomics in exchange for preferred stock and warrants that were convertible into Ideanomics common stock. However, Ideanomics has now refused to honor Acuitas Capital's requests to convert these securities, in breach of their agreement.
2) Ideanomics claims the investment agreement is "null and void" due to unrelated allegations against the CEO of Acuitas Capital, but these allegations do not excuse Ideanomics' contractual obligations.
3) Prompt relief is needed because Ideanomics has admitted it may not be able to continue as a going concern. Unless ordered to honor the conversion requests, the value of Acuitas Capital's remaining
This document outlines the terms and conditions of a private offering of $750 million in senior secured notes issued by Adani Green Energy Limited. The notes will pay 4.375% annual interest and mature in 2024. The notes are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers in the US and offshore purchasers in reliance on exemptions from securities registration laws. The notes will be listed on the Singapore Exchange and India INX and secured by certain assets of the issuer described in security documents. The proceeds are subject to restrictions on use and transfer.
This document is an annual return form for a private company limited by shares called Milestone Tradelinks Private Limited. It provides details about the company's registration, activities, shareholding, directors and key managerial personnel, meetings, and attendance of directors. Some key details include the company's registered office in Ahmedabad, its main business activity of wholesale trading, total paid up capital of Rs. 407,000, and that directors Rajesh Rameshchandra Vora and Manish Amrutlal Shah each hold 0 shares as of the financial year end.
The auditor's report provides an unmodified opinion on the financial statements of Pmc Projects (India) Private Limited for the period 01/04/2013 to 31/03/2014. The auditor found that the company has maintained proper records of fixed assets, inventories and loans. Internal control procedures for purchase, sale and fixed assets were adequate. The company has not accepted any deposits from the public. Statutory dues have generally been regularly paid, with no material disputed amounts. No frauds were reported during the period.
Chang Chien-Ting holds significant beneficial ownership in PMC Projects (India) Pvt. Ltd. through PMC Infra Limited, a company registered in Mauritius. Chang holds 100% of PMC Infra Limited and exercises his significant beneficial interest in PMC Projects (India) Pvt. Ltd. by virtue of shares held in PMC Infra Limited. He declares this significant beneficial ownership in PMC Projects (India) Pvt. Ltd. as required by Section 90(1) of the Companies Act of India. The declaration provides details of Chang such as his address, date of birth, occupation, and nationality. It specifies the nature of his indirect holding in PMC Projects (India) Pvt.
Adani Developers (later renamed Sunbourne) 2013 Annual Report.pdfHindenburg Research
The document is an auditor's report for Adani Developers Private Limited for the period of April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012. The auditor gave an unqualified opinion and did not note any qualifications, reservations or adverse remarks. Specifically, the auditor stated that the company maintained proper records of fixed assets, conducted physical verification of inventories, and complied with statutory dues payments. The auditor also confirmed the company had an adequate internal control and internal audit system.
This document contains a list of orders from the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) and adjudication orders from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) related to various Adani group companies, primarily Adani Exports Limited. The orders range from 2008 to 2019 and include matters related to stock market manipulation and insider trading involving several individuals and brokerage firms.
Vinod Adani - The Man Behind The Adani Group’s Offshore Deals (Morning Contex...Hindenburg Research
Vinod Adani is the elder brother of Gautam Adani, Asia's second richest man. Vinod oversees many of the Adani group's offshore deals and structures through companies based in tax havens like Mauritius and Cyprus. He has been involved in major deals like the Ambuja Cements acquisition and Total's investment in Adani Green Energy. However, the Adani group has previously denied Vinod's involvement. Vinod uses complex offshore structures that allow deals to be carried out without following all Indian laws, potentially reducing taxes. There are also ongoing legal issues regarding accusations of money laundering through Vinod's offshore companies that supplied equipment to Adani Power projects in India.
Krunal Trade & Investment Pvt Ltd is a private limited company incorporated in Mauritius on October 4, 2005 as a global business company. The company's registered office is located at Trustlink House in Floreal, Mauritius. The current directors are Adani Vinod Shantilal, Caillou Louis Ricardo, Mittra Subir, and Ramsagur Shailend. Trustlink International Limited serves as the company secretary.
Gardenia Trade and Investment Ltd is a private limited company incorporated on February 2nd, 2021. It operates as a global business company with its registered office in Mauritius. The company has three directors: Agowun Nihad Mohammad Akram, Mittra Subir, and Toorabally Shakill Ahmad. Amicorp (Mauritius) Limited serves as the company's management and secretarial services provider.
Birch Trade and Investment Ltd is a private limited company incorporated in Mauritius on October 19, 2021 as a global business company. The company has three directors: Agowun Nihad Mohammad Akram, Mittra Subir, and Toorabally Shakill Ahmad. Amicorp (Mauritius) Limited serves as the company's management company and secretary.
