California Supreme Court
Estate of Giraldin, 55 Cal. 4th 1058 (2012)
Subject: Trust law, beneficiary remedies against trustee, standing to sue trustee
Bidna & Keys’ role: represented client at trial, on appeal and on remand
Result: Client (trustee) reached favorable settlement after the judgment against him was reversed on remand
California Courts of Appeal
Placencia v. Strazicich, 42 Cal. App. 5th 730 (2019)
Subject: Joint tenancy accounts, PC §§ 5302, 5303
Bidna & Keys’ role: represented client at trial and on appeal
Result: Client (co-trustee) prevailed in establishing that she and her sisters were each entitled to one-third of account in the name of her late father and only one of the sisters.
Finton Construction, Inc. v. Bidna & Keys, APLC, 238 Cal. App. 4th 200 (2015)
Subject: Litigation privilege (Civil Code §47), litigation tactics
Bidna & Keys’ role: represented client in underlying case (partnership dispute, breach of fiduciary duty) and itself in the opposing party’s suit against Bidna & Keys
Result: Bidna & Keys prevailed in having claims against the firm dismissed. Court of Appeal held that he “scorched earth” litigation tactics of the opposing party reflected poorly on them, their lawyers and the legal profession.
Estate of Britel, 236 Cal. App. 4th 127 (2015)
Subject: Heirship, right to inherit intestate, PC § 6453
Bidna & Keys’ role: represented client at trial and on appeal
Result: Client prevailed in defending against heirship claim
Roehl v. Ritchie, 147 Cal. App. 4th 338 (2015)
Subject: Trusts, arbitration
Bidna & Keys’ role: represented client on appeal
Result: Client (trustee) prevailed in having arbitration award in trust dispute affirmed.
Dixon v. Superior Court, 30 Cal. App. 4th 733 (1994)
Subject: SLAPP motion, privileged conduct
Bidna & Keys’ role: represented client in trial court and on appeal
Result: In one of first cases decided under the SLAPP statute, client’s claims for commercial torts were dismissed
Golden Forrest Properties v. Columbia Savings & Loan, 202 Cal. App. 3d 193 (1988)
Subject: Creditor’s rights (dispute between holders of first and second trust deeds)
Bidna & Keys’ role: represented client in trial court and on appeal
Result: Client second trust deed holder prevailed in affirming ruling that it was entitled to the disputed payment
Impac Imported Parts & Accessories v. Rattray, 95 Cal. App. 3d 792 (1979)
Subject: Creditors rights, guaranty
Bidna & Keys’ role: represented client in trial court and on appeal
Result: Client was held liable on a commercial guaranty, even after payment terms were modified
Federal Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
Woodlawn Colonial L.P. v. Delannoy (In re Delannoy), 615 B.R. 572 (2020), later affirmed by Ninth Circuit
Subject: Non-dischargeability 526(a)(6), issue preclusion
Bidna & Keys’ role: represented client in trial court and on appeal
Result: Client prevailed in having debt owed to it not discharged in the debtor’s bankruptcy