SPONSORED POST: Litigation Finance Opportunity for ‘David vs. Goliath’ Case

By John Freund |
Litigation Finance Primer

Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon is prosecuting a claim valued at $31m. We are raising $2.3m for return within 12 months, possible additional upside. $450k to close, balance on run rate 30 days net to trial.

The claimant is a single individual plaintiff who is a very credible former investment banker. Claimant is very knowledgeable and is committed to conclusion of the claim. One defendant is a large international financial institution and the second defendant is a highly liquid mortgage loan originator. Case documents are structured finance and real estate. Defendant’s counsel is a national general practice firm, lead defense counsel is 4-year partner. This is a complex financial claim, fact intensive, document case. Documents we hold support an opinion letter from a legal 500 firm at 80% chance of recovery. Damages are supported by preliminary economic expert and other case documents.

Why we believe we will win

This case arises out of a fraudulent foreclosure on plaintiffs’ home. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated plaintiff who  has brought claims that will likely result in a verdict including actual damages of $31,880,288.014 for Breach of Contract, Fraud, Fraudulent Lien Against Real Property, Deceptive Trade Practices Act (“DTPA”) and Texas Debt Collection Act (“TDCA”).  Claimant was not in default, and allegations made against the plaintiff are proven to be false. The court records contain perjured statements, forged robo-signed affidavits, assignments, fraudulent liens, fraudulent appointment of substitute trustees and many other records. Defendants fraudulently concealed its lack of interest in the property by manufacturing evidence. These false allegations destroyed plaintiff’s credit, caused property loss, loss ofreputation and career. The jury will likely return a substantial verdict on the TDCA, which is a treble damages statute.

It is important to note that the jury will not be advised that  fraud finding results in an automatic trebling of actual damages and mental anguish under both the DTPA and TDCA. The Court’s judgment could be set at over $69,131,398.50.   Three of the four claims allow for the recovery of attorneys’ fees. In sum, the fraudulent conduct by Defendants supports “uncapped” exemplary damages. Given the result obtained by the Loewinsohn Firm against JP Morgan Chase last year, defendants have a powerful incentive to settle this case for close to the full amount of damages.

A Full litigation plan illustrates solid case of merits, liability, and damages for each claim. Plan includes analysis of defenses and key arguments. Data room is set up for due diligence. Case is on file in state court, no DCO or trial date. Preferential date will be requested within approximately 9 months. A Motion to dismiss was filed and denied.

About Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon

Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon have extensive experience representing clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to individuals on both sides of the docket in complex business, employment and bankruptcy disputes. The firm’s recent successes include two high-profile cases. In July 2018, an LFDS team including Craig Simon, Alan Loewinsohn, Matt Ray and Jennifer Barall secured a $45 million settlement on behalf of Navajo Transitional Energy Company in a contract dispute against a number of public utilities.  Last year, partners Alan Loewinsohn, Jim Flegle and Kerry Schonwald represented their client Jo Hopper in a breach of trust case against J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., where a Dallas probate jury awarded $6.014 billion in damages, the largest jury verdict in the United States in 2017 and the ninth largest verdict in US history.

The trial lawyers at Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon are nationally recognized, including most recently on Friday of last week, by editors and reporters of American Lawyer Media’s National Law Journal as the top law firm in the Nation for 2018, Elite Trial Lawyers Business Torts category. The facts and evidence to date suggest that we could achieve a similar outcome and damages to our record judgment in Hopper.

We are new to litigation funding. Our view is this case is suited to Family Office, Special Situations Fund, Individual investor, joint venture with another law firm, or Hedge Fund.

Xpress your interest by emailing

Alan Loewinsohn AlanL@lfdslaw.com

Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon LLP

12377 Merit Drive, Ste 900

Dallas, Texas 75251

214 572 1707

www.lfdslaw.com

Announcements

View All

Darrow Names Mathew Keshav Lewis As Chief Revenue Officer & US General Manager

By John Freund |

Darrow, the leading AI-powered justice intelligence platform, today announced the appointment of Mathew Keshav Lewis as its first Chief Revenue Officer and US General Manager. Lewis brings over 20 years of experience driving revenue and growth for high-profile legal and technology companies – including SaaS platform Dealpath, alternative investment platform Yieldstreet, and legal services pioneer Axiom Law – and will be responsible for helping Darrow scale as it continues an accelerated growth trajectory. 

"Mathew's arrival at Darrow opens enterprise-level deals to all plaintiff law firms, previously accessible only to a select few,” said Evyatar Ben Artzi, CEO and Co-Founder of Darrow. “His expertise from YieldStreet and Axiom empowers our partners to leverage AI, driving unprecedented growth and innovation.” 

Lewis, who will be based in Darrow’s New York headquarters, joins Darrow after serving as the first Chief Revenue Officer of Dealpath, a real estate deal management platform. He also previously held the role of Chief Revenue Officer and GM, Investments at Yieldstreet, where he drove record revenue and growth for the investment platform. 

“I’m delighted to join a team of tremendously talented individuals at Darrow, who have already disrupted the legal technology space and forged the path ahead,” said Mathew Keshav Lewis, Chief Revenue Officer & US General Manager of Darrow. “I am inspired by Darrow’s progress to date, and I look forward to working alongside Darrow’s growing team to expand the company’s footprint.”

This announcement comes at a period of rapid growth for the company, which completed its $35 million Series B funding round last year. Darrow currently works on active litigation valued over $10 billion across legal domains such as privacy, consumer protection, and antitrust. 