Athena Trade and Investments Pvt Ltd is a private limited company incorporated in Mauritius on July 18, 2017 for global business. The company has three directors: Mittra Subir from Dubai, Seewooruttun Indranathsingh from Mauritius, and Toorabally Shakill Ahmad from Mauritius. Amicorp (Mauritius) Limited serves as the company's management and secretarial services provider.
Flourishing Trade and Investment Ltd is a private limited global business company incorporated on August 18, 2017 in Mauritius. The company has three directors - Mittra Subir, Seewooruttun Indranathsingh, and Toorabally Shakill Ahmad. Amicorp (Mauritius) Limited serves as the company's management and secretary.
Delphinium Trade and Investment Ltd is a private limited company incorporated on February 2nd, 2021 in Mauritius for global business purposes. The company has three directors: Mittra Subir, Seewooruttun Indranathsingh, and Toorabally Shakill Ahmad. Amicorp (Mauritius) Limited serves as the company's management company and secretary.
Dome Trade and Investment Ltd is a private limited company incorporated in Mauritius on August 18, 2017 as a global business company. It has 4 directors: Adani Vinod Shantilal, Agowun Nihad Mohammad Akram, Mittra Subir, and Toorabally Shakill Ahmad. Amicorp (Mauritius) Limited serves as the company's management company and secretary, located at Level 6, Tower 1, NeXteracom Building in Ebene, Mauritius.
Endeavour Trade and Investment Ltd was incorporated on April 29, 2021 as a private limited company in Mauritius for global business. The company has 3 directors - Mittra Subir, Seewooruttun Indranathsingh, and Toorabally Shakill Ahmad. Amicorp (Mauritius) Limited serves as the management company and secretary since the company's incorporation.
At Techbox Square, in Singapore, we're not just creative web designers and developers, we're the driving force behind your brand identity. Contact us today.
LA HUG - Video Testimonials with Chynna Morgan - June 2024Lital Barkan
Have you ever heard that user-generated content or video testimonials can take your brand to the next level? We will explore how you can effectively use video testimonials to leverage and boost your sales, content strategy, and increase your CRM data.🤯
We will dig deeper into:
1. How to capture video testimonials that convert from your audience 🎥
2. How to leverage your testimonials to boost your sales 💲
3. How you can capture more CRM data to understand your audience better through video testimonials. 📊
Zodiac Signs and Food Preferences_ What Your Sign Says About Your Tastemy Pandit
Know what your zodiac sign says about your taste in food! Explore how the 12 zodiac signs influence your culinary preferences with insights from MyPandit. Dive into astrology and flavors!
buy old yahoo accounts buy yahoo accountsSusan Laney
As a business owner, I understand the importance of having a strong online presence and leveraging various digital platforms to reach and engage with your target audience. One often overlooked yet highly valuable asset in this regard is the humble Yahoo account. While many may perceive Yahoo as a relic of the past, the truth is that these accounts still hold immense potential for businesses of all sizes.
Structural Design Process: Step-by-Step Guide for BuildingsChandresh Chudasama
The structural design process is explained: Follow our step-by-step guide to understand building design intricacies and ensure structural integrity. Learn how to build wonderful buildings with the help of our detailed information. Learn how to create structures with durability and reliability and also gain insights on ways of managing structures.
Anny Serafina Love - Letter of Recommendation by Kellen Harkins, MS.AnnySerafinaLove
This letter, written by Kellen Harkins, Course Director at Full Sail University, commends Anny Love's exemplary performance in the Video Sharing Platforms class. It highlights her dedication, willingness to challenge herself, and exceptional skills in production, editing, and marketing across various video platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
The 10 Most Influential Leaders Guiding Corporate Evolution, 2024.pdfthesiliconleaders
In the recent edition, The 10 Most Influential Leaders Guiding Corporate Evolution, 2024, The Silicon Leaders magazine gladly features Dejan Štancer, President of the Global Chamber of Business Leaders (GCBL), along with other leaders.
Industrial Tech SW: Category Renewal and CreationChristian Dahlen
Every industrial revolution has created a new set of categories and a new set of players.
Multiple new technologies have emerged, but Samsara and C3.ai are only two companies which have gone public so far.
Manufacturing startups constitute the largest pipeline share of unicorns and IPO candidates in the SF Bay Area, and software startups dominate in Germany.
IMPACT Silver is a pure silver zinc producer with over $260 million in revenue since 2008 and a large 100% owned 210km Mexico land package - 2024 catalysts includes new 14% grade zinc Plomosas mine and 20,000m of fully funded exploration drilling.
How MJ Global Leads the Packaging Industry.pdfMJ Global
MJ Global's success in staying ahead of the curve in the packaging industry is a testament to its dedication to innovation, sustainability, and customer-centricity. By embracing technological advancements, leading in eco-friendly solutions, collaborating with industry leaders, and adapting to evolving consumer preferences, MJ Global continues to set new standards in the packaging sector.
