Congratulations to Newport Beach Partner Nicole Schmidt and Associate Jenna Bilgore on their resounding trial victory!
BWB&O’s client, Plaintiff, originally came to the firm’s Family Law department seeking assistance with the threat of a breach of contract action from a former intimate partner, who alleged that BWB&O’s client had promised to pool and divide assets and provide support even after the relationship ended. As part of a campaign designed to force Plaintiff to pay out large sums of money, Defendant made defamatory statements about Plaintiff to third parties and stole from Plaintiff. BWBO filed an action against Defendant on Plaintiff’s behalf seeking compensatory and punitive damages for defamation of character and conversion. In return, Defendant filed an action for breach of contract against Plaintiff, seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Firm’s Family Law department kept this civil case due to the relationship they’d built with BWB&O’s client over time.
At trial, Nicole and Jenna were able to prove that not only did Defendant engage in a campaign of harassment against BWB&O’s client, but that all of Defendant’s claims were meritless. As a result, Plaintiff prevailed on each claim and was awarded substantial compensatory and punitive damages, while all of Defendant’s claims were denied.
Please join the firm in congratulating Nicole, Jenna, and the entire team!