About Darrow: Founded in 2020, Darrow is a LegalTech company on a mission to fuel law firm growth and deliver justice for victims of class and mass action lawsuits. Darrow's AI-powered justice intelligence platform leverages generative AI and world-class legal experts and technologists to uncover egregious violations across legal domains spanning privacy and data breach, consumer protection, securities and financial fraud, environment, and employment. Darrow is based out of New York City and Tel Aviv. For more information, visit: darrow.ai

Read More

Omni Bridgeway Releases Investment Portfolio Report for 3Q24

By John Freund |

Omni Bridgeway Limited (ASX: OBL) (Omni Bridgeway, OBL, Group) announces the key investment performance metrics for the three months ended 31 March 2024 (3Q24, Quarter) and for the financial year to date (FYTD).

Summary

  • Investment income of A$296 million FYTD; A$56 million provisionally attributable to OBL.
  • 23 full completions, 17 partial completions FYTD, with an overall multiple on invested capital (MOIC) of2.0x.
  • A$333 million of new commitments FYTD with a corresponding A$447 million in new fair value, on track to achieve our A$625 million target.
  • Pricing remains at improved levels, up 32% for the FYTD compared to FY23.
  • Strong pipeline, with agreed term sheets outstanding for an estimated A$212 million in new commitments.
  • OBL cash and receivables of A$101 million plus A$60 million in undrawn debt at 31 March 2024.
  • A$4.4 billion of possible estimated portfolio value (EPV) in completions over the next 12 months. 
  • Further simplification and enhancement of our disclosures as announced at the Annual General Meeting, comprising non-IFRS OBL-only financials and non-IFRS fair value on a portfolio basis and OBL-only basis.
  • These new disclosures and metrics, as well as a valuation framework for our existing book and platform, were presented at our investor day on 27 March 2024.

Refer to https://omnibridgeway.com/investors/investor-day.

Key metrics and developments for the Quarter

Income and completions

  • Investment income of A$296 million generated from A$193 million income recognised and A$103 million income yet to be recognised (IYTBR), with A$56 million provisionally attributable to OBL FYTD (excluding management and performance fees). 
  • During the Quarter, 11 full completions and 11 partial completions (excluding IYTBR), resulting in 23 full completions and 17 partial completions (excluding IYTBR) FYTD, and one secondary market transaction, with a FYTD overall MOIC of 2.0x.

New commitments

  • Our stated targets for FY24 include A$625 million in new commitments or equivalent value, prioritising value over volume to reflect potential for improved pricing of new commitments.
  • FYTD new commitments of A$333 million at 31 March 2024 (from matters that were newly funded, conditionally approved or had increased investment opportunities). 
  • The fair value associated with these commitments is $447million, 72% of the full year value generation target.
  • Pipeline of 37 agreed exclusive term sheets, representing approximately A$212 million in investment opportunities, which if converted into funded investments is a further 34% of our FY24 commitments target.  
  • In addition to the regular new commitments to investments in the existing funds FYTD, an additional A$11.5 million of external co-fundings were secured for these investments to manage fund concentration limits. OBL will be entitled to management fees as well as performance fees on such external co-funding.

Portfolio review

  • A$4.4 billion of EPV is assessed to possibly complete in the 12 months following the end of the quarter. This 12 month rolling EPV is based on investments which are subject to various stages of (anticipated) settlement discussions or for which an award or a judgment is expected. All or only part of these may actually complete during the 12 month period.
  • We anticipate replacing these final EPV metrics with fair value metrics by the end of this financial year.

Cash reporting and financial position

  • At 31 March 2024, the Group held A$100.7 million in cash and receivables (A$62.8 million in OBL balance sheet cash, A$2.0 million in OBL balance sheet receivables and A$35.9 million of OBL share of cash and receivables within Funds) plus access to a further A$60 million in debt.
  • In aggregate, we have approximately A$161 million to meet operational needs, interest payments, and fund investments before recognising any investment completions, secondary market sales, management and transaction fees, and associated fund performance fees.
  • Post Quarter-end and as per the date of this report, in anticipation of the expiry of the availability period of the debt facility, OBL has drawn down the A$60 million in undrawn debt and received the funds.

Investor day

The investor day presentation and Q&A which took place on 27 March 2024 can be viewed at https://omnibridgeway.com/investors/investor-day.

Read More

Carpentum Capital Launches Aurigon Litigation Risk Consulting (LRC)

By John Freund |

The team around former Carpentum Capital has launched AURIGON LITIGATION RISK CONSULTING (LRC), a litigation funding intermediary based in Switzerland with a special focus on Latin America. 

Founder and Managing Director Dr. Detlef A. Huber comments: ”AURIGON LRC is combining two worlds, litigation finance and insurance. Both areas are increasingly overlapping. Insurers offer ever more litigation risk transfer products and funders recur to insurance to hedge their risks. Hence complexity and advisory requirements are increasing, especially in still developing markets like Latin America. With our team of lawyers and former re/insurance executives trained in Latin America, the US, UK and Europe we are perfectly suited to advice our clients in any stage of the funding process or in related insurance matters. Our goal is to become the preferred partner for litigation and arbitration funding projects out of Latin American jurisdictions and I am looking forward to this new adventure.”

ABOUT AURIGON

AURIGON Advisors Ltd. is operating as re/insurance consultancy since 2011 with a special focus on dispute resolution and auditing. With AURIGON LRC an intermediary for litigation funding has been launched servicing our clients out of Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Switzerland in Spanish, English, Portuguese and German. With our experience setting up the first Swiss litigation fund dedicated to Latin America (founded 2018), and in the insurance advisory area (since 2011), we are bringing together knowledge of processes and mindsets of the funding and the insurance world. 

Read More