The Evolution and Impact of OTT Platforms: A Deep Dive into the Future of Ent...ABHILASH DUTTA
This presentation provides a thorough examination of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms, focusing on their development and substantial influence on the entertainment industry, with a particular emphasis on the Indian market.We begin with an introduction to OTT platforms, defining them as streaming services that deliver content directly over the internet, bypassing traditional broadcast channels. These platforms offer a variety of content, including movies, TV shows, and original productions, allowing users to access content on-demand across multiple devices.The historical context covers the early days of streaming, starting with Netflix's inception in 1997 as a DVD rental service and its transition to streaming in 2007. The presentation also highlights India's television journey, from the launch of Doordarshan in 1959 to the introduction of Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite television in 2000, which expanded viewing choices and set the stage for the rise of OTT platforms like Big Flix, Ditto TV, Sony LIV, Hotstar, and Netflix. The business models of OTT platforms are explored in detail. Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) models, exemplified by Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, offer unlimited content access for a monthly fee. Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD) models, like iTunes and Sky Box Office, allow users to pay for individual pieces of content. Advertising-Based Video on Demand (AVOD) models, such as YouTube and Facebook Watch, provide free content supported by advertisements. Hybrid models combine elements of SVOD and AVOD, offering flexibility to cater to diverse audience preferences.
Content acquisition strategies are also discussed, highlighting the dual approach of purchasing broadcasting rights for existing films and TV shows and investing in original content production. This section underscores the importance of a robust content library in attracting and retaining subscribers.The presentation addresses the challenges faced by OTT platforms, including the unpredictability of content acquisition and audience preferences. It emphasizes the difficulty of balancing content investment with returns in a competitive market, the high costs associated with marketing, and the need for continuous innovation and adaptation to stay relevant.
The impact of OTT platforms on the Bollywood film industry is significant. The competition for viewers has led to a decrease in cinema ticket sales, affecting the revenue of Bollywood films that traditionally rely on theatrical releases. Additionally, OTT platforms now pay less for film rights due to the uncertain success of films in cinemas.
Looking ahead, the future of OTT in India appears promising. The market is expected to grow by 20% annually, reaching a value of ₹1200 billion by the end of the decade. The increasing availability of affordable smartphones and internet access will drive this growth, making OTT platforms a primary source of entertainment for many viewers.
Understanding User Needs and Satisfying ThemAggregage
https://www.productmanagementtoday.com/frs/26903918/understanding-user-needs-and-satisfying-them
We know we want to create products which our customers find to be valuable. Whether we label it as customer-centric or product-led depends on how long we've been doing product management. There are three challenges we face when doing this. The obvious challenge is figuring out what our users need; the non-obvious challenges are in creating a shared understanding of those needs and in sensing if what we're doing is meeting those needs.
In this webinar, we won't focus on the research methods for discovering user-needs. We will focus on synthesis of the needs we discover, communication and alignment tools, and how we operationalize addressing those needs.
Industry expert Scott Sehlhorst will:
• Introduce a taxonomy for user goals with real world examples
• Present the Onion Diagram, a tool for contextualizing task-level goals
• Illustrate how customer journey maps capture activity-level and task-level goals
• Demonstrate the best approach to selection and prioritization of user-goals to address
• Highlight the crucial benchmarks, observable changes, in ensuring fulfillment of customer needs
Storytelling is an incredibly valuable tool to share data and information. To get the most impact from stories there are a number of key ingredients. These are based on science and human nature. Using these elements in a story you can deliver information impactfully, ensure action and drive change.
1. --J
1
~~
z
- 2
C!J
a.: 3
0
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
• FILED
Jeffrey B. Valle (State Bar No. 110060) ~
jvalle@vallemakoff.com
Ilan Wisnia (State Bar No. 249137)
- Superior Court of California
County of Los Angeles
JUL 31 2015
iwisnia@vallemakoff.com Sherri rter, Execu,~ 9fficer/Clerk
VALLE MAK.OFF LLP BY-..-..-;....,~::--r-":...,_.!,
__ 0eputy
11911 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 324 Da tta Smith
Los Angeles, California 90049
Telephone: (310) 476-0300
Facsimile: (310) 476-0333
Attorneys for PlaintiffERSIN AKYUZ
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES - WEST DISTRICT
ERSIN AK.YUZ, an individual,
Plaintiff,
v.
SERHAT GUMRUKCU, an individual;
ERMES LLC, a Californiajoint venture;
and DOES 1 through 10, inclusive,
Defendants.
SCJ.24544
Case No.
COMPLAINT FOR:
I) FRAUD;
2) BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY;
3) CONVERSION;
4) BREACH OF CO-OWNERSHIP
AGREEMENT;
5) BREACH OF JOINT VENTURE
AGREEMENT;
6) BREACH OF PROMISSORY NOTE; and
7) ACCOUNTING
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
NOV 18 ,,,n; Richard A. Stone
DBW~~
COMPLAINT
2. PlaintiffErsin Akyuz, by and through his attorneys ofrecord, allege, upon personal
2 knowledge with respect to himselfand to his actions and upon information and beliefas to all
3 other matters, as follows:
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
OVERVIEW
I. This case arises from the fraud, conversion, breach offiduciary duty, breach of
contract, and complete abuse oftrust by Defendant Serhat Gumrukcu, a purported "business
partner" ofPlaintiffErsin Akyuz. Plaintiffis a successful businessman and executive living in
Istanbul, Turkey. Under the pretext offorming ajoint venture to purchase, remodel, and sell a
run-down house in West Hollywood, California, Gumrukcu stole over $930,000 from Akyuz.
