Deputy City Attorney John Carvalho Delivers Huge Win for L.A.Congratulations to Deputy City Attorney John Carvalho of the Business and Complex Litigation Division, for winning a case which resulted in a $4.8 Million payment to the City of Los Angeles.
The case centered around recovering a $2.1 Million grant that the City made in 2001 to the non-profit group, Concerned Citizens of South Los Angeles (CCSCLA).
CCSCLA used the grant money to purchase a three-acre plot of land at Slauson and Main in South Los Angeles for the purpose of building a community center and soccer field sports complex. However, the land remained largely undeveloped through 2008 when LAUSD used eminent domain to purchase the land for $5.4 million in order to build a new elementary school.
Deputy City Attorney Carvalho successfully argued against CCSCLA’s claim for the proceeds from the sale and advocated that the current market value of the land should be paid to the City of Los Angeles, as CCSCLA had breached its contract with the City when it failed to develop the property per the 2001 agreement.
Following a three-day trial, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Coleman A. Swart ruled in favor of the City and awarded a check for $4.8 million to the City of Los Angeles, as well as $132,092 in attorney fees.
