Shareholder Grant Waterkotte Secures Trial Win in Los Angeles Superior Court Case
Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin Shareholder, Grant D. Waterkotte recently obtained a plaintiff’s verdict on behalf of his client in Los Angeles Superior Court. His client, a family-owned business performing graffiti removal services for local public agencies and city governments, sought damages for breach of contract, fraud, intentional misrepresentation, and breach of good faith.
Pettit Kohn’s client entered into an oral agreement with Defendant to deliver a working web-based mobile application that would facilitate Plaintiff’s business operations. Defendant claimed to have the necessary experience in software technology and to create and develop an application which would allow local citizens and government officials a direct means of communicating with the Plaintiff, providing the Plaintiff the opportunity to speedily remove graffiti from a specific location.
Defendant failed to provide a useable and functioning mobile application within the timeframe specified by the contract. Despite his failure to timely complete the project, Defendant continued to bill on the project, and Plaintiff continued to pay him, losing the opportunity to bid on multiple projects during the timeframe due to Defendant’s failure to perform. After waiting over 15 months past the original targeted completion date, Plaintiff eventually determined it could wait no longer. It terminated its relationship with Defendant and enlisted another company to complete the work. As a consequence, Plaintiff lost not only its investment with Defendant, but also incurred costs related to hiring another programmer. Plaintiff demanded a refund of its money. Defendant refused. Plaintiff then filed suit.
After testimony and argument, the Court found Defendant in breach and awarded Plaintiff the entire amount of all damages sought in the suit. Plaintiff is also entitled to recover its costs.
About Grant D. Waterkotte
Grant D. Waterkotte is a founding shareholder at Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin and is licensed in Arizona and California. A highly accomplished trial attorney, Grant has tried over 30 cases to verdict in Maricopa, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, and Kern Counties. The vast majority of these trials were before a jury, where Grant has a 90% record of success. Grant’s jury trial experience and exceptional results led to his induction into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in October of 2010, only nine years into his career. He currently serves as a faculty member of the Jack Daniels’ Los Angeles ABOTA Trial School. He has achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating of AV Preeminent for his legal ability and ethical standards. In addition, Mr. Waterkotte was included in the 2010-2015 Rising Stars list by Southern California Super Lawyers and most recently recognized among the Southern California Super Lawyers in 2021 – 2023.
About Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin
Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin PC is a leading AV-rated, full-service trial firm with expertise in litigating and resolving civil matters in both state and federal courts. The firm represents clients in the areas of Appellate, Business Litigation, Community Association Litigation, Employment & Labor, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Professional Liability, Real Estate Litigation, Restaurant & Hospitality, Retail, Transactional & Business Services, Transportation, and Trial & Civil Litigation. Clients include large and mid-sized corporations, privately held businesses, institutions, and individuals. Pettit Kohn is located in California and Arizona with offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tucson. Learn more about Pettit Kohn at: www.pettitkohn.com