2. Gumrukcu managed to commit these tortious acts, in part, by (I) falsely claiming
to Akyuz to have entered into escrow for a house located in West Hollywood, when he had not;
(2) providing Akyuz with forged escrow documents showing that the purchase ofthe West
Hollywood property had closed, when it had not; (3) assuming the identify ofan attorney
purportedly hired to represent both him and Akyuz, and then communicating with Akyuz via e-
mail as if he was this attorney (via a fictitiously created e-mail address purportedly belonging to
this attorney); (4) providing Akyuz with joint venture related corporate formation documents, so
as to induce Akyuz to contribute $500,000 towards the purchase ofthe West Hollywood property;
and (5) after the purchase ofthe West Hollywood property purportedly closed, periodically
requesting Akyuz to supply additional funds (totaling over $430,000) to be used to pay for
various remodeling costs - all ofwhich were fictitious costs as the property had never been
purchased.
3. Gumrukcu's fraud went so far as to fake an eventual sale ofthe property, with
repeated statements to Akyuz that he would be paid his money shortly. Gumrukcu furthermore
faked a phantom profit on this alleged sale, claiming that Akyuz was entitled to an additional
$186,000 on top ofthe return ofhis investment (for $I.116 million in total). When this did not
occur, and presumably to stall for even more time, Gumrukcu executed a promissory note in favor
ofAkyuz in the amount of $1.2 million. Perhaps unsurprisingly, neither the $I.I 16 million due
from the sale, nor the $1.2 million due under the promissory note, was ever paid.
COMPLAINT
3. 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
IO
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
• THE PARTIES
4. PlaintiffErsin Akyuz ("Plaintiff' or "Akyuz") is a resident of Istanbul, Turkey
who, during relevant periods set forth in the Complaint, conducted business in Los Angeles,
California.
5. Defendant Serhat Gumrukcu ("Gumrukcu") is an individual who resided in Los
Angeles, California, at all material times.
6. Defendant Ermes LLC ("Ermes") is a California joint venture whose principal
place ofbusiness is located in Los Angeles, California. Akyuz and Gumrukcu are both members
ofErmes.
7. Plaintiffis informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that at all times
relevant Gumrukcu and Ermes are, and have been, the alter egos ofone another as they have
commingled their assets; Ermes is owned, dominated, influenced, controlled and directed by
Gumrukcu in furtherance ofa single business operation; there exists a unity ofinterest between
and among Gumrukcu and Ermes; there was and is no separateness or individuality ofGumrukcu
and Ermes; Gumrukcu and Ermes are one and the same and Gumrukcu has utilized Ermes as a
conduit for the conduct ofhis own business and affairs; adherence to the fiction ofa separate
existence ofGumrukcu and Ermes would, under the circumstances, sanction fraud and promote
injustice, unfairness and inequity ifPlaintiffwas permitted to satisfy its claims herein only out of
the assets ofonly one ofthese two defendants and not those ofthe remaining defendant, whose
assets may not be sufficient to meet the obligations ofthe defendants to Plaintiff, particularly in
light ofthe fact that assets have been fraudulently transferred by, between and among Gumrukcu
22 and Ermes.
23 8. Plaintiffis informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that the fictitiously
24 named defendants identified herein as Does 1 through 10, and each ofthem, are in some manner
25 responsible or legally liable for the actions, events, transactions and circumstances alleged herein.
26 The true names and capacities ofthe fictitiously named defendants, whether individual, corporate,
27 associate, or otherwise, are presently unknown to Plaintiff, and Plaintiffwill seek to amend this
28
COMPLAINT
4. 1 complaint to assert the true names and capacities ofsuch fictitiously named defendants when they
2 have been ascertained. For convenience, each reference herein to a defendant will also refer to
3 Does 1 through 10.
4 STATEMENT OF FACTS
5 9. PlaintiffErsin Akyuz is the ChiefExecutive Officer ofthe Turkish subsidiary of
6 Deutsche Bank (aka "Deutsche Bank A.S."). Professionally and personally, Akyuz overseas
7 investments all over the world.
8 10. In early June of2014, Defendant Serhat Gumrukcu approached Akyuz about
9 investing in a property located at 8940 Dicks St., West Hollywood, California 90069 (the "West
10 Hollywood Property"). Gumrukcu told Akyuz that the West Hollywood Property was
11 undervalued, and with some renovation, could be sold for a profit. Gumrucku further explained
12 that he was already in escrow to purchase the West Hollywood Property, so that ifAkyuz was
13 interested in investing in this deal alongside him, he had to decide immediately so that the
14 appropriate legal documentation could be drafted. Akyuz agreed to proceed along these lines.
