Client:  Khourie & Crew, Attorneys-at-Law

Gruen Gruen + Associates (GG+A) provided economic, market and financial analysis in support of litigation prepared by Khourie & Crew representing Ernest W. Hahn, Inc. v. Codding Enterprises, 615 F.2d 830 (9th Cir. 1980, rec’g 423 F.Supp. 913 (N.D. Cal. 1976); 501 F.Supp. 155 (N.D. Cal. 1980); 1982-1 Trade Cases (CCH) ¶64,535 (N.D. Cal. 1981). Codding, the owner of the regional shopping center, had taken a variety of actions including the support of some 17 lawsuits to stop the development of a new regional shopping center in downtown Santa Rosa (CA) by Hahn. It was alleged that as a result of Codding’s actions the development of the downtown center had been delayed from 1976 to 1982. Plaintiff Hahn alleged that the actions of Codding were in violation of antitrust laws and sought damages for the delay.

A variety of complex economic issues were critical elements of this antitrust litigation. GG+A worked with Khourie & Crew over a two-year period to provide support and prepare evidence. GG+A’s principal efforts were in the preparation of damage estimates and identification of the relevant product and geographic markets. GG+A found the relevant market to be the leasing of rental space in regional shopping centers within the Sonoma County area. The Court granted summary judgment on the relevant market issues.

GG+A had estimated the damages to Hahn to be $24,000,000. After the beginning of the trial the parties agreed upon a settlement of $24,000,000.