Specialties

A nationwide specialist consulting and expert witness company (established 1973) that concentrates exclusively in Banking, Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Financial Services, Economics / Statistics and Accounting and related Damages.

MCS Litigation Practice – CV

Areas of Expertise include:
BANKING: Operations/Administration, Depository/Checking Accounts, Regulatory issues, Compliance; LENDING (all categories - including Residential, Commercial, Construction, Corporate, Personal, etc.), Underwriting, Credit/Administration, Servicing, Policies/practice; FINANCE: Securities, Investments & Brokerage, Trusts & Fiduciaries, Bankruptcy, Foreclosures and Workouts, Investment Banking, Corporate Finance; REAL ESTATE: Lending, Brokerage, Title/Escrow, Property Management, Development; INSURANCE (all categories): Coverage, Claims, Broker/Agent functions, Industry Custom/Practice, Policy Underwriting; Operations and Actuarial; DAMAGES & ACCOUNTING, Economics, Statistics, Valuations/Appraisals, Forensic Accounting & Accounting/Audit.

Degrees/Licenses

MBAs; PhDs; CPAs; ASA/MAIs; CPMs; CREs; CFPs; RE Brokers/Agents; Insurance brokers/agents; CPCUs; CLUs; ARMs and many more.

Prior Expert

Expert Witness and Litigation Consulting have been the primary focus of the company’s services for the past 30+ years, built on the expertise, resources and reputation of four decades as a leading provider of financial, operations, management and compliance consulting and expert services in our areas of specialization.

With 500 highly qualified and experienced experts/consultants providing evaluation, testimony and litigation consulting on behalf of both plaintiff and defendants of all types, our clients include leading national and regional law firms, many smaller/boutique litigation firms and attorneys, numerous governmental / regulatory agencies (FDIC, SEC, IRS, US and State DOJs, FHLB, etc.), financial institutions, and a wide-range nationwide of corporations and private individuals.

We also provide TARGETED SEARCHES AT NO COST for unique, hard-to-find/unusually specialized experts not already within our wide-ranging group; STRATEGIC ALLIANCES NATIONWIDE across the banking, financial, real estate and insurance industries; LEADING EXPERTS from the worlds of economics, accounting, academia and the regulatory agencies; POWERFUL CAPABILITIES IN DAMAGES, Forensic Accounting. Economic Analysis, and Valuations / Appraisals.

Specialties

Currently active as a day-to-day hands-on, licensed practitioner, consultant and expert witness for all types of real estate (residential, commercial, office, retail, hospitality, medical/dental, self-storage, etc.), including all aspects (except valuation) - standards of care, best practices, industry standards, and custom and practice standards for the ownership, management, operations, and maintenance, including property management/ownership, transactions and fiduciary duty issues – health & safety, habitability, roaches, bed bugs, mold, water intrusion, personal injury, trip & fall, slip & fall, premises liability, balcony collapse, wrongful death, lack of security, failure to maintain, property inspection, due diligence, wage/hour, negligent hiring/supervision, security deposit issues, rent stabilization ordinances (RSO), broker or agent failure to disclose; misrepresentation; negligence/fraud & association board duties, and real estate receivership.

Degrees/Licenses

Counselor of Real Estate (CRE) since 1997; Certified Property Manager (CPM) since 1986; Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) since 2004; Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) since 2002; Certified Community Association Manager (CCAM) since 2003; Real Property Administrator (RPA) since 2018; Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) since 1999; Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) since 1988.

Formal Education

BS-Business Economics/Real Estate Finance, 1981; MBA-International Finance/ Real Estate Finance, 1986; MSBA-Real Estate Development, 1988. All degrees obtained at the Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California - Los Angeles.

Registration and Licenses

CA Real Estate Broker (1984-Present); NV Real Estate Broker (2002-Present); NV Property Management Certificate (2002-Present).

Previous/Current Position

City of San Diego Planning Commission (2005-2013) IREM National Instructor (1988-Present); Vice President, San Diego Receiver’s Forum; President, Escape for All Seasons Association (2014-2023); Secretary (1997-2001).

Honors/Awards

IREM Academy of Authors 1st Place (and only award presented), best Television Broadcast journalism, NBC News, National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE), 49th Annual National Real Estate Journalism competition. 1st Place, best Radio Broadcast journalism, Clear Channel Communications, National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) 48th Annual National Real Estate Journalism competition, host of “Real Estate Today! with Robert Griswold”. CPM Professional Achievement Award (only the 6th active recipient in CA). AMO Firm of the Year (San Diego 1998).

Prof. Affiliations

Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) -CPM® and ARM®; American Society of Real Estate Counselors® (CRE®); Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA®; San Diego County Commercial Association of Realtors® (SDCCAR); San Diego County Apartment Association (SDCAA); California Apartment Association (CAA); National Apartment Association (NAA); Community Associations Institute (CAI)-PCAM®; California Association of Community Managers (CACM) - CCAM® and Management Firm Council; San Diego Association of Realtors® (SDAR); California Association of Realtors® (CAR).

