BUSINESS LITIGATION

The firm’s litigation group handles litigation for corporate and individual clients regarding all aspects of business litigation, including contractual disputes, distributorship litigation, lease termination, commercial unlawful detainers, product endorsement issues, contractor and construction project disputes, product liability litigation, employment termination matters, securities fraud litigation, executive termination disputes, as well as general commercial litigation. 

In the last few years, Mr. Teraoka has tried several jury trials, one of which included a six week jury trial in Los Angeles County involving franchise litigation, resulting in a favorable verdict for $467,000.  He assisted and co-counseled a trial regarding a complex international construction contract dispute before a jury in Alameda County resulting in a favorable net verdict of $1,300,000.  In addition to other trial work, Mr. Teraoka has tried non-jury cases, argued appeals to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (BAP), and arbitrated and mediated numerous types of cases, as well as tried administration hearings before the California Public Utilities Commission.  Mr. Teraoka’s leading case in California was In Re Western Travel Plaza, a case before the California Public Utilities Commission that deregulated motor carrier transportation regulation covering sightseeing operations in California in 1980.  This landmark case was appealed to the California Supreme Court by opponents including the California Bus Association and other major transportation carriers, and review was ultimately denied by then Chief Justice Rose Bird.  The ruling achieved by Mr. Teraoka became law in California motor carrier regulation in sightseeing operations, and opened the way for tour bus carriers to competitively serve the Bay Area.