Attorney Michele Marie Charbonneau's Legal Cases

Divorce and separation

Wife Wins Share of Home

Jul 15, 2014

OUTCOME: Wife Wins Share of Home

An Orange County Family Law judge agreed with Wife’s claim that she was tricked into signing a deed (inter spousal grant deed) in connection with Husband’s purchase of his house (all with his separate ... property funds). The case was handled by Michele M. Charbonneau and Gregory G. Brown. Wife claimed that husband breached his fiduciary duties to her. As a result, wife was awarded 1/2 of the family residence which otherwise would have been Husband’s separate property.

Sexual harassment

Church Molestation Case Settled

Mar 10, 2013

OUTCOME: Confidential 7 Figure Settlement

Michele M. Charbonneau obtained a confidential, seven-figure settlement in a case against a church and its senior pastor for the rape of a minor female parishioner, Jane Doe, by the church’s music mi ... nister. The victim was raped on April 25, 2011. In filing suit, Jane Doe alleged sexual battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress against the perpetrator. Jane Doe alleged negligence; negligent failure to warn, train, or educate the plaintiff; negligence supervision; negligent hiring and retention; breach of fiduciary duty; fraud; and infliction of emotional distress against the defendant church and defendant senior pastor, according to the complaint filed in Riverside County Superior Court, case number RIC1112278.

Divorce and separation

Divorce Trial in Favor of Client

Jan 15, 2010

OUTCOME: Favorable to Client

In a divorce trial that spanned twelve days, the court ruled in favor of B&C’s client. The case involved a multi-million dollar marital estate. After dozens of unsubstantiated claims by wife that hus ... band was spending community money, hiding money, running personal charges through his business, the court found all of wife’s claims were without merit. The court awarded support in the amount sought by B&C’s client. During the case, wife inappropriately increased the costs of litigation in the case by sending the CPA’s on wild goose chases, to the tune of $250,000 in CPA fees. In the court’s Judgment, wife was assessed ALL of the CPA fees.

Child abuse

Child Abuse & Molestation

Mar 15, 2009

OUTCOME: 7 Figures - Confidential

Brown & Charbonneau, LLP represented a minor child client, who was sexually abused as a minor by a pastor of his church. Suit alleged, among other things, sexual battery, breach of fiduciary duty and ... negligence in the hiring, supervision and training of pastors, ministers and other employees. The matter settled with minor player, Ward, for $300,000 a month before trial was set to begin. Once trial began, the target defendants both settled with Plaintiff by paying many multiples of the other settlement, the terms of which are confidential.

Divorce and separation

Trial Over Oral Prenuptial Agreement

Jun 15, 2008

OUTCOME: Settlement during trial

Irvine family law attorney Michele M. Charbonneau handled this 5 day complex dissolution of marriage bench trial which involved numerous complex legal issues, including: 1) The enforceability of an ora ... l prenuptial agreement and 2) the enforceability of a grant deed from sole title to joint title during marriage. The issue regarding the oral prenuptial agreement was a novel and difficult issue involving several family law statutes and the common law statute of frauds. The case ultimately settled during trial.

Divorce and separation

Husband Keeps Assets - Trial/Appeal Victory

May 24, 2004

OUTCOME: Husband keeps 6 figures in assets

After a litigation, trial and an appeal, the Court ruled in favor of B&C’s client that he was entitled to keep his half of the marriage assets. The Court of Appeal ruling was a published opinion and h ... as been cited in many family law practice guides since then. The case was also featured on the cover page of the Los Angeles Daily Journal. In an all or nothing case, wife claimed that husband had agreed in writing to transfer his share of all marital assets to her.

Michele Marie Charbonneau's Legal Cases (6)

Wife Wins Share of Home

Church Molestation Case Settled

Divorce Trial in Favor of Client

Child Abuse & Molestation

Trial Over Oral Prenuptial Agreement

Husband Keeps Assets - Trial/Appeal Victory