Publications

Author of Property Management Kit for Dummies; Co-author of Real Estate Investing for Dummies; Co-author of Landlord's Legal Kit for Dummies. Co-Author of Mortgage Management for Dummies. Several of these books have been translated (Mandarin, Russian, French, German) as well as adapted for the international market in Canada, Great Britain, and Australia.

Prior Expert

40+ years experience; consultation: 4,000+ litigation matters; deposition: 700+ Sworn testimony in trial or arbitration: 200+ occasions in state and federal matters throughout the US (California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Alaska, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, N. Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and other states). Plaintiff 50%, Defense 50%. Consultant/Expert witness on all aspects of real estate.

Specialties

Real estate attorney (50+ years) and California Real Estate Broker (40+ years). Expertise includes interpretation of real estate documents, real estate and mortgage brokers’ standard of care, custom & usage, mortgage banking, lawyer malpractice in real estate and business transactions, legal ethics and fee disputes.

Degrees/Licenses

AB; JD; Real estate broker (CA).

Formal Education

Juris Doctorate, U.C.L.A. Law School, 1967; A.B. (Political Science), U.C.L.A., 1964.

Registration and Licenses

Certificate in Archaeology (earned with distinction), U.C.L.A. Extension, 2009; Community College Instructor, (Ca.) in the area of Law, Notary (1973).

Previous/Current Position

Lawrence H. Jacobson was installed as the 2011-2012 President of the Beverly Hills Bar Association. Has served as a judge pro tem for the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills Municipal Court Systems; has been an adjunct professor of law in the area of real estate secured transactions and administrative law; former Vice-President, Legal Affairs of the California Association of Realtors; Legal Counsel to the Newport Beach Association of Realtors and prior counsel to the Beverly Hills and Palm Springs Regional Associations of Realtors, and special counsel to the San Fernando Valley Board of Realtors.

Honors/Awards

Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated since 1980; Senior Editor, U.C.L.A. Law Review; Insurance Counsel Journal Award; Order of the Coif; Recipient of the California Continuing Education of the Bar’s 2011 “Spirit of CEB” Award.

Prof. Affiliations

State Bar of California; American Bar Association; Former Trustee, Los Angeles County Bar Association; President, Association of Real Estate Attorneys, 1978-1979; California State Bar Real Estate Steering Committee, 2011- present; Past President, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee 2014-2018, California State Bar, Los Angeles County Bar and Beverly Hills Bar Association Fee Arbitration Panels.

Publications

He is a published author and frequent speaker on real estate. Among others: "The California Lottery Law," 48 California State Bar Journal 58, 1973; "Broker’s Liability for Sale of Defective Homes," cited by the Appellate Court in Easton v. Strassburger, 52 Los Angeles Bar Journal 346, 1977; "Appraiser’s Liability for False or Negligently Prepared Appraisal," 12 Appraisal and Mortgage Underwriting Journal 20, 1990; "Phantom Income - Understanding Taxable Gain From Foreclosure," Los Angeles Daily Journal, Real Property Law August 3, 1995; "The Expert Witness in Real Estate Litigation: A User’s Guide," Real Property Law Reporter March 2004; "Tenancy-in-Common: An Old Dog Learns New Tricks," 25 California Real Property Journal 25, 2007; "On Wearing Two Hats: Ethical Considerations for the Attorney-Expert Witness," California Civil Litigation Reporter, February 2007; Contributing Author, "California Real Estate Brokers: Law and Litigation" (Cal CEB 2009).

Prior Expert

Lawrence H. Jacobson is a highly respected expert witness throughout California. Mr. Jacobson has been an expert witness for over 40 years while maintaining a successful law practice. Extensive expertise in legal malpractice, ethics, real estate brokerage custom and practice and all real estate related issues. Has been retained in approximately 200 cases as an expert witness in cases involving the interpretation of real estate documents, real estate and mortgage brokers’ standard of care, legal malpractice involving real estate, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, legal ethics and legal fee disputes.

Specialties

Eric provides real estate appraisals of: shopping centers and all types of retail; apartments; condominium complexes; suburban or downtown office buildings; mixed-use facilities; industrial properties; hotels; waterfront properties; right-of-ways; easements; ground leases; subdivisions; resort properties; golf courses; airports; wineries and vineyards; and all types of land. He has completed many assignments needed for: landlord-tenant disputes, changes in market conditions, construction defects, fraud, and fair market rent determinations, for use in mediation, arbitration, appraisement and litigation.

Degrees/Licenses

MAI, ASA, SRA.

