Airis Holdings LLC, Airis SFO LLC, Duane Morris LLP v. City and County of San Francisco

Houston-based developer Airis Holdings LLC sued San Francisco International Airport after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors exercised its option not to proceed with a $250 million air cargo project at the Airport. The developer brought on a major international law firm to press claims for lost profits, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, promissory estoppel and unjust enrichment. The developer sought $40 million and was motivated to take the case to trial.

Facing numerous legal and factual theories, Mr. Newdorf mapped out a legal strategy to eliminate the developer’s claims one by one. Working with top officials of the Airport and the City, David Newdorf headed a litigation and trial team of two other lawyers and two paralegals. Client executives were closely involved at every stage of litigation and trial. After two years of hard-fought discovery, pre-trial motions, trial and post-trial motions, San Francisco prevailed against the developer on all of its claims. Mr. Newdorf is now working with the City to recover its costs and fees of the litigation from plaintiffs. The Court awarded the City $3.4 million in fees and costs against Airis and their attorneys at Duane Morris LLP.

Aaron Peskin, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said: “David Newdorf's tireless advocacy made the difference and saved taxpayers millions of dollars.”