Damavandi

INTRODUCTION

In 2015 Oliver Damavandi and his brother-in-law, Jason Aryeh, went into business together to develop residential real estate, with Aryeh providing the capital, and Damavandi managing the projects. When Aryeh’s marriage to Damavandi’s twin sister Olivia fell apart four years later, so did the business relationship between the brothers-in-law. In 2021 Aryeh, claiming Damavandi engaged in gross misconduct, removed him as manager of the properties and stripped him of his equity interest. Aryeh hired Matthew George and his company, Cardinal-West Construction, as construction manager, and Michael J. Tisdale Construction as general contractor. Damavandi filed this action against Aryeh and others, including George, Cardinal-West, Tisdale, and Tisdale’s employee Zachary Beer, alleging they conspired with Aryeh to manufacture a pretext to deprive Damavandi of his equity interest in the projects. Damavandi asserted over 30 causes of action, 11 of which were against George, Cardinal-West, Beer, and Tisdale. The trial court sustained demurrers by George, Cardinal-West, Beer, and Tisdale without leave to amend and entered judgment in their favor. We conclude the trial court…