Real Estate

Clients who need assistance with real estate and contract matters.

• Renting & Leasing

• Broker & Transaction Litigation
• Buying & Selling
• Construction Contracts
• Construction Defects
• Homeowners' Associations
• Land Contracts
• Mechanics' Liens
• Renting & Leasing
• Title Litigation

CA, Dec 1987
Bar Number: 130727

All California State and Federal Courts; Ninth Circuit; Northern, Central and Southern District Courts

California Bar, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Orange County Bar Association, American Bar Association

Extensive continuing education in the area of Real Estate law.

A prolific writer, I have published numerous articles in legal and computer-related publications. I was the Editor in Chief of Law Office Technology Solutions and a Contributing Editor to Law Office Computing. My columns have been published in The Orange County Register and The Los Angeles Times. I was also a columnist for the Orange County Business Journal ("It's the Law"; 1991-1993), Editor in Chief of The Southwestern University Law Review (1986-1987), Reporter, El Independiente (Newspaper), and Editor-in-Chief, Periodista (Newspaper).

A small sampling of my published works includes:

"To Drug Test or Not To Drug Test -- An Employer's Dilemma" (Orange County Business Journal)

"'Junk Faxes' -- Protected Free Speech?" (Orange County Business Journal)

"Be A Manager, Go To Jail" (Orange County Business Journal)

"If I Can't Fire Him, Can I At Least Demote Him?" (Orange County Business Journal)

How to Pass the California Real Estate Exam (Watermark Publishing)

"Vendors of Real Estate: When Does Liability End?", 17 Southwestern University Law Review 1, 23-42

[February 15, 2003 -- Santa Ana] Our client loaned over $57,000 to a friend, and the friend then refused to repay the money. That would normally be a simple case to prove, but there were some major problems. First, the payments to the defendant had been made over a number of years, most of them in relatively small amounts, giving the impression that they might have been gifts (which is what the defendant was contending). Next, the agreement was entirely oral; there was nothing in writing to prove that the money was a loan. Finally, and most problematic, the breach of the agreement appeared to have occurred many years before, and the statute of limitations on an oral agreement is just two years.

The defendant was represented by Thomas M. Davis of Wilson, Borror, Dunn & Davis. He argued throughout the case that we would never be able to prove that the money was a loan, and contended that the case would be barred by the statute of limitations. That conviction died on the day of trial. After a pre-trial conference with the judge, during which Aaron Morris set forth how he would prove the case, the defendant agreed to a stipulated judgment in the full amount sought by our client -- $69,500. Judgment was entered in our client's favor without ever calling a witness.

[June 26 -- Santa Ana] Appeals can take two years, and there is no way to know just when the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court will render its opinion, so it is an exciting time when a long-awaited opinion is rendered, especially, of course, when that opinion is in the client's favor. You can imagine the excitement at The Morris Law Firm when three appellate decisions came in, back to back to back, all of them winners. The first involved an important contract law issue, and the second two arose from procedural issues. For icing on the cake, a fourth opinion was issued days later. In this last case we prevailed on seven of the nine issues raised on appeal. And while the plaintiff/appellant thus prevailed on the other two issues, he immediately dismissed the case, since the surviving causes of action did not provide for the recovery of damages (in other words, our clients won).

1

California

I founded The Morris Law Firm in 1991. I have extensive experience in virtually all phases of civil litigation in both California and Federal Courts, including numerous bench and jury trials, arbitrations, mediations, depositions, law and motion,
administrative hearings and petitions for injunctive relief.

Additionally, I have handled numerous appeals, arguing before both the Ninth Circuit and California appellate courts. The majority of my practice involves business litigation, employment law, first amendment law, privacy law, discrimination claims and defamation suits. I also have considerable experience with real estate disputes, construction defect litigation and bankruptcy matters.

Our firm is frequently asked to consult other law firms on litigation issues and techniques, as well as on the implementation of legal software.

Before joining the California Bar, I worked for two years as a Hearing Officer (Small Claims Judge) in Tucson, Arizona, conducting trials and entering judgments.

Additionally, I was formerly an Adjunct Professor at National University in Irvine, California, teaching litigation techniques.

I was also a police officer in Tucson, Arizona from 1976 to 1984.

I am an Adjunct Professor at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, California, teaching "Litigation Skills & Strategies," and I am a writer and lecturer on the subjects of law and law office efficiency and have been a featured speaker at such functions as the American Bar Association TechShow.

I have also appeared on the national television shows "Leeza" and "Frontline," and I am frequently asked to consult other law firms on litigation issues and techniques as well as on the implementation of legal software.

Deanna Killeen

(714) 242-2058

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Yes

None

Most cases are quoted on a fixed-price basis, along with the standard hourly rate, so the client has a choice.

$300

Yes.

Depends on the nature of the action.