15 11. Later in the month, Gumrukcu communicated to Akyuz that he had retained the
16 legal services ofan attorney, Benjamin Kacev, to prepare the necessary legal paperwork.
17 12. On July 2, 2014, Kacev purported to e-mail to Akyuz and Gumrukcu a Co-
18 Ownership Agreement and a Joint Venture Agreement. This e-mail was sent from Kacev's
19 alleged gmail account address, "benkacev@gmail.com." In Kacev's cover e-mail to Akyuz and
20 Gumrukcu, Kacev indicated that he had purposely backdated the Co-Ownership Agreement to
21 June 25, so to make it "easier for us to add Ersin as 50% owner during the title recording..."
22 Akyuz thereafter signed and returned both agreements. Gumrukcu did the same.
23 13. Under the terms of the June 25, 2014 Co-Ownership Agreement, Akyuz and
24 Gumrukcu each agreed to contribute $500,000 towards the purchase ofthe West Hollywood
25 Property (for $1 million in total). Akyuz agreed to pay his $500,000 by depositing it in a bank
26 account held in the name ofErmes LLC, an account held at Boston Private Bank & Trust
27 Company in Santa Monica, California ("Boston Private Bank"). In exchange for Akyuz making
28
COMPLAINT
5. 1 this $500,000 investment, Gumrukcu agreed to "amend the purchase agreement and add
2 [Akyuz] as the 50% owner of the property upon closing." In tum, upon sale ofthe property,
3 Akyuz was to be repaid his $500,000 before any profit were to be divided. A true and correct
4 copy ofthe Co-Ownership Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and is incorporated
5 herein by reference.
6 14. Under the terms ofthe July 2, 2014 Joint Venture Agreement, Akyuz and
7 Gwnrukcu agreed to form a joint venture in the name ofErmes LLC. The stated purpose ofthe
8 venture was to "participate in the redevelopment and the sale of the [West Hollywood
9 Property]." Akyuz's sole responsibility was to contribute $500,000, while Gumrakcu's
10 responsibilities included not only contributing $500,000, but overseeing all legal, financial, and
11 operational aspects ofthe redevelopment. Upon the sale ofthe West Hollywood property, Akyuz
12 was to be repaid his original $500,000, as well as 40% ofany net profits that might arise.
13 Importantly, this repayment was to occur "immediately" upon the sale ofthe property. Section
14 5(a) to the Joint Venture Agreement states, "[i]mmediately upon completion of the sale of
15 redeveloped [West Hollywood property], the capital investors will be fully paid their initial
16 investments back ..." A true and correct copy ofthe Joint Venture Agreement is attached hereto
17 . as Exhibit "B" and is incorporated herein by reference.
18 15. On or about July 8, 2014, Gumrukcu delivered to Akyuz escrow documents,
19 purporting to show that the purchase ofthe West Hollywood Property had closed. The
20 documents were written on the letterhead of"Beverly Hills Escrow," and were directed to "Ermes
21 LLC and Mr. Ersin Akyuz." A true and correct copy ofthese escrow documents are attached
22 hereto as Exhibit "C" and are incorporated herein by reference.
23 16. Between August and December of2014, Gumrukcu periodically requested that
24 Akyuz provide additional funds to help pay for redevelopment costs associated with the West
25 Hollywood Property. Akyuz acceded to these requests, and provided $150,000 in August of
26 2014, $170,000 in October of2014, and $110,000 in December of2014 (for a total of$430,000).
27 17. In December of2014, Gumrukcu told Akyuz that a friend ofhis had agreed to
28
COMPLAINT
6. purchase the West Hollywood Property when the redevelopment was complete. In March of
2 2015, Gumrukcu told Akyuz that that redevelopment had finally been completed, and that he was
3 in the process ofselling the West Hollywood Property to his friend.
4 18. On April 15 and 16, 2015, Kacev e-mailed Akyuz and Gumrukcu confirming that
5 the sale had closed (for a total of$2.35 million), and that Akyuz was entitled to a total of$1.116
6 million ofthe sales proceeds (which included the repayment ofhis initial investment, additional
7 capital contributions, and 40% ofthe profits). Kacev indicated that the proceeds would be wired
8 to Akyuz shortly.
9 19. After a month ofno money being received, Akyuz repeatedly demanded an
10 explanation from Gumrukcu. Instead ofproviding a legitimate or credible response, Gumrukcu
11 simply provided one excuse after another. To try to buy more time, Gumrukcu provided Akyuz
12 with a promissory note dated June 1, 2015. This promissory note promised to pay Akyuz $1.2
13 million, plus interest, on or before July 30, 2015. A true and correct copy ofthis promissory note
14 is attached hereto as Exhibit "D" and is incorporated herein by reference.
15 20. Through an independent investigation since May of2015, Akyuz has come to find
16 that he has been the victim ofa massive fraud.
