Kris Stevens, et al. v. Prentiss Properties Limited, et al.
Published: Nov. 26, 2002 | Result Date: Aug. 19, 2002 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: LC055250 Verdict – $64,000
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Van Nuys
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Reid Caufield
(technical)
Gary Mark
(technical)
Eric P. Weiss
(Scali Rasmussen, PC)
(technical)
Defendant
James Wheeler
(technical)
Cary Ginell
(technical)
Catherine M. Graves MBA
(technical)
Facts
The plaintiff has been in the radio industry since the late 1960s as a disc jockey, voice-over talent and producer of
syndicated radio programs. Over the years in the radio industry, he accumulated a collection of over 1,000
celebrity interviews as part of a series of syndicated radio programs he produced from the late 1970s through
the mid-1980s. By the 1990s, most of his professional activity had shifted to voice-over work for commercials
and programming produced by others.
In February 2000, the plaintiff leased office space at a two-story office complex in
Calabasas. The defendant MS Calabasas was the property owner, the defendant Prentiss
Properties Limited was the property manager, and the defendant Bligh Pacific Roofing was the
roofing company that had recently re-roofed the office building. In February, 2000, heavy rains
caused a back up of partially clogged roof drains directly over the office suite rented by the
plaintiffs. The water leaked in onto electronic equipment used for a recording studio in the suite
and onto audio recording tapes that were stored around the suite, including the 1,000 plus
celebrity interviews and master tapes for syndicated Christmas programs and a History of Rock
nÆ Roll program.
Other Information
The plaintiffÆs attorney asked the jury to award $3 million. The defense attorney asked the jury to award $50,000 as to the value of the electronic equipment, and nothing for the tapes.
Deliberation
half day
Poll
10-2
Length
four day
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