American Bar Association, Member 2023-present, 2024
North County Bar Association, Member, 2015-present, 2024
Lawyers Club of San Diego, Member 2017-Present, 2024
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
G10 Law’s client was sued in connection with the sale of a commercial property in 2019. In the complaint, the buyer of the property alleged multiple false representations purportedly made by the seller during escrow and claimed more than $ 2 million dollars in damages. After conducting discovery, it became apparent that the purported “falsehoods” claimed by the buyer were fully disclosed and known to this sophisticated buyer prior to the close of escrow, and any purported economic harm suffered was a product of the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit shortly after the close of escrow. Utilizing discovery and the mediation process, G10 Law was able to negotiate a favorable nuisance value settlement for its client, avoiding the very costly and time consuming process of taking the case to trial., 2023
G10 Law’s litigation team won a defense verdict in a breach of contract lawsuit. Our client had hired a property manager to evict a tenant, but the property manager didn’t do a very good job, putting the eviction lawsuit on shaky ground. So our client settled the unlawful detainer against the tenant. The property manager turned around and sued our client for $17 million in damages, claiming that he – the property manager – had wanted to move into the tenant’s building and start running his own business there. The property manager demanded a two-week jury trial and expected to put on expert testimony and several witnesses. Our firm convinced the judge to bifurcate the trial, allowing us to win the case in a single day focused on the legal meaning of a contract and testimony from a single witness. , 2022
Obtained a Complete Defense Verdict for Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Company: Represented a commercial real estate brokerage company, its designated broker and its agent in a dispute in which plaintiff real estate investors alleged fraud, breach of fiduciary duties and conduct falling below the standard of care. After a two-week trial, the Ponist Law Group obtained a complete defense verdict, absolving their clients of any wrongdoing., 2016
Obtained Favorable Settlement on Behalf of National Shopping Center Client in Connection with Construction Delay Damages: In the lawsuit, the general contractor claimed it was owed significant sums under the construction contract for work reconstructing part of the shopping mall. The shopping center owner had withheld funds based on the contractor’s delayed performance and damages suffered as a result of the delay. The Ponist Law Group was able to negotiate an early resolution on behalf of its owner-client, which fully compensated its client for delay damages and allowed it to pay a greatly reduced sum for the contractor’s services. , 2018
Favorably Resolved Paternity Testing Dispute Claim Against Laboratory: Defended a laboratory against claims that it had erroneously switched paternity testing results, allegedly inaccurately indicating that one man was the father of the subject child when, accordingly to plaintiff, it was another man. According to plaintiff, this caused “irreparable damage” and “emotional distress.” The Ponist Law Group was able to successfully resolve the matter early for a nuisance settlement., 2017
Obtained $2.2 million Settlement for Investors in FINRA Arbitration Against Securities Broker-Dealer: Representing multiple families, the Ponist Law Group alleged that a rogue broker of a securities broker-dealer, charged with managing the accounts of their clients, improperly churned the clients’ accounts, excessively traded the clients’ accounts and placed the clients in unsuitable investments. The Ponist Law Group was able to successfully negotiate a settlement for $2.2 million on behalf of their clients., 2018
Reached Favorable Confidential Settlement on Behalf Elderly Client Defrauded in Connection with Purchase of a Business: Represented an elderly client in arbitration in connection with the purchase of a business and asserted claims for breach of contract, rescission, fraud/misrepresentation, and financial elder abuse. Following a multi-week arbitration proceeding, the Ponist Law Group was able to reach a favorable resolution on behalf of our client., 2018
Obtained Dismissal on the Action Based on the Pleadings and Judgment in Client's Favor: In a lawsuit alleging wrongdoing on behalf of a client of the Ponist Law Group in connection with the foreclosure of a commercial property, the Ponist Law Group successfully moved to dismiss the matter on the pleadings and obtained a judgment in their clients’ favor., 2018
Special Licenses/Certifications:
Real Estate Broker, California, 2015-present, 2024
Pro bono/Community Service:
Volunteer and Troop Treasurer for Girl Scouts of America, 2024
Volunteer Coordinator, Double Peak School, 2018
Honors/Awards:
Recognized as 2024 Woman of Influence in Law by the San Diego Business Journal. , Women of Influence in Law, Honoree, San Diego Business Journal, 2024
Selected as one of the Top 100 Leaders in the Law in 2023 by the San Diego Business Journal. , Top 100 Leaders in Law Award, San Diego Business Journal, 2023
Recognized as 2024 Woman of Influence in Law by the San Diego Business Journal. , Women of Influence in Law, Honoree, San Diego Business Journal, 2023
Educational Background:
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. Psychology, Cum Laude, 1999-2002
Southwestern University School of law, J.D., Summa Cum LaudeNotes and Comments Editor, Southwestern University Law ReviewMember, Southwestern Interscholastic Trial Advocacy Program Author, Conscience in America - The Slippery Slope of Mixing Morality with Medicine, 36 Sw.U.L.Rev. 85 (2006), 2004-2007
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
How long is too long to wait to assert your real property rights? The Fifth District Court of Appeals recently weighed in on this issue in Johnson v. Little Rock Ranch, LLC 73 Cal.App.5th 576 (2022) affirming the trial court's judgment, which ordered a property owner to sell a portion of their property to a trespassing neighbor. , Author, Use It or Lose It - The Importance of Timely Assertion of Property Rights, G10 Law News, Real Estate, Land Use, 2022
Speaker, 90 minute Lorman live webinar, "Rescission of Real Estate Contracts." , Speaker, Rescission of Real Estate Contracts, Lorman, 2017
“Panoramic view,” “expansive view,” “scenic view”—these are all common descriptions used to market highly coveted view property. A great view can substantially increase the desirability and value of a property, with view properties often selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars more than neighboring properties of comparable square footage without views. Developers also routinely charge substantially more for premium lots with views in new developments. In most cases, however, the property owner’s view is not protected and, accordingly, buyers unwittingly pay a hefty surcharge for something that can be taken away without recourse., Author, No Fundamental Right to a View, Daily Journal, Real Estate, Land Use, 2018