Attorney Scott Edward Hennigh's Legal Cases

Construction and development

CDC San Francisco LLC v. Critchfield Mechanical

Mar 08, 2023

OUTCOME: Favorable Jury Verdict

Lead trial attorney in a six week jury trial representing a partnership entity of a well-known international company in a dispute over a complex future construction project. The issues concerned the s ... cope of the defendant’s duties and the proper means, methods, and sequence to perform those duties without disrupting an ongoing business. The evidence involved highly complicated metallurgy, chemistry, and engineering. Scott assembled and led a motivated, focused, and efficient HLC trial team against a horde of nearly two dozen defense counsel. The trial presentation simplified complicated facts and demonstrated evidence in a way the jury could understand. The jury returned a favorable eight-figure verdict adopting all of the client’s positions concerning duties and damages.

Construction and development

The Pointe Assets v. Viracon

Feb 28, 2022

OUTCOME: Favorable Arbitration Award

Lead trial attorney in a three week fraudulent concealment case against an international contractor. Scott devised an evidence presentation strategy to immediately seize control over adverse witnesses ... and prove the bulk of the case through statutory cross-examination. Over five days of cross-examination, Scott surgically extracted twenty years of historical details about a complex chemical engineering research, development and testing process that allowed the finders of fact to see into the corporate state of mind. Scott then dismantled on cross-examination a world-renown key defense expert witness employed by a major international science and engineering firm. The case resulted in a favorable judgment of over $20 million including punitive damages.

Real estate

Commercial Lease Dispute

N/A

OUTCOME: Favorable settlement during trial

Lead trial attorney in defense of a major medical clinic in a state court jury trial. The case concerned a dispute over mixed issues of real estate obligations and construction defect liability, in whi ... ch the plaintiff sought on the day of trial a judgment well into seven figures plus interest, costs, and attorney’s fees. At trial Mr. Hennigh devised and executed a strategy that leveraged the plaintiff’s own motions in limine to obtain key evidentiary rulings, and in the oral argument on those motions he previewed for the plaintiff’s decision maker a case theme that would rely on evidence exposing questionable billing practices. As the jury was being empanelled, the plaintiff dismissed with prejudice its entire case and another one it filed on the eve of trial in exchange for an agreement to release the plaintiff from liability for malicious prosecution.

Land use and zoning

Land Use Litigation

N/A

OUTCOME: Favorable Settlement

Lead trial attorney in International Church of the Foursquare Gospel v. City of San Leandro, a land use litigation involving the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The chur ... ch hired Mr. Hennigh to try the case after the Ninth Circuit reversed an adverse summary judgment. Mr. Hennigh developed an aggressive strategy to quickly press the case to trial despite numerous obstacles. The approach produced a multi-million dollar pre-trial settlement in favor of the client.

Construction and development

CDC San Francisco v. Webcor

N/A

OUTCOME: Favorable settlement during trial

Lead trial attorney in $90,000,000 five week jury trial for prominent San Francisco luxury hotel. The five defendants included a top ENR contractor, and two major national manufacturers. The matter con ... cerned construction of the curtainwall system and property damage caused by a defective grey polyisobutylene window sealant. Scott devised and executed a strategy to defeat aggressive pretrial defenses, and led a team of attorneys into trial, against defendants represented at times by more than 13 defense trial attorneys. After presenting opening statements and witnesses, defeating vigorous opposition to admission of evidence under novel case theories, and resting plaintiff's case, the defense pressed half-way through their case. With the matter on the verge of submission to the jury, the defendants settled in a manner the self-described "pleased" client called "excellent". The court granted the defense request to seal the settlement terms.

Scott Edward Hennigh's Legal Cases (5)

CDC San Francisco LLC v. Critchfield Mechanical

The Pointe Assets v. Viracon

Commercial Lease Dispute

Land Use Litigation

CDC San Francisco v. Webcor