Jury Awards $10 Billion in Family Partnership Dispute

Breach of Contract / Business Litigation

Jogani, et al. v. Haresh, et al. (Los Angeles Super Ct No. BC290533): In one of Los Angeles County’s longest-running and most hard-fought business disputes, Jogani v. Haresh arose from allegations of an unwritten partnership involving a vast Southern California real estate portfolio. Plaintiff, Dr. Arjun Jogani, claimed that he and his brother, Defendant Haresh Jogani, orally agreed to jointly acquire and manage income-producing apartment complexes worth billions of dollars. Dr. Jogani alleged that, after years of joint efforts, Haresh wrongfully excluded him from ownership and profits once the portfolio’s value skyrocketed.

Haresh Jogani denied any partnership existed, asserting that all properties were purchased through his own entities and funds. He argued that the alleged oral agreement was unenforceable under the statute of frauds and that his brother’s claims were an opportunistic attempt to seize control of assets he never owned.

After more than two decades of litigation, multiple appeals, and a 20-week trial, a Los Angeles County jury returned a staggering $10 billion verdict in favor of Dr. Jogani. The award included compensatory damages for breach of partnership, breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment—one of the largest civil verdicts ever rendered in California. Plaintiffs were represented by Friedman LLP. Defendants were represented by Ecoff, Campain & Kay LLP; Ross LLP and Larson LLP.