Youlin Wang v. Forensic Professional Group USA, Inc.

I. BACKGROUND

23 Through an authorized agent, Petitioner retained Defendant Derek Longstaff to provide 24 legal services in connection with a tax refund that Petitioner sought for two property sales in 2017 25 and 2018. Id. at 6. Longstaff then allegedly entered into a scheme with Defendants Richard Kahn 26 1 and Forensic Professionals Group USA (collectively, “Kahn Respondents”) to defraud Petitioner through use of an illegal tax deferral vehicle. Id. at 5–6. Kahn Respondents also allegedly entered into an agreement with Longstaff that provided the Kahn Respondents with a contingent fee interest in Petitioner’s tax refunds. Id. at 7. This was accomplished through an allegedly fraudulent power of attorney authorizing Longstaff to act on Petitioner’s behalf. Id. at 8. Kahn Respondents also allegedly increased their contingency fees by inflating Petitioner’s tax refund. Id. On November 6, 2019, Longstaff was terminated as counsel for Petitioner. Id. at 9. In late 2019, Longstaff and the Kahn Respondents had a dispute related to their agreement and the amount Petitioner owed the Kahn…