August 23, 2016
Jeffrey F. Ryan Nominated As Finalist In Prestigious CAOC Awards
Leading Bay Area Lawyer Cited for Performance in $75M Whistleblower Case
Redwood City, CA, Tuesday, August 23, 2016: The Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) today announced that Jeffrey F. Ryan is nominated as a finalist in the 2016 CAOC Awards in the Consumer Attorney of the Year category. Ryan's nomination stems from his work to recover money for taxpayers deceived by corporate fraud.
Lawyer Jeffrey F. Ryan, led a team of lawyers, including Niall P. McCarthy and Justin T. Berger, who represented Dane Smith, a former vice president for a worldwide technology company VMware, in a whistleblower case. Smith came to Ryan and alleged that VMware over charged the federal government for goods and services in excess of what it charged its corporate clients. He was later fired and feared for his life.
Ryan and his team of attorneys worked on the case for nearly five years. The federal government joined the whistleblower case after four years based on the strength of the evidence Ryan's team gathered. In 2015, VMware agreed to, and paid, $75M in damages to the US government, effectively returning taxpayers money. Mr. Ryan and his team earned nearly 20% qui tam award for their client. In February 2016, Ryan moved to binding arbitration to secure the damages awarded for Smith.
"The amount of courage it took for my client to come forward was incalculable; he did so at the risk of his professional and personal reputation," states Jeff Ryan."I share this award with my courageous client and the incredible efforts of Niall McCarthy, Justin Berger and others who worked tirelessly to see justice prevail. Now the fight continues as we seek damages for Dane for the retaliation he suffered from his employer for reporting the fraud"
The winners will be revealed at CAO's Annual Installation and Awards Dinner Nov. 12, to be held in conjunction with CAOC's 55th Annual Convention at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey F. Ryan is an association of attorneys licensed to practice law before all of the courts in the State of California, with a focus on business litigation in the areas of employment law, business disputes, trade secret and intellectual property law, and insurance bad faith cases. The firm also handles the negotiation of severance packages for executives. The Law Office of Jeffrey F. Ryan acts in the best interests of its clients, the law, and the courts at all times..
February 3, 2016
Following Whistleblower Case, Jeffrey F. Ryan Moves to Arbitration to Secure Damages for Client
After favorable settlement, Bay Area litigator seeks to make client whole in case involving fraudulent sales practices against the U.S. government by a technology firm
Redwood City, CA, February 3, 2016: With the conclusion of a Silicon Valley whistleblower case resulting in a $75.5M settlement in favor of the U.S. government, the Law Offices of Jeffrey F. Ryan is now moving to have their client made whole and receive damages for wrongful termination. Mr. Ryan and his team earned nearly 20% qui tam award for their client.
Initially tipped off by the client, an employee of a large Silicon Valley technology firm who revealed ongoing fraudulent sales practices by the company against the U.S. government, Jeff Ryan and his team filed a qui tam lawsuit eventually leading to the settlement. With the settlement in place, Mr. Ryan is now seeking his client be compensated for wrongful termination and damages.
"The amount of courage it took for my client to come forward was incalculable; he did so at the risk of his professional and personal reputation," states Jeff Ryan. "We hope his courage and our victory for the taxpayers of America shows others that they to can come forward and seek justice without retaliation. The False Claims Act is there to provide whistleblowers with that path to justice."
During the American Civil War, dishonest government contractors sold the Union moth-eaten blankets and reportedly boasted that, "You can sell anything to the government, at almost any price you've got the guts to ask." Crates that were supposed to contain muskets instead came filled with sawdust. Decrepit horses were sold to the cavalry. The soles of soldiers' shoes were nothing but glued-together wood chips, and their uniforms were made of shoddy materials that fell apart in the first rain. These outrages prompted President Lincoln to push for the first federal whistleblower statute: the False Claims Act, which later became known as "Lincoln's Law."
Ryan and his team cited the current version of the False Claims Act in their complaint and marshalled evidence to prove violations of it spanning five years by a Silicon Valley giant.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey F. Ryan is an association of attorneys licensed to practice law before all of the courts in the State of California, with a focus on business litigation in the areas of employment law, business disputes, trade secret and intellectual property law, and insurance bad faith cases. The firm also handles the negotiation of severance packages for executives. The Law Office of Jeffrey F. Ryan acts in the best interests of its clients, the law, and the courts at all times.
