News & Resources

Friedlander Misler advised a regional bank on loans for two apartment complexes. The firm represented the bank on a $24,000,000 loan for the acquisition and renovation of an apartment complex in Newport News, Virginia. The firm also represented the same bank with respect to a $70,500,000 loan for new-build construction of luxury apartments in suburban Maryland. The bank participated in that loan for $25,000,000. The Friedlander team was led by principal attorney Rebecca Urland Monzi and associate Li Ann Butterfield Watson.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted the defendant’s, a construction contractor, motion for summary judgment in a negligence action. The case involves a serious injury that occurred during the construction of a hotel near the Washington Nationals’ ballpark in Washington, D.C. The Court found the plaintiff had failed to adduce any evidence that would allow a reasonable jury to conclude that the defendant had breached any duty or standard of care owed to the plaintiff. Regarding the verdict, Joe Santini stated “although obtaining summary judgment on behalf of a defendant in a negligence action is rare, the facts and evidence in this case suggested that such a motion needed to be filed, and we are pleased that the Court agreed with our analysis.” This case was vigorously litigated, and settlement was not a reasonable option given the size of the workers’ compensation lien on the file.

Congratulations to Rebecca Urland Monzi, on being named to the National Law Journal’s list of Real Estate/Construction Law Trailblazers. Rebecca was selected in part for her role as a member of the Board of Directors of Cornerstone Montgomery, the largest and most comprehensive provider of behavioral health services in Montgomery County, Maryland, whose services include providing housing through its residential rehabilitation program. When asked what was the genesis of the path that made her trailblazer, Rebecca answered, “I was drawn to Cornerstone Montgomery because I had personal experience with a loved one who struggled with mental health issues. When I saw how Cornerstone approaches these issues holistically and treats clients as human beings, I knew it was a perfect way to use my experience in real estate law to make a difference in someone’s life.” The National Law Journal received a very competitive list of nominations cast in favor of […]

Litigation partners Morris Kletzkin, Thomas Murphy and Lindsay Thompson won a significant recovery in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of the developer of a $58 million luxury hotel property in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C. who had been sued by the general contractor tasked with building the hotel. The trial victory for the hotel’s owner against one of the country’s largest general contractors brought an end to years of litigation. “The result of the trial was a total victory for our client,” said Thomas Murphy, Esq. “Though the general contractor had sued the owner for more than $17 million, the Court found that the general contractor was not entitled to anything on its claims. In fact, the Court awarded the owner $1.5 million in damages on its counterclaims and ordered the general contractor to immediately release the $17 million mechanic’s lien it had […]

In an article published by Law360, commercial litigation attorney Thomas Murphy addressed why the acquittal in the recent ”Varsity Blues” trial against defendant Amin Khoury, was not surprising and what attorneys can learn from how each side chose to present the facts during the trial. The federal investigation code-named “Operation Varsity Blues” stemmed from allegations that wealthy celebrities and corporate executives had conspired with insiders at elite universities in an elaborate pay-for-play scheme to gain admission for their children. Tom’s article focuses on the Khoury case, which alleged the defendant’s involvement with securing his daughter’s admission to Georgetown University. Tom explains, “Although most of the individuals charged in the “Varsity Blues” investigation ultimately chose to plead guilty, defendant Amin Khoury was acquitted, and the way his defense team chose to frame the facts in the trial narrative is instructive.” Notably, the defense recognized that there were certain facts it could not […]