17 21. Akyuz is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that the West
18 Hollywood Property was never in fact purchased by Gumruku or Ermes. Instead, public records
19 show that the property was purchased by "8135 Norton Avenue Inc." on August 18, 2014. Akyuz
20 is informed and believes, and on this basis alleges, that 8135 Norton Avenue Inc. has no
21 relationship with Gumrukcu or Ermes.
22 22. Akyuz is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that the escrow
23 documents transmitted by Gumrukcu are in fact forgeries. Beverly Hills Escrow has confirmed
24 that they have no record ofthe West Hollywood Property in their records, and that they have
25 never even heard of Gurnrukcu or Ermes.
26 23. Akyuz is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that Kacev was never
27 engaged by either Gumrukcu to provide legal services to him and/or Akyuz. Kacev, as identified
28
COMPLAINT
7. ··--
1 on the California Bar website, has confirmed that that while he once met with Gumrukcu, he
2 never was engaged by him to perform any legal work for him and/or Akyuz. Further, Kacev has
3 confirmed that the benkacev@gmail.com account is not his.
4 24. Akyuz is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that the West
5 Hollywood Property was never in fact sold by Gumruku or Ennes. Instead, public records show
6 that "8135 Norton Avenue Inc." has yet to sell the property at all.
7 FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
8 (For Fraud Against Gumrukcu and Does 1 through 10)
9 25. Plaintiffincorporates by reference each ofthe allegations in paragraphs I through
10 24 above, as though fully set forth herein.
11 26. In June of2014, Defendant falsely represented to Plaintiffthat he was in escrow
12 on the West Hollywood Property, and that ifPlaintiffwould invest $500,000 in its purchase and
13 redevelopment, Plaintiff would obtain a 50% interest in the property. Further, Defendant falsely
14 represented that upon sale ofthe property, he would be immediately paid back his initial
15 investment. Towards this end, Defendant made these same exact representations in both the Co-
16 Ownership Agreement and Joint Venture Agreement that he caused to be drafted and transmitted
17 to Plaintiff. The Co-Ownership Agreement specifically stated that "[Defendant] has entered
18 into a purchase agreement and escrow to buy the [West Hollywood Property]." See Exhibit
19 A at first recital. In turn, the Co-Ownership Agreement stated that in exchange for paying
20 $500,000, Defendant would ."amend the purchase agreement and add [Plaintiff] as the 50%
21 owner ofthe property upon closing." See Exhibit A at Sec. 3. Finally, the Joint Venture
22 Agreement expressly stated, "[i]mmediately upon completion of the sale ofthe [West
23 Hollywood Property], the capital investors will be fully repaid their initial investments
24 back..." See Exhibit Bat Sec. 5(a).
25 27. These representations were false because Defendant was never in escrow on the
26 West Hollywood Property, therefore there was nothing to become a 50% investor in, let alone any
27 purchase agreement to be amended. Also, as sale could and would never be completed (as there
28
COMPLAINT
8. 1 had been no predicate purchase), there was no event that could trigger repayment to Plaintiffof
2 his initial investment. Defendant had no intent to comply with his representations and promises
3 whenmade.
4 28. Defendant knew his representations to be false when made.
5 29. Defendant, in making these misrepresentations, intended to induce reliance by
6 Plaintiffby, among other things, to pay $500,000 into the Ermes' bank account at Boston Private
7 Bank.
8 30. Plaintiffdid, in fact, justifiably rely upon Defendant's representations by
9 transferring $500,000 into the Ermes' bank account at Boston Private Bank.
10 31 . As a result, Plaintiffwas damaged in an amount to be proven at trial.
11 32. Defendant's conduct as alleged herein is oppressive, fraudulent and malicious.
12 Accordingly, Plaintiffseeks an award ofexemplary damages against Defendant.
13 33. Further, in June of2014, Defendant falsely represented to Plaintiffthat he had
14 engaged an attorney named Benjamin Kacev to formalize the $500,000 investment then
15 contemplated by Plaintiff. Further, and towards this end, Defendant assumed the identity of
16 Benjamin Kacev, and caused a Co-Ownership Agreement and Joint Venture Agreement to be
17 transmitted to Plaintiffthrough a fraudulent email account associated with this assumed identity.
18 34. These representations were false because Defendant had never engaged Benjamin
19 Kacev to render any legal services to him, Plaintiff, or Ermes. Defendant had no intent to comply ,
20 with his representations and promises when made.
21 35. Defendant knew his representations to be false when made.
22 36. Defendant, in making these misrepresentations, intended to induce reliance by
23 Plaintiffby, among other things, to believe that the purchase ofthe West Hollywood Property was
24 being legitimately processed and that his interests were being adequately protected, so that
25 Plaintiffwould pay $500,000 towards this purchase.
26 37. Plaintiffdid, in fact, justifiably rely upon Defendant's representations by paying
27 $500,000 into the Ermes' bank account at Boston Private Bank.
