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Community Involvement

Orange County Paralegal Association's November 10, 2011 Litigation Section Meeting

Make 'Em Pay: California Post-Judgment Enforcement

Jennifer A. Needs, an associate attorney with SGS, will be the speaker. The court entered judgment but the defendant refuses to pay voluntarily, what now? This workshop focuses on judgment enforcement techniques in California state courts. The presentation covers asset investigation, collection procedures, and the paperwork necessary to enforce the judgment.

Orange County Bar Association's Real Estate Section –May 24, 2011

Refundability of "Non-Refundable" Deposits in Real Estate Sales Contracts
- Presented by William L. Steel, Samuels, Green & Steel, LLP

Bill Steel addressed the unenforceability of "non-refundable deposit" clauses in real estate sales contracts that lacked Liquidated Damages provisions, as clarified in Kuish v. Smith, 181 Cal. App. 4th 1419 (2010). See, "News Alert." Mr. Steel also educated the audience on the risks and benefits of Liquidated Damages provisions in residential and non-residential real estate sales contracts.

In Kuish, both buyer and seller entered a $14,000,000 sales contract without legal counsel, modifying the standard contract with their real estate agents alone. Mr. Steel, who, along with his litigation partner Phil Green, represented Mr. Kuish victoriously, advised the audience on the role of a Liquidated Damages provision in a real estate sales contract and, in the absence of such a provision, the applicability of Civil Code Sections 3307 (residential) and 1671 (commercial), Freedman v. The Rector, 37 Cal.2d 16 (1951), and Horowitz v. Noble, 79 Cal.App.3d 120 (1978). In its Kuish decision, the California Court of Appeals concluded Horowitz was an exception to the general rule, expressed in Section 3307 and Freedman, and applied that case's ruling only to contract amendments. Mr. Steel's amusing and informative presentation summarized relevant factors to consider in connection with deposits in real estate sales contracts.

For more information, visit our full article at "News Alert" or contact Bill Steel at (949) 263-0004 or bill.steel@sgsattorneys.com.

John Bergen & Bill Steel at May 2011 Meeting of OCBA Real Estate Section. Right, a full house for the meeting.

Orange County Paralegal Association Litigation Section March 23, 2011

Litigation Discovery Do's and Don'ts: Redactions and Withholding

Jennifer A. Needs, an associate attorney with SGS will speak on the impact of privileges and confidentiality on civil discovery document review and production. A practical discussion with sample documents will be presented regarding whether redaction or withholding is appropriate. The presentation will focus on California law while pointing out important distinctions between State and Federal discovery rules.

First presented at CAPA's 21st Annual Educational Conference on June 27, 2009

Bill Steel, Partner of SG&S

Steel honored for dedication

Fundraising chairman steps down after 10 years of leading SchoolPower giving to new heights.

A phone campaign to raise funds for SchoolPower turned into a way to honor one of the district's most prolific fundraisers.

Parent volunteers and district officials paid tribute to Bill Steel in honor of his tenth and final year chairing the SchoolPower Community Campaign while he was busy calling parents.

For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:
http://www.coastlinepilot.com/articles/2007/10/19/education/cpt-steel19.txt

Bill Steel, Partner of SG&S
Matthew Goldstein, Associate of SG&S

Volunteer Mentors in the Chapman University School of Law Mentor Program in 2007 and 2008. Attorney mentors assist student protégés in career guidance, interviewing skills and experiences of daily life in a law firm.

www.chapman.edu/law

Martin Stein, Associate of SG&S

Member of the Department of Real Estate Committee of the joint Baldy View/Riverside Chapters of the BIA.

Co-chairing on this committee since December 2007.

www.chapman.edu/hobbsinstitute

Bonita Danser, Office Administrator at SG&S

Elected to serve as the Director at Large of the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators for 2011-2012. This 9 member board supports and leads a Chapter of 135 dedicated Professionals providing quality educational and community outreach programs, networking opportunities, and other valuable resources to the legal community. She has served on the Elected Board and Extended board of the OC-ALA since her year as President in 1992-1993.

www.orangecountyala.org

Bill Steel, Partner of SG&S

Chairman of the Ocean Institute's Board of Directors, 2005-2007; Board member since 1989. Chairman of the annual home raffle fundraiser for 6 years.

www.ocean-institute.org

Member of the Board of Trustees' Executive Committee of SchoolPower, the educational foundation for Laguna Beach's public school district, 1995 - 2008

www.lbschoolpower.org

Past Community Events

Ocean Institute's Adopt-A-Class
January 15, 2010

SG&S adopted a 2nd grade class of 45 students for a special field trip. The Adopt-A-Class program sends students from an under-served school to the Ocean Institute for a boat ride and to learn about marine life and environmental awareness. The Firm participates in the event with the students and provides a pizza party following the boat ride. This was SG&S's 6th year supporting this program.
www.ocean-institute.org

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