Primary Office
Estate & Trust Litigation
- Litigated as lead attorney in a heavily contested matter on behalf of the trustee of a high eight-figure sub-trust of a nine-figure overall estate, which settled favorably just weeks before trial.
- Litigated as lead attorney in a jury trial resulting in a seven-figure award, including $3 million in punitive damages (ultimately reduced to $2 million on remittitur), which was upheld on appeal.
- Litigated and ultimately settled multi-state litigation, with multiple appeals, resulting in a published decision on constitutional jurisdiction in trust disputes involving a trustee and trust beneficiaries outside of California.
- Recovered stolen trust property and obtained an award of double damages, attorney fees and costs in the removal of a co-trustee who victimized her mother leaving her abandoned and unable to pay her bills.
- Defended a trust accounting dispute between siblings where two of three daughters alleged that the successor trustee daughter had misappropriated trust assets to their detriment, thereby avoiding client’s suspension, removal, and surcharge.
- Prosecuted breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust, and fraudulent concealment against the trustee on behalf of siblings who were beneficiaries of an education trust, resulting in a full recovery of attorney fees.
- Defeated an eight-figure fiduciary fraud claim brought by a conservator, resulting in dismissal of all claims.
Experience quote
Matthew has been selected as a Rising Star in Estate & Trust Litigation by Los Angeles Super Lawyers annually since 2018.