Finch Tetzlaff LLP
Experienced Business And Real Estate Dispute Attorneys In Los Angeles And Ventura Counties
Finch Tetzlaff LLP helps individuals and businesses protect their interests through all areas of civil litigation, including business litigation, real estate litigation, property management, and insurance defense. Partners Brent Finch and David Tetzlaff are experienced litigators, serving clients throughout California in defense of their litigated matters.
Contact Finch Tetzlaff LLP today if you need legal assistance with any of the following:
- Business Litigation
- Insurance Defense
- Real Estate Litigation
- Landlord-Tenant Matters
- Transportation Law
- Litigation & Appeals
Call 818-436-6411 today to arrange your initial consultation.
Attorney Brent Finch
Mr. Finch is a business, real estate and property dispute lawyer whose practice encompasses a wide range of legal matters, including general business contract and tort claims, fraud and non-disclosure cases between buyers and sellers and brokers and agents, landlord tenant disputes, interstate and intrastate moving and storage claims, employment disputes, unfair competition, and trade secret litigation. Mr. Finch represents national and local businesses and individuals across several industries.
Mr. Finch has substantial experience representing clients in federal and state courts throughout California and the Western United States and litigating all phases of a case. While Mr. Finch emphasizes pre-litigation counseling and settlement negotiations, he has successfully handled myriad cases through mediations, arbitrations, jury trials, bench trials, and appeals before the California Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Bar Admissions:
- California
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
Education:
- University of California, Davis School of Law, Davis, California
- J.D. - 1999
- UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- B.A. - 1996
- Honors: Cum Laude
- Major: Political Science
- Minor: Business and Administration
Professional Memberships and Achievements:
- Board of Trustees
- San Fernando Valley Bar Association
- Co-Chair of Business/Real Property and Litigation Sections
- Golden Key Honor Society
Attorney David Tetzlaff
Bar Admissions
- California
Education
- The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law (2005 – 2009)
- Doctor of Law (JD)
- University of California, Los Angeles, BA (1994 – 1996)
- Field Of Study: Political Science
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Co-founder, Finch Law, LLP
- Claims Litigation Management Professional (CLMP), 2012
Attorney Scott Bleifer
Bar Admissions:
- California, 1992
- Florida, 1994
Education:
- Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California
- J.D. - 1992
- California State University, Teaching Credential (Social Studies), Northridge, California
- 2006
- University of California, San Diego, California
- B.A. - 1989
- Major: Political Science
- Won jury verdict on fraud and rescission claims representing seller of beach front residence in Orange County involving mold and water intrusion issues. In this case, plaintiff buyer unsuccessfully sued defendant seller (client) for fraudulent concealment and intentional non-disclosure, negligent non-disclosure, statutory non-disclosure under Civil Code Section 1102, et seq., and breach of contract (California Association of Realtors Purchase Agreement and Joint Escrow Instructions).
- Recently won motion for summary adjudication and defeated motion for new trial for national relocation company on breach of contract claim (California Association of Realtors Purchase Agreement). Here, plaintiff buyers sued defendant former homeowners, defendant broker and agent, and defendant national relocation company seller (client) for fraudulent concealment and intentional non-disclosure, negligent non-disclosure, statutory non-disclosure under Civil Code Section 1102, et seq., and breach of contract for the alleged non-disclosure of errant golf balls on the subject property—a multi-million dollar residence abutting 300 yards of fairway on the Spanish Hills Country Club.
- Won summary judgment for international health, wellness, and fitness company in contract and unfair competition dispute over infomercial royalties. Plaintiff producer unsuccessfully sued defendant corporation (client) for unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business practices under Business & Professions Code Section 17200, et seq. and breach of contract—an infomercial production and royalty agreement that plaintiff himself prepared.
- Negotiated monetary recovery (from settlement after mediation) for individual defendant originally sued herself in employment contract dispute for former employee of insurance/benefits company. Specifically, after key employee (client) resigned, plaintiff employer responded in bad faith by suing her for the alleged unauthorized use of the company credit card. Employee client brought cross-complaint against employer to issue her a final pay check and to pay her earned but unpaid commissions and medical benefits for her and her dependent children.
- Recently won unlawful detainer trial for landlord regarding residential property in San Fernando Valley. Here, after securing the defendant tenant’s default, plaintiff landlord (client) obtained a judgment after trial for unpaid rent, possession of the premises, forfeiture of the lease, daily monetary damages up to the day of trial, and attorneys’ fees and costs, plus a subsequent Writ of Possession for the sheriff to enforce that judgment.
- Successfully moved Ex Parte for Order to Show Cause for Preliminary Injunction to specifically enforce residential lease for tenant. Plaintiff tenant (client) and defendant landlord executed a California Association of Realtors Lease establishing a one-year tenancy. About one week before the lease was to commence, landlord tried to renege on the agreement.
- Secured dismissals for $0 for defendant former homeowner sellers (clients) and defendant national relocation company seller (client), and defendant broker/agent (client) for plaintiff buyer in fraudulent concealment and non-disclosure case in San Bernardino County binding arbitration matter. Plaintiff buyer unsuccessfully alleged that defendants failed to disclose before the removal of contingencies and before the close of escrow that the roof of the subject property was repaired so as to be susceptible to leaking five years after the close of escrow.
- Prepared winning motion for non-suit and assisted in six week jury trial in wrongful foreclosure case for national mortgage company. Plaintiff former homeowner and plaintiff second deed of trust holder unsuccessfully sued defendant first deed of trust holder (client) for wrongfully foreclosing against former homeowner.
- Prepared winning appellate response brief in 9th Circuit appeal in case interpreting Carmack Amendment for national van line (client). White v. Mayflower Transit, LLC, 543 F.3d 581 (9thCir. (Cal.) 2008).
- Won summary judgment resulting in published decision for national van line (client) in United States District Court, Central District of California interstate commerce case. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Mayflower Transit, LLC, 616 F.Supp.2d 1003 (C.D. Cal. 2009). Due to the interstate nature of the subject shipment, the federal court correctly ruled that the matter was governed exclusively by the Carmack Amendment to the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. 14706. As such, the state law claims contained in Plaintiff’s Complaint were preempted as a matter of federal law.
Since 1997, the "Lead Counsel Verified" status has been granted to attorneys who possess:
- The Right Professional Experience
- A Spotless Record
The following attorneys at this firm are Lead Counsel Verified:
Brent M. Finch
This attorney practices in California and is Lead Counsel Verified in the following practice areas:
| Practice Area | Year |
|---|---|
| Litigation and Appeals | Since 2015 |