28
COMPLAINT
9. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
IO
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
38. As a result, Plaintiff was damaged in an amount to be proven at trial.
39. Defendant's conduct as alleged herein is oppressive, fraudulent and malicious.
Accordingly, Plaintiffseeks an award ofexemplary damages against Defendant.
40. Further, at various times in 2014, Defendant falsely represented to Plaintiffthat
additional funds were needed to complete the redevelopment ofthe West Hollywood Property,
and that ifPlaintiffwould invest these funds, they would be paid back upon the sale ofthe
property and on the same terms as his originally invested $500,000.
41. These representations were false because the West Hollywood Property had never
in fact been purchased, and thus, no redevelopment funds were necessary. Defendant had no
intent to comply with his representations and promises when made.
42. Defendant knew his representations to be false when made.
43. Defendant, in making these misrepresentations, intended to induce reliance by
Plaintiffby, among other things, to pay a total of$430,000 to the Ermes' bank account at Boston
Private Bank.
44. Plaintiffdid, in fact, justifiably rely upon Defendant's representations by
transferring $430,000 into the Ermes' bank account at Boston Private Bank.
45. As a result, Plaintiffwas damaged in an amount to be proven at trial.
46. Defendant's conduct as alleged herein is oppressive, fraudulent and malicious.
Accordingly, Plaintiffseeks an award ofexemplary damages against Defendant.
47. Further, in July of2014, Defendant falsely caused forged escrow documents to be
transmitted to Plaintiff, which showed the purchase ofthe West Hollywood Property to have
closed.
48. These representations were false because Defendant had never caused escrow to be
opened, let alone closed, as he had made no efforts to purchase the West Hollywood Property.
49. Defendant knew his representations to be false when made.
50. Defendant, in making these misrepresentations, intended to induce reliance by
Plaintiff by, among other things, to believe that the purchase ofthe West Hollywood Property had
COMPLAINT
10. 1 closed, and that the $500,000 he had transferred towards this purchase had in fact been used for
2 this purchase.
3 51. Plaintiffdid, in fact, justifiably rely upon Defendant's representations by not
4 immediately seeking for his $500,000 to be transferred back to his possession.
5 52. As a result, Plaintiffwas damaged in an amount to be proven at trial.
6 53. Defendant's conduct as alleged herein is oppressive, fraudulent and malicious.
7 Accordingly, Plaintiffseeks an award ofexemplary damages against Defendant.
8 54, Finally, on April 15 and 16 of2014, Defendant falsely assumed the identity of
9 K.acev, and represented to Plaintiffthat the West Hollywood Property had been sold, and that
10 Plaintiffwould shortly be receiving $1.116 million.
11 55. These representations were false because (i) Kacev had never been retained by
12 Gumrukcu, (ii) it was in fact Gumrukcu, and not Kacev making these representations, (iii) the
13 sale ofthe West Hollywood Property had never in fact occurred, and (iv) no money was going to
14 be sent to Plaintiff. Defendant had no intent to comply with his representations and promises
15 when made.
16
17
56.
57.
Defendant knew his representations to be false when made.
Defendant, in making these misrepresentations, intended to induce reliance by
18 Plaintiffby, among other things, refrain from taking immediate legal action to recoup the moneys
19 he had transferred to Defendant, in the hopes that he simply would be repaid.
20 58. Plaintiffdid, in fact, justifiably rely upon Defendant's representations by
21 refraining from taking legal action until the filing of this Complaint months later.
22 59. As a result, Plaintiffwas damaged in an amount to be proven at trial.
23 60. Defendant's conduct as alleged herein is oppressive, fraudulent and malicious.
24 Accordingly, Plaintiffseeks an award ofexemplary damages against Defendant.
25
26
27
28
COMPLAINT
11. 1 SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
2 (For Breach ofFiduciary Duty Against Gumrukcu and Does 1 through 10)
3 61. Plaintiffincorporates by reference each ofthe allegations in paragraphs 1 through
4 24 above, as though fully set forth herein.
5 62. Defendant, as a member in the Ermes joint venture with Plaintiff, owed fiduciary
6 duties to Plaintiff.
7 63. Defendant breached said fiduciary duties by, among other things, representing that
8 Defendant would cause the moneys received from Plaintiffto be used to purchase and redevelop
9 the West Hollywood Property, but instead converting such funds to Defendant's own personal
10 use. Further, Defendant breached his fiduciary duty by fraudulently presenting forged escrow
11 documents to Plaintiff, as well as fraudulently assuming the identity of Kacev when interacting
12 with Plaintiff.
13
14
64.
65.
As a result, Plaintiffwas damaged in an amount to be proven at trial.
Defendant's conduct as alleged herein is oppressive, fraudulent and malicious.
15 Accordingly, Plaintiffseeks an award ofexemplary damages against Defendants.
16 THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
17 (For Conversion Against all Defendants and Does 1 through 10)
18 66. Plaintiffincorporates by reference each ofthe allegations in paragraphs 1 through
19 24 above, as though fully set forth herein.
