Attorney Alicia Khoo's Legal Cases

Trusts

Cryptocurrency Trust: The Overnight Millionaire

Jun 30, 2021

OUTCOME: Devising of Trust Instrument

Client presented that he had a large amount of cryptocurrency that he had acquired many years ago. With the current astronomical rates of cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, his protfolio had increased dramat ... ically. However, he did not want his family or friends to know, but he did want certain loved ones to be beneficiaries in the case of his death. I advised Client that he could devise a trust for the cryptocurrency and how that could be done.

Lawsuits and disputes

Estate Litigation: Fighting for Inheritance Rights

Jun 30, 2021

OUTCOME: Distribution of Estate Complete

Client was the beneficiary of her late parents' estate. Client presented that the Trustee was not performing their fiduciary duties and there was no way for Client to find out what the details of her i ... nheritance was. I drafted and sent out a Request for Accounting to the Trustee. Trustee hired an attorney and I advocated for my client, stating that there had been no transparency and how this had disadvantaged my client, including the legal obligations of the Trustee. Trustee stopped dragging their tail and started giving an accounting of the estate. All assets have now been settled and my client has received a six-figure distribution.

Immigration

Adjustment of Status: Green Card through Marriage

Jul 14, 2020

OUTCOME: Green Card Approved

Client presented a complicated case due to a previous abusive marriage in a different country and many other reasons I will not divulge here. I presented various strategies and advised regarding the po ... ssible outcomes. Client's Adjustment of Status was approved and she is now a permanent resident of the US, living with her new family.

Immigration

VAWA: Violence Against Women Act

May 30, 2020

OUTCOME: VAWA Approved by USCIS

Client presented unlawful presence in the US due to overstay of visa. Client was in tremendous distress when US Citizen spouse used her status as a means of abuse, threatening to have her deported if s ... he did not comply with his demands. Client suffered from PTSD from past abuse and prolonged violence. I advised that VAWA might be in her best interests. Due to a lot of shame, both personal and cultural, Client declined to share too many graphic details in her petition. USCIS issued an RFE stating that her case did not rise to the level of cruelty or harm suffered. I advised her that it was completely confidential and VAWA is in place to help people like her, who are disadvantaged due to either gender-based violence and/or domestic violence. She decided to trust and shared all of the details she had endured throughout the marriage. I worked on her VAWA case from start to finish and supported her throughout the process. USCIS approved the case. We adjusted her status and she is now a permanent resident of the US. I am glad for her because she was very fearful of returning to her home country due to the lack of women's rights and protection in that country.

Mediation

Home Renovation Contract Dispute: From Rage to Reconciliation

May 15, 2019

OUTCOME: Settlement to the Parties' Satisfaction

This case involved Plaintiffs: middle aged couple, the husband has suffered immune system illness before and was not fully well, as well as being very angry at Defendant. The case was brought to court. ... The defendant in question was their friend and a contractor for their home remodeling project. Defendant was paid in full and did not show up after a few times. This turned into a very contentious case where Plaintiffs now were enraged at Defendant. They felt cheated and deceived. As the mediator, I was able to pinpoint the underlying issues and work out a payment plan to the satisfaction of both parties. I employed active-listening, lack of judgment or shaming, and I made sure they knew I was working in both parties' favor. The case resolved with parties realizing each other's situations and I was able to bridge the gap in the misunderstandings, diffusing the hostility. Incidentally, this experience enabled them to heal their friendship with renewed compassion and kindness.

Mediation

The Doggy Slumber Party Contract Dispute

Apr 15, 2019

OUTCOME: Settlement to the parties' satisfaction

Defendant (D) is the owner of a popular dog sitting business that does boarding and "hotel" services for dogs. Plaintiff (P) hired Defendant to take care of P's dog for two weeks while P went abroad. D ... charged P around $6000. A deposit was put down and all payment was ultimately made. A month or so after P came back from overseas and retrieved P's dog, P found out from a friend Jane* had paid half the price that P had paid. P was infuriated and filed suit. The judge moved parties to court-mandated mediation and the court assigned me the case. During mediation, I started off with private caucuses. I was able to identify the true issues beneath the issues. The true issues were not about money, the true issue was that P did not like being taken advantage of. D explained that P's dog had plenty of health issues and needed extra round the clock care, therefore D had to charge more than usual. This was a highly emotionally-charged case where D felt traumatized and defamed by P. P also cross-claimed for defamation and emotional distress. It was helpful for her to speak to a neutral facilitator. Ultimately, the parties decided to let the case settle out of court with a caveat, to not have any more contact and not speak of this conflict again, whether online or in the community.

Mediation

Landlord-Tenant Dispute

Jan 10, 2019

OUTCOME: Out of Court Settlement. Case Dismissed.

In this litigation case, the landlord of an apartment building was suing a tenant for breach of contract and was demanding damages. I was the mediator on the case. Plaintiff Landlord was unwilling to b ... udge, Defendant Tenant was irate and upset, claiming constructive eviction due to lack of responsiveness from apartment management. Both parties were not represented by attorneys. I used conflict resolution techiques to make sure both sides felt heard and validated and ensured both parties could assess the different possible outcomes. When it became less emotional in intensity, there was more clarity of thought. When parties decide to collaborate and meet in the middle, they can save time and money by avoiding the prolonged litigation process.

Alicia Khoo's Legal Cases (7)

Cryptocurrency Trust: The Overnight Millionaire

Estate Litigation: Fighting for Inheritance Rights

Adjustment of Status: Green Card through Marriage

VAWA: Violence Against Women Act

Home Renovation Contract Dispute: From Rage to Reconciliation

The Doggy Slumber Party Contract Dispute

Landlord-Tenant Dispute