Welcome to Sullivan, Workman & Dee

Our Cases

When the Government condemned apartments owned by one of the firm’s clients, the District made a “lowball” offer, using as comparables several undesirable properties in an airport flight path.   After several attempts to resolve the matter in a mediation setting, the case successfully settled on the eve of trial for $600,000 more than the Government's offer before trial, plus the amount of rents lost when the Government relocated the client’s tenants.  

Representing a family of property owners, the firm filed suit against a local governmental agency, seeking damages for unreasonable pre-condemnation conduct and delay. The Government had created blight around the owners' property by acquiring and emptying much of the surrounding land. The Government initially appraised the family's property for, and refused to pay the family more than, $1,025,000. After a trial of the main legal issues in the case, the court ruled that the Government had engaged in unreasonable conduct and delay, and scheduled a jury trial on the issue of the amount of the damages. The Government then settled, purchasing the property for $3,205,000.  

The firm prevailed in the trial court and on appeal in probate litigation involving a lost will.  The appellate court upheld judgment in favor of the firm’s client and an award of discovery sanctions against the firm’s opponents.   Click here to see the full appellate opinion.

The firm represented an African American who had worked for her employer for over ten years.  She had good employment ratings and was knowledgeable in several positions in the company.  However, she was terminated due to alleged "restructuring" of the department.  The termination was devastating and she went into a deep depression.  Extensive investigation revealed that her employer had selectively terminated plaintiff due to her race. Indeed, the employer had kept non-African American employees who had been recently hired.  The matter settled successfully at a private mediation, on confidential terms.  The client recovered from her depression.  She has received additional training in a new field and recently was hired by a new employer.    

Sullivan, Workman & Dee, LLP, recently completed representing one of Santa Barbara’s most notable surfboard shapers in eminent domain litigation filed by CalTrans for a freeway on-ramp project.  In addition to obtaining just compensation, the firm was able to keep the client in possession of his surfboard shop by fighting off an aggressive effort for early eviction until the client could arrange for an orderly and reasonable relocation. The firm, in the same project, represented a windows and door business and was successful in obtaining a loss of goodwill settlement of $315,000.00. CalTrans initially did not make any offer to this business. 
  
The firm represented a dentist in eminent domain proceedings brought by a City to acquire commercial property on which the dentist also conducted his practice.  The firm obtained $1,038,865 more than the City initially offered.

Our client had a vision problem which affected his ability to produce parts for a manufacturer at the same rate as other employees.  However, he was very knowledgeable and had many attributes that made him an effective worker.  The company had a "reduction in force."  To select workers for lay off it used recent performance ratings that unfairly focused on the client's disability.  Under California law, persons with various disabilities are entitled to protection from such adverse employment actions.  The case settled on confidential terms at mediation shortly before trial.     

The Government sought to condemn property owned by a family trust on which the family conducted its business.  The firm was able to negotiate a settlement in lieu of condemnation for $714,000 more than the Government offered.

These examples are for illustrative purposes only. Every case or legal issue depends on its own facts, law and the unique credibility of the witnesses involved. Results similar to the above are not and cannot be guaranteed.

Our Firm

Sullivan, Workman & Dee, LLP was a proud sponsor and supporter of the St. Teresa of Avila School Academic Decathlon Team at the competition at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 2008.

Henry Workman was recently enshrined in the USC Sports Hall of Fame.  Henry was the captain of the USC baseball team that won the national championship in 1948 by beating a Yale team that featured first-baseman and later president George H.W. Bush.  As discussed in Tommy Lasorda’s autobiography, Henry also played winter ball in Cuba and even batted against a young pitcher named Fidel Castro.
Sherrill Tanibata was featured on the cover of LA Lawyer magazine for her article entitled "Mind over Matters" dealing with the factors for determining diminished capacity among the elderly.  She is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, experienced in drafting wills and trusts and in general probate litigation.
In June, 2008 Sullivan, Workman & Dee, LLP received a Certificate of Appreciation from The Association of African American Professionals (AAAP), for it's support of the Justice for Seniors program and for it's service to African American families in Los Angeles, and Sherrill Tanibata received a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate for her contribution and services to the community.
Gary Kovacic will be honored as one of the best eminent domain lawyers in southern California in the Los Angeles Times Magazine’s 2009 “Best Lawyers.”  He has been selected as the featured speaker on the topic of Ethics in Eminent Domain at CLE International’s Northern California Eminent Domain Conference in San Francisco on December 8, 2008 (www.cle.com/sfemd). Since 2003, Mr. Kovacic has also co-chaired the Southern California Eminent Domain Conference held each year in Los Angeles.
Karyn McCreary placed first in the women's division of the Loyola Law School Golf Tournament's putting contest.  Karyn is a contributing author to the pre-eminent national legal treatise Nichols on Eminent Domain.
Rob Rogers's son, Robbie, was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer team in Beijing. In addition to a legal practice focusing on employment law and sales representative law, Rob also serves as an independent mediator and as a mediator on the pro bono panel of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Theo Khachaturian and his wife Margaret are the proud new parents of the lovely Beatrix Khachaturian.
Daniel Pranata has been reelected to the Board of Directors of the Montrose Shopping Park Association, where he currently serves as Vice President.
Charles D. Cummings’ daughter, Christy, completed her Masters Degree in Divinity at Harvard University.  The entire family attended Christy’s commencement ceremonies this past summer in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Charlie, continues to serve on the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Board of Directors, his daughters’ alma mater.