20 67. On or about July 2, 2014, Plaintifftransferred $500,000 from his own bank
21 account to Ermes' bank account at Boston Private Bank for the purposes ofpurchasing the West
22 Hollywood Property. Separately, between August and December of2014, Plaintifftransferred an
23 additional $430,000 to Ennes' bank account at Boston Private Bank for purposes of paying for
24 redevelopment costs associated with the West Hollywood Property.
25 68. However, instead ofusing said funds to purchase and/or redevelop the West
26 Hollywood Property, Defendants took said funds and converted said funds to their own use.
27
28
69. As a result, Plaintiffwas damaged in an amount believed to be in excess of
COMPLAINT
12. 1 $930,000.
2 70. Defendants' conduct as alleged herein is oppressive, fraudulent and malicious.
3 Accordingly, Plaintiffseeks an award ofexemplary damages against Defendants.
4 FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
5 (For Breach of Co-Ownership Agreement Against Gumrukcu and Does 1 through 10)
6 71. Plaintiffincorporates by reference each ofthe allegations in paragraphs 1 through
7 24 above, as though fully set forth herein.
8 72. On or about June 25, 2014, the parties entered into a valid contract for Plaintiff to
9 become a 50% co-owner in the West Hollywood Property.
10 73. Plaintiffperformed all conditions, covenants and promises on his part required to
11 be performed pursuant to the terms ofthe agreement.
12 74. Defendant breached the agreement by, among other things, (1) failing to enter into
13 escrow on the West Hollywood Property, so as to preclude the possibility ofPlaintiffbecoming a
14 50% owner in it, (2) failing to amend the purportedly existing purchase agreement to add Plaintiff
15 as a 50% owner in the West Hollywood Property, and (3) failing to return "the capital amount of
16 $500,000" to Plaintiffupon the purported sale ofthe property that Defendant claims occurred in
17 April of2014.
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
75. As a direct and proximate result, Plaintiffhas been damaged in an amount to be
proven at trial.
FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION
(For Breach of Joint Venture Agreement Against Gumrukcu and Does 1 through 10)
76. Plaintiffincorporates by reference each ofthe allegations in paragraphs 1 through
24 above, as though fully set forth herein.
77. On or about July 2, 2014, the parties entered into a valid contract for Plaintiffto
become a member in a joint venture with Defendant, for purposes of redeveloping and selling the
West Hollywood Property.
78. Plaintiffperformed all conditions, covenants and promises on his part required to
COMPLAINT
13. 1 be performed pursuant to the terms ofthe agreement.
2 79. Defendant breached the agreement by, among other things, (1) failing to
3 "immediately" pay Plaintiffhis "initial investment" of$930,000 upon the purported sale ofthe
4 property that Defendant claims occurred in April of2014, and (2) failing to "immediately" pay
5 Plaintiffhis 40% net profit due upon the purported sale ofthe property that Defendant claims
6 occurred in April of2014.
7 80. As a direct and proximate result, Plaintiffhas been damaged in an amount to be
8 proven at trial.
9 SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION
10 (For Breach of Promissory Note Against Gumrukcu and Does 1 through 10)
11 81. Plaintiffincorporates by reference each ofthe allegations in paragraphs I through
12 24 above, as though fully set forth herein.
13 82. On or about June 1, 2015, Defendant exe·cuted a promissory note in favor of
14 Plaintiff, agreeing to pay Plaintiff$1.2 million, plus interest, by July 30, 2015.
15 83. Plaintiffperformed all conditions, covenants and promises on his part required to
16 be performed pursuant to the terms ofthe promissory note.
17 84. Defendant breached the promissory note by, among other things, failing to pay
18 Plaintiffthe $1.2 million, plus interest, on or before July 30, 2015.
19 85. As a direct and proximate result, Plaintiffhas been damaged in an amount to be
20 proven at trial.
21 SEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION
22 (For Accounting Against All Defendants)
23 86. Plaintiffincorporates by reference each ofthe allegations in paragraphs 1 through
24 24 above, as though fully set forth herein.
25 87. The exact amount ofmoney due to Plaintiffby Defendants is unknown to Plaintiff
26 and cannot be ascertained without an accounting ofthe books and records ofErmes.
27
28
88. Plaintifftherefore request an accounting ofErmes to determine the amounts owed
COMPLAINT
14. . -
1 to them.
2 PRAYER FOR RELIEF
3 WHEREFORE, Plaintiffseek an award against Defendants as follows:
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
For compensatory damages according to proof;
For an award ofexemplary damages;
For pre- and post-judgment interest according to law;
I
For an accounting;
For costs and expenses ofsuit herein, including reasonable attorney's fees; and
For such other and further reliefas the Court deems just and equitable.
DATED: July 31, 2015 VALLE MAKOFF LLP
By: ..:z=~ Mf,,71~
- Jeffrey B. Valle
Ilan Wisnia
Attorneys for Plaintiff
COMPLAINT