Because Results Count
Joan S. Rudisil
Fast Facts
- Paralegal/Director of Marketing
Contact
Practice Areas
- Real Estate Litigation
- Eminent Domain
Biography
Joan Rudisil has worked on numerous litigation matters in the areas of real estate and business. In the course of more than two decades as a paralegal, she has successfully assisted with a wide range of litigation. She has also provided representation of public agencies and private sector clients in condemnation and eminent domain cases. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California State University at Fullerton, and received her ABA-approved paralegal certificate from Santa Ana College. Prior to joining Murphy & Evertz, she worked as a paralegal for Luce Forward and in the legal department of the Orange County Department of Education.
Representative Work – Landowner Focus
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority adv. Yum Yum Donut Shops, Inc.– Part of the trial team representing Yum Yum Donuts in an eminent domain action brought by MTA to condemn Yum Yum’s shop on Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles. MTA seeks to condemn the shop for its extension of the Metro Green Line.
People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Westminster Lodging, Inc. – Part of the trial team representing the owner of a Budget Inn hotel along Interstate 5 in Santa Fe Springs. Caltrans condemned a portion of the hotel property fot its I-5 widening project. Caltrans initially offered $85,000. The case settled a few weeks before the jury trial was to begin for total compensation of $4.6 million.
People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Renfroe, et al. – Part of the trial team who represented Games For Fun, a retailer and manufacturer of game room tables and accessories, in an eminent domain action. Caltrans condemned a portion of the business’ property for the I-215 widening project. After two partial abandonments by Caltrans, the Court awarded litigation expenses to Games For Fun and the case settled favorably for our client.
People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Altmans, et al. – Part of the trial team representing the owner of an RV dealership. The condemning agency, Caltrans, initially offered $958,000. The case settled one week before the jury trial was to begin for total compensation of $7.85 million to our client.
City of La Puente Redevelopment Agency v. Gudzunas, et al. – Part of the trial team representing the owner of a three acre retail shopping mall developed in the 1950s. The condemning agency, the City of La Puente Redevelopment Agency, initially offered $3.55 million. Our team negotiated a lost rent agreement which insulated our client from any loss of income during the litigation. The case then settled on the eve of jury trial for total compensation of $6.2 million to our client.
People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. Calvary Deaf Church and the Southern California Assemblies of God – Part of the trial team representing a church for the deaf. The trial team won a $ 4.6 million settlement, just one week before a scheduled three week jury trial for the defendant congregation and denomination. Caltrans had previously offered no more than $ 1.6 million and had planned to argue at trial for a $ 770,000 value. The final settlement is well more than five times this figure.
Las Galinas Valley Sanitation District v. Silveira, et al. – Part of the trial team representing a long-time Marin County dairy rancher in a complex condemnation jury trial. The condemning agency’s pre-litigation offer was $650,000. The jury verdict amounted to $14,660,000, which was the largest condemnation verdict in the state for 2000, and one of the largest verdicts of any kind in Marin County. Client also won a substantial litigation expense award. Ms. Rudisil attended and assisted the trial team during trial.
Paramount Unified School District v. DiPinto, et al. – Part of the trial team representing a manufacturer (Trams International) of specialty vehicles against condemning school district, and also landlord. The District made no pre-litigation offer at all to Trams International. After several weeks of trial, client won $685,000 from the District, and an additional $280,000 from its landlord.
Paramount Unified School District v. McLane Manufacturing, Inc., et al. – Part of the trial team representing McLane Manufacturing, Inc. in a condemnation matter. Awarded $5.58 million, more than twice the school district’s original $2.2 million offer.
People of the State of California, by and through the Department of Transportation v. B.H. & B.M. Woodson Family Trust, et al. – Part of the trial team representing a landowner in a three week condemnation jury trial. The Agency’s pre-litigation offer was $1.1 million. The jury’s verdict was for $1.9 million. Attorneys fees were also awarded. Ms. Rudisil attended and assisted the trial team during trial.
Representative Work – Agency Focus
Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency v. Griswold, et al. – Part of the trial team representing the condemning public agency. After nearly one month of trial, the court adopted our arguments that no substantial interference with access occurred. The case settled soon thereafter. Ms. Rudisil attended and assisted the trial team during trial.
Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority v. Fulofweal, Inc. – Part of the trial team representing the condemning public agency in a case involving a substantial loss of business goodwill claim. The case settled the morning of trial for a fraction of the claim. Ms. Rudisil attended and assisted the trial team during trial
Education
- Rancho Santiago College, ABA Approved Paralegal Certificate, 1981
- BA, California State University Fullerton, 1979
Memberships
- International Right-of-Way Association Chapters 57 and 67
- Orange County Paralegal Association