Group files counter charges vs. lawyers

A group of individuals previously sued for allegedly shifting Junior Larry Hillbloom assets to the Cook Islands has filed a counterclaim against its former plaintiffs, seeking for less than $75,000 in damages.

Republic of Palau residents Marciano Imeong, Naoko Imeong, and California-based Keith A. Waibel, trustee for the JHL Trust lodged a civil suit against lawyers Myron A. Farber, John Francis Perkins and Bruce L. Jorgensen.

The plaintiffs through counsel David A. Mair allege that the defendants conspired to accuse them of breach of contract, beach of warranties of authority and quantum meruit without probable cause or legal grounds to support the claims.

The complaining party was formerly sued for alleged failure to pay Mr. Farber for his part in helping to prove and settle the claims of pretermitted heir Junior Larry Hillbloom as to the Hillbloom estate and work performed settlement.

According to court documents, the defendants previously alleged that the JLH Trust fraudulently shifted assets to the Cook Islands in an effort to hinder, derail or defraud creditors of Hillbloom from reaching the assets.

In the suit, the off-island-based attorneys also claimed that the plaintiffs breached express and/or implied warranties of authority to Mr. Farber as to their authority to enter into an agreement on behalf of Junior Larry Hillbloom and the JLH Trust.

The plaintiffs assert that the allegations and statements made by the defendants based on the civil action where wholly false and untrue at the time the lawyers commenced the suit and filed the complaint.

Court records reveal that last August 24, 2000, the defendants filed an amendment to the original complaint for damages, citing the same allegations.

In the amended complaint, the lawyers reportedly restated and realleged that the plaintiffs were liable to the defendants for breach of contract, breach of warranties for authority and quantum meruit for failure to pay Mr. Farber an amount allegedly amounting to $600,000, qualified as a bonus fee that JLH Trust fraudulently shifted assets to the Cook Islands.

In the same complaint, the defendants again reportedly cited that the plaintiffs did so in an effort to hinder, delay or defraud creditors of Hillbloom from reaching his assets.

But in November of 2000, one of the defendants voluntarily moved to the US District Court to dismiss the action against the plaintiffs with prejudice.

The federal court granted the motion on November 13, 2000.

In light of the allegations set forth, the plaintiffs are then seeking for damages for the ordeal they allegedly suffered due to defendant’s action.

Aside from less than $75,000 in compensatory damages, the plaintiffs are also praying to be awarded such and other relief the court deems proper.