Formal Education

BS, Business Administration 1992 (Real Estate and Urban Land Economics), University of Wisconsin, Madison; BS, Business Administration 1992 (Risk Management & Insurance), University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has successfully completed over 70 real estate appraisal and brokerage courses since 1993.

Registration and Licenses

Certified General Real Estate Appraiser, State of California #025802, Licensed California Real Estate Broker #01231982, Certified General Real Estate Appraiser (Hawaii) #624.

Previous/Current Position

President and Founder of Advanced Appraisal International, Inc. Eric was formerly the lead real estate appraiser for American Appraisal, the world’s largest independent valuation firm, in their San Francisco office. He has over 25 years of commercial and residential real estate appraisal and consulting experience. Expert witness on over 100 cases.

Honors/Awards

Litigation Professional Development certificate from the Appraisal Institute. California Association of Realtors. National Association of Realtors. Approved Instructor with the Appraisal Institute.

Prof. Affiliations

American Society of Appraisers, Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA), Appraisal Institute, Designated Member (MAI), Senior Residential Appraiser (SRA), Appraisal Institute.

Prior Expert

Eric has provided expert witness testimony in the following California State Superior Courts: Alameda, Contra Costa, Orange County, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, and Yuba. He has been hired as an expert on over 100 cases. Large cases in recent years include: Millennium Tower, PGE Forest Fires, BART.

Specialties

Expert in Real Estate and Property Management issues including Residential, Commercial, and mixed-use properties. Experienced in organizational assessments, asset repositioning, investment feasibility, litigation support (personal injuries, standard of care, premises liability security, partnership, brokerage and fee disputes, employment, rent control, etc.), due diligence, business development practices and marketing.

Formal Education

BS, Business, with emphasis in Real Estate, University of Colorado.

Registration and Licenses

Licensed California Real Estate Broker; Graduate Foundations of Leadership Program from the Center For Creative Leadership.

Previous/Current Position

Principal, S.D. Epcar & Associates; Principal/Founding Partner, Ventana Property Services; President, Prometheus Management Group. Background also includes positions of increasing responsibility with a variety of real estate brokerage, development, and investment firms.

Honors/Awards

Awarded Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management.

Prof. Affiliations

Institute of Real Estate Management; Forensic Expert Witness Association; National Multi-Housing Council (past Board Member); California Housing Council (past Board Member); Building Owners and Managers Association; National Association of Realtors; California Apartment Association (Member, Property Management Policy Subcommittee); National Apartment Association; Housing Industry Foundation (past Board Member).

Prior Expert

Practicing real estate consultant with significant expert witness and litigation support experience (50% Plaintiff/50% Defendant). Background includes exposure to many markets throughout California, the United States and Canada. Experience includes 1031 Exchanges and Tenant-In-Common (TIC) investments. Comprehensive understanding of San Francisco Rent Control.

Specialties

Unique expertise derived from 35+ years as a real estate attorney and 25+ years as an active real estate broker. Areas of expertise include all aspects of real estate transactions, real estate contracts, seller and agent disclosure obligations, buyer due diligence, agency relationships, fiduciary duties, broker and attorney standards of care, and non-disclosure/fraud claims.

Degrees/Licenses

J.D.; Attorney (CA); RE Broker (CA).

Formal Education

J.D., cum laude, UC Hastings College of the Law, 1986; B.A., Reed College, 1980.

Registration and Licenses

California Licensed Attorney (1986) & Real Estate Broker (1988).

Previous/Current Position

Law Office of Howard L. Pearlman (2012-present). Real estate consulting and expert witness services; Attorney/Shareholder, Bartko Zankel Tarrant & Miller (1988-2012). 24 years litigating real estate, environmental, and construction disputes.

Honors/Awards

Martindale-Hubbell AV-Rated (Preeminent); Northern California "Super Lawyer" (2018-2022).

Prof. Affiliations

American Arbitration Association's National Roster of Arbitrators (2016-present); State Bar of California, Real Property Law Section; Bar Association of San Francisco; California Association of Realtors; Contra Costa Association of Realtors.

Publications

Author, "Residential Purchase and Sale Transactions," in CEB's CALIFORNIA REAL PROPERTY SALES TRANSACTIONS; Author, "Sale of Residence," in CEB's CALIFORNIA BASIC PRACTICE HANDBOOK; Author, "Hazardous Materials," in CEB's GROUND LEASE PRACTICE.

Specialties

Broker supervision & paperless transactions; 35 Years: Pre-litigation case evaluation; Consulting Expert/case preparation/Expert testimony; Standard of care/practices incl. agency relationships, fiduciary duty, due diligence, disclosure. Testified at 100+ depositions, 12 trials, 6 arbitrations. Real Estate Ethics course author/ instructor.

Degrees/Licenses

BS, MA, GRI, CA Real Estate Broker (DRE Lic.# 00819162), Community College Teaching Credential in real estate.