Viral Mehta

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Experience

United States v. 1003.58 Acres. Won a jury verdict for $30,283,750 in an eminent domain case for the owners of undeveloped land in the Mojave Desert. The United States took the property owners’ land to expand the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. The property included a permitted but nonoperating iron ore mine. Iron ore is used as an additive in the manufacturing of cement, and the property owners’ permitted mine had enough iron ore to provide the California cement industry with its needed iron for 45 years. The United States initially deposited $5,347,000 to take the property by eminent domain. At trial, the United States claimed the property was worth $5.6 million, and the property owners claimed the property was worth $38.6 million. After a seven-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict for the property owners in the amount of $30,283,750.

Sully Miller Holding Company v. Paramount Petroleum Corporation. Won a complete defense jury verdict in a commercial contract dispute. Sully Miller filed suit against Paramount Petroleum for breach of contract, money had and received, and unjust enrichment in connection with a contract for the production of specialty emulsions used in road construction. After a 12-day jury trial, the jury returned a verdict against Sully Miller and in favor of Paramount Petroleum on all claims.

Petro-Diamond, Inc. v. Verdeo, Inc. Won a bench trial in a fraudulent transfer and alter ego liability action. Initially obtained summary adjudication against Verdeo, Inc., for breach of contract relating to the purchase of energy credits called Renewable Identification Numbers (or RINs). RINs are necessary for regulated oil companies to prove compliance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard. After obtaining summary adjudication, brought fraudulent transfer and alter ego claims to trial against Verdeo’s principal and related Canadian entities. The court found the defendants jointly and severally liable on all claims and entered judgment in excess of $3 million.

Pacifica Equities, LLC v. Lichter. Successfully represented a developer-buyer in an option agreement dispute pending with the American Arbitration Association. After the optionor realized that the option would be exercised, he took actions to negatively impact the value of the property. The developer-buyer initiated arbitration and asserted claims for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and violation of the Subdivision Map Act. The arbitrator entered an award in favor of the developer-buyer on all claims, and awarded both compensatory and punitive damages.

12.03.18

Manatt’s New Partnership Class Is One of the Largest in Firm’s History

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated national professional services firm, announced today the promotion of eight attorne...
12.02.16

Dignity Health Secures Supreme Court Hearing

Law360 covered Manatt’s representation of Dignity Health in a bid for federal review of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit’s ...

09.14.20

CDC’s Eviction Ban and the Burn-Off of Eviction Moratoria

Manatt Real Estate partner Grace Winters, litigation partner Viral Mehta and government and regulatory partner Gregg Nunziata authored an ...

04.24.20

The California Oil Industry’s Use of Force Majeure Claims in the Wake ...

The precipitous drop in the demand for oil is not going away anytime soon.

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Viral in the News

Manatt’s New Partnership Class Is One of the Largest in Firm’s History

Dignity Health Secures Supreme Court Hearing

Viral's Articles

CDC’s Eviction Ban and the Burn-Off of Eviction Moratoria

Viral's Newsletters

The California Oil Industry’s Use of Force Majeure Claims in the Wake ...