January 28, 2016
Jeffrey F. Ryan Wins Interlocutory Judgment in Corporate Action
Bay Area litigator untangles complex case to reinstate rightful ownership of a local business
Redwood City, CA, January 28, 2016: In 2014, the Law Offices of Jeffrey F. Ryan successfully represented a prominent San Jose businessman in a complex litigation to resolve a dispute over the rightful ownership of who controlled majority shares of the K&L Supply Company. The dispute arose from a decades-long corporate and personal relationship between the plaintiff and his former spouse in which the rightful ownership became convoluted.
Despite evidence to the contrary, the defendant, (acting as corporate secretary and shareholder of K&L Supply Company) refused to recognize the plaintiff (president and shareholder of the company) as the rightful majority shareholder, thus removing his control over the future of the company he had built since 1969. In a later effort, the defendant tried to remove the plaintiff from the company.
Even though the defendant claimed the plaintiff did not receive shares and that the company did not have a Minute and Stock Book, evidence discovered and presented by Jeffrey F. Ryan and his team refuted her claims. Mr. Ryan's investigation revealed the existence of documents supporting share ownership, including corporate filings stating the plaintiff was appointed president and shareholder, along with evidence of a Minute and Stock Book.
"Jeff has been nothing short of a savior for me. He substituted in as my attorney in a recent corporate action ten days before the case was set for trial. And despite almost insurmountable obstacles, he prevailed in establishing me as the majority owner of the company," stated the plaintiff.
Further, Mr. Ryan provided evidence that the plaintiff was the guiding force of the company, leading it through two facility upgrades and the establishment of an R&D operation in China. Today, K&L Supply Co. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of specialty tools, shop equipment, and hard parts for the franchises and independent dealers in the United States and internationally.
Jeffrey F. Ryan recently arranged and led a team of attorneys in a whistleblower case the resulted in a $75.5M settlement in favor of the firm's client. Over the past seven years, Mr. Ryan has settled over ten cases with settlements in excess of seven figures.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey F. Ryan is an association of attorneys licensed to practice law before all of the courts in the State of California, with a focus on business litigation in the areas of employment law, business disputes, trade secret and intellectual property law, and insurance bad faith cases. The firm also handles the negotiation of severance packages for executives. The Law Office of Jeffrey F. Ryan acts in the best interests of its clients, the law, and the courts at all times.
January 27, 2016
Jeffrey F. Ryan Appointed Lead Counsel in
Involuntary Dissolution Case
San Francisco Bay Area litigator seeks punitive damages and more on
behalf of plaintiff
Redwood City, CA, January 27, 2016: In December 2015, Stephanie Stevens appointed The Law Offices of Jeffrey R. Ryan as lead counsel in a lawsuit against Sycle Inc. Stevens, a cofounder and minority shareholder in Sycle, alleges the CEO and directors of the company conspired to manipulate the affairs of the business to personally injure her, force her to sell her stock at significantly lower values, and wrongfully deprive her of the true value of her stock and property rights.
The alleged issues arose when Stevens filed for divorce from Ridge Sampson, CEO of Sycle, in 2010. Mr. Sampson then refused to provide Stevens with financial and operational information of the business, and denied her statutory rights of shareholder inspection.
Despite continued global growth in the audiology performance management software industry,and Sycle’s strong growth from 2006 to 2010, its revenues inexplicably slowed after Stevens filed for divorce. Until the filing for divorce, the company had never suffered a loss in revenues. Financial records revealed a single line item that accounts for the losses in 2011 and 2012: the payment of excessive Outside Services and Contract Labor.
Stevens seeks damages and punitive damages for breach of fiduciary duties to minority shareholders, damages for negligence and negligent representation, and other related complaints that include the removal of the CEO and directors, with the appointment of interim directors. Damages are currently assessed at $500,000, but are accumulating.
Jeffrey F. Ryan has settled many complex litigation cases involving corporations and individuals.Recently he led a team of attorneys in a landmark whistleblower case resulting in a $75.5M settlement and has settled ten cases for 7 figures over the past ten years.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey F. Ryan is an association of attorneys licensed to practice law before all of the courts in the state of California, with a focus on business litigation in the areas of employment law, business disputes, trade secret and intellectual property law, and insurance bad faith cases. The firm also handles the negotiation of severance packages for executives. The Law Office of Jeffrey F. Ryan acts in the best interests of its clients, the law and the courts at all times.
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