Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
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Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In May 2003, First National Mortgage Company filed a complaint against us in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleged that a one page document entitled “Final Proposal,” which included language that it was subject to approval of formal documentation, constituted a ground lease of a parