Wong

Derivi Construction & Architecture, Inc. v. Wong

Good Law
118 Cal. App. 4th 1268·14 Cal. Rptr. 3d 329·2004 Cal. App. LEXIS 791·2004 Daily Journal DAR 6214·2004 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 4493
Court of Appeal of CaliforniaMay 24, 2004No. C044508California2,989 words

Opinion

lead Opinion

Morrison, J.

Derivi Construction & Architecture, Inc., Linda Derivi, and Steve Castellanos (collectively DCA) appeal from denial of their motion to disqualify attorney Peter Whipple and his law firm on the basis that Whipple is married to an attorney at another law firm that had previously been disqualified in this lawsuit. DCA contends the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion by failing to consider circumstantial evidence and by following unpersuasive dicta in DCH Health Services Corp. v. Waite (2002) 95 Cal.App.4th 829 [ 115 Cal.Rptr.2d 847 ], DCA’s theory of disqualification goes beyond precedent in two regards. First, it bases the disqualification solely on a marital relationship and, second, it requires double imputation of confidential knowledge for vicarious disqualification. We decline to adopt this expanded theory of disqualification and affirm the judgment.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

DCA was hired by Phillip Wong to design and build a restaurant. DCA brought suit against Phillip Wong, his wife Wendy Kurihara Wong and related *1271 entities (collectively the Wongs) for breach of contract and foreclosure of mechanic’s lien to recover the value of…

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