Slovak Baron Empey Murphy & Pinkney LLP
1800 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, California 92262
Telephone: 760.322.2275
Fax: 760.322.2107
Email: slovak@sbemp.com
Mr. Slovak is one of the founding partners of SBEMP. His diverse practice of over forty years includes commercial, real-estate, and business litigation in both state and federal courts throughout California. Today, his emphasis is on sophisticated business and employment litigation, with an emphasis in trusts and estates litigation. He has litigated almost every type of civil case, including financial and elder abuse disputes.
Throughout his career, Mr. Slovak has represented companies and individuals on land use matters, partnership disputes, shareholder derivative suits, fiduciary duty disputes of all types, will and trust contests, eminent domain, construction defect litigation including subsidence claims, anti-trust claims, unfair business practice, unfair competition, and trade infringement claims to name just a few. In the last decade, he has become involved in resolving tribal litigation in tribal, federal, and state courts.
Mr. Slovak is known for finding prompt resolutions even in bitter disputes, while also avoiding substantial legal fees and costs required for extended litigation and trial. His view is that complexity with numerous variables increases the possibilities of a resolution, if fully understood.
Mr. Slovak has handled numerous commercial and labor arbitration matters, as well as participated in well over 150 sophisticated mediations as counsel and occasionally acted as a private mediator upon request. He often volunteers his time to serve on the Riverside Superior Court voluntary panel of mediators.
He presently resides in Rancho Mirage, California with his wife. His hobbies include traveling, photography, and reading. Golf does not fit into his schedule given his busy trial practice.
NOTABLE ENGAGEMENTS
- Tried a dispute defending the seller of commercial property against claims of fraud and failures to disclose defects in what is believed to be one of the longest civil jury trials in Riverside County history, which lasted over four months, with a successful result for the defense with the jury just out four hours to reach its verdict.
- Against the County of San Bernardino, he obtained a $2.3 million judgment for a woman wrongfully terminated due to a physical disability.
- Represented the Sheriff of Madera County resisting tribal court injunctions restricting law enforcement on reservation land.
- Represented landowner involved in flood claims and repairs of flood channels on golf courses.
- Represented longtime girlfriend of decedent defending against a trust contest and personal and financial elder abuse claims.
- Represented a publicly traded company developing and then operating regional shopping centers in subsidence case filed before AAA against large grading company and engineers where 18′ foot fills were found to be at 70% compaction or less. Case successfully settled on confidential terms.
- Defended owner of a LLC of multiple building apartment complex against claim by buyer of breach of purchase agreement alleging fraud and the existence of latent construction defects that owner allegedly was required to repair pre-closing, despite “as is” clause in purchase agreement. Plaintiff claimed $8 million in actual damages plus attorney’s fees and cost. Jury returned unanimous defense verdict after four-month trial with Judge awarding client $1.8 million in expert costs and legal fees.
- On behalf of thousands of California employees, successfully brought as lead or co-lead trial counsel many wage and hour California class action cases against national companies, including a union operating in California. All were settled, either prior to or after certification of class. Terms of settlements generally restrain counsel from mentioning parties or terms. Also has defended employers against such claims.
- Represented landowner in finalizing and settling a $24 million inverse condemnation case and effecting judgement against a city.
- Represented plaintiff purchaser of national franchise and associated facilities in breach of contract and fraud claims for misrepresenting financials and withholding information regarding location of property on landfill with resulting subsidence to building. Jury award of seven figures including punitive damages. Verdict upheld on appeal.
- Represented hourly employee against County of San Bernardino for wrongful termination and disability discrimination. Jury verdict with attorney’s fees exceeded $2 million. Verdict upheld on appeal.
- Represented sons of decedent by earlier marriage against claims of decedent’s spouse who at death was excluded per a pre-marital agreement from any interest in decedent’s estate including a family trucking and rail business. Spouse claimed community property interest in company alleging decedent underpaid for community efforts expended during lifetime by sons and their mother, as salary paid decedent was claimed to undervalue community efforts expended and community property intermingled with separate property accounts. $8 million dollars claimed by Petitioner spouse. After six-week trial, probate judge denied spouse’s claims.
- Represented Stanford University as a beneficiary of a trust in will contest and pre-death fraud case against individuals who took over the operation of an elderly couple’s business shortly before their death. Entire estate recovered.
- Represented a software company in misappropriation of trade secret case against departing employees who formed new company and solicited customers.
- Represented an upscale country club in state court action alleging construction defects in clubhouse against twenty-three defendants including nationally known general contractor, architects and product suppliers. Case settled during mediation for high 7 figures including recovery of all attorney’s fees, plus contractor making repairs per client’s defined scope of work with extended warranty.
- Represented in arbitration a medical center claiming violations of covenants not to compete by departing physicians. Covenant upheld by arbitrator and case settled.
- Represented national homebuilder in arbitration against another national homebuilder over escrow deposit involving large land purchase where client alleged condition precedent of developed lots being in place was not timely met to require escrow to close. After arbitration, judgment for client with attorney’s fees and costs awarded.
- Defended wind energy developer against claims of “misappropriating the wind” brought by downwind developer who placed turbines on its land first in time. Case successfully settled through unique joint venture agreement.
- Represented numerous employees and employers in wrongful termination cases based on breach of employment contracts, as well as several sexual harassments and all types of discrimination based on race, sex, and disabilities including a case representing guards at a privately run, state prison alleging termination for not adhering to religious beliefs and practices instituted at the prison by owner. Represented CEO of hospital district resulting in recall of board members and reinstatement of client.
- Acted as confidential mediator in workouts of dissolution of law firm practices.
- Defended majority shareholder against shareholder derivative lawsuit seeking dissolution of corporation. Case voluntarily dismissed upon presentation of evidence rebutting claims of alleged mismanagement and breach of fiduciary duties.
- Represented numerous real estate developers and parties to joint ventures and limited liability companies involving internal disputes over alleged mismanagement of development and violations of breach of fiduciary duties.
- Defended nationally known lawyer against attempt to remove from high end country club for making allegations during HOA election of mismanagement and misconduct by developer who controlled the club. State court action resulted in reinstatement and payment of attorney’s fees.
PUBLICATIONS
- “There is More to Arbitration Than Just Arbitrating,” California Lawyer, May 2000
TEACHING AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- “Commercial Arbitration Agreements: Their Use and Misuse” Desert Bar Association, Real Estate, Business & Bankruptcy Section, November 12, 2018, Indian Wells, California.
- “Superior Deposition Strategies in California Civil Trial Practice” National Business Institute, November 8, 2002, San Bernardino, California.
EDUCATION
- University of Southern California (J.D., 1974)
- California State Polytechnic College (Pomona) (B.A., with honors, 1971)
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
- Admitted to bar, 1974
- California and U.S. District Court
- Northern District of California
- Southern District of California
- Central District of California.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
- Desert Bar Association (Member, Board of Directors, 1981-1985; President, 1986-1987
- Chairman, Civil Courts/Litigation Section 1983-1985; Fee Arbitration Panel, 1983 – present)
- Riverside County Bar Association (Member, Superior Court Settlement Panel, 1981 – present) American Bar Association
- State Bar of California
- The Association of Trial Lawyers of America – Concentrations: Labor and Employment Litigation; Class Actions; Business Law; Fraud; Business Tort; Antitrust; Real Estate; Construction Defect Litigation; Estate, and Trust Conservatorship Litigation.
- Consumer Attorneys of California (present)
