Crawford, Wishnew & Lang PLLC

ALERT: Dallas Jury Awards $5.65M for Fraudsters’ “Hostile Takeover” of Family-Run Business

Dallas-based litigation boutique Crawford, Wishnew, & Lang PLLC won a $5.657 million jury verdict in a bet-the-company lawsuit following a hostile takeover of their client’s family-run furniture company.

The award for actual damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees came on the second day of jury deliberations in a civil suit brought by their client Amigos Furniture and its principal Shantal Albarran before State District Judge Monica Purdy of Dallas. Plaintiffs Amigos Furniture and Albarran, a single mother and small business owner, were targeted by fraudsters under the guise of a joint venture. Defendants Rabi De Jebara and Mohamed Sadeq instead diverted millions in cash from Amigos Furniture and forged documents conveying equity in Amigos to themselves.

“This case is about hard work, trust, and betrayal – a theme that jurors found clear and convincing enough to send a message that the defendants’ conduct in this case has no place in our society,” said Dave Wishnew, lead trial counsel and Crawford, Wishnew & Lang managing partner.

Wishnew and his team presented the jury with evidence of defendants’ hostile takeover of Amigos Furniture, including evidence of Defendants’ forgery of Albarran’s signature on a purported shareholders’ rights agreement—transferring 66% of Amigos to themselves—and of skimming credit card sales which allowed the scheme to go unnoticed for years. Plaintiffs sued the defendants for fraud and for breach of two oral contracts between the parties. They faced an uphill battle proving the terms of the oral contracts. But the jury heard enough to award over $2.4 million in actual damages and attorneys’ fees, plus $3.25 million in punitive damages to Amigos and Albarran.

“This case is a testament to our team’s ability to fight for what is right and wrong,” said Matt Muckleroy, a Crawford, Wishnew & Lang partner and Wishnew’s co-counsel at trial. “Our client placed her trust in the wrong hands. The jury’s verdict tells us that her misplaced trust does not excuse fraud,” Muckleroy said.

The trial team consisted of partners Dave Wishnew and Matt Muckleroy, and associates Cameron Jean and Gracen Daniel. This verdict marks the fourth consecutive trial victory for the firm in the last year. Founded by Trey Crawford, Dave Wishnew, and Michael Lang, the firm is now in its sixth year and busier than ever. “We are grateful to advocate for our clients, like Amigos Furniture and Shantal Albarran,” said Wishnew. “We look forward to continued success in the next courtroom.”

BEST UNDER 40
Congrats to CWL's Haleigh Jones Everett and TJ Jones, named D Magazine BEST LAWYERS UNDER 40. So proud of the work we do and the people with whom we do it!

DALLAS COUNTY JURY VERDICT ALERT
A Dallas County jury on Wednesday rendered a verdict and awarded a Crawford, Wishnew, & Lang PLLC client over $5.66 million dollars in actual and punitive damages for claims involving breach of contract and fraud. The trial team of assertive advocates consisted of Dave Wishnew, Matthew S. Muckleroy, Cameron Jean, and Gracen Daniel. Our team successfully defended defendants' breach of contract counterclaim. We are proud to advocate for our clients and obtain results in the courtroom.

CONGRATS to THE BEST!

D Magazine has selected its BEST LAWYERS 2024 and once again Crawford, Wishnew & Lang PLLC is well-represented with the inclusion of Trey Crawford, Dave Wishnew, Michael Lang and Haleigh Jones Everett ... We're proud to serve our clients and proud of the honor!

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Six years ago, CWL opened for business. We are now 13 lawyers and 21 professionals who love litigating together and fighting the good fight for our clients. Very proud of our firm - and our association with YOU. ⚖️

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