Steven D. Hoffman, Attorney

Experience/Areas of Practice:
Steven Hoffman is a seasoned attorney with over 25 years transaction/litigation experience.

Sale of Businesses
10 years of experience as escrow holder for transfer of businesses large and small.
Represents sellers, buyers and brokers of businesses in both sale of assets and sale of stock.
Counsels business owners in day-to-day problems

Business/Corporate:
Formation and housekeeping for partnerships, closely held corporations, Limited Liability Companies

Commercial:
Collections,
Security agreements, Bulk sale transfers
Contracts of all kinds

Real estate
Obtained Real Estate Associate license in 1973 and Brokers license in1980. Represents Buyers, Sellers and brokers of residential and commercial real estate as well as Landlords and Tenants.

Personal Injury
Accident victims: Including motor vehicle, slip and fall
Personal injury and property damage claims

Services to be provided: Advice/ counseling
Assess legal position and Alternatives
Research for case and statutory support for position
Strategize
Correspondence & Negotiations
Litigation: Prosecution and defense
Negotiate settlement of disputes
Mediation/arbitration services

Other: Acted as Escrow Holder on Sale of Businesses and Stock Transfers in 100's of transactions. Guest Lecturer High School Business Law. Officiate at wedding ceremonies

Standard hourly rates: $375 per hour.

Flat rates: Corporate, LLC, Partnership formation/organization
Contingency rates: Personal injury cases

Representative Cases:

1)      Predatory Lending:     Represented plaintiff, borrower on a home loan transaction, in action against a loan broker and agent for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.  Recovered judgment which included $25,000 in punitive damages.

2)      Breach of Fiduciary Duty by Broker:            Represented plaintiff, buyer of Woodside home suffering from bipolar disorder in action against Buyer's agent and her broker for breach of fiduciary duty. The plaintiff mitigated damages by sale of home and recovered $55,000 from Broker in mediation, following suit.

3)      Contractor's Duty on Fit and Finish: Represented a plaintiff homeowner against builder of log cabin home in claim against builder for improperly building home and failure to complete fit and finish items.  Case pending.

4)      Liquidated Damages in CAR Forms:            Represented plaintiff buyer of new $1.3M home who sought to cancel/rescind the transaction based on the builder/seller change in terms.  Builder failed to release deposit of $90,000 and demanded to retain same as liquidated damages.  Recovery of judgment in binding arbitration for plaintiff of entire $90,000 deposit plus an award of attorneys fees and costs in excess of $25,000.  Payment in full received by plaintiff.

5)      Quiet Title Actions :    Represented Plaintiff, buyer of condominium, from Defendant, son-in-law, 20 years previously. Defendant refused to transfer legal title and sought to reestablish his ownership in the property after failing to make payment of PITI for 20 years.  Case pending.

6)      Purchase Money Deposit Disputes : represented numerous sellers and buyers in rescission claims and civil actions involving purchase money deposits. Most resolved prior to/or shortly after filing of suit.  Most recently Seller refused to release Buyer's $42,000 deposit on single family residence. Successful in obtaining release of entire sum after one letter.

7)      Real Property Issues: represented property owners in easement disputes, driveway, fence and boundary line disputes.  Trespass, nuisance, and right to view, light and air disputes of all kinds.

8)      Real Estate Title Disputes : represented holders of beneficial interest in real property who were not of record title. Represented numerous clients in family property disputes.

9)      Business Disputes: represent principals and shareholders in various partnership, LLC and corporate disputes.

10)  Employment: represent employers as well as employees in drafting employment agreements and litigating employment issues.

11)  Personal Injury : Represented plaintiffs in automobile accidents of all kinds; numerous trip and fall cases at groceries stores and city sidewalks as well as assault and battery cases.

12)   Elder Abuse :  Represent plaintiffs as well as defendant in elder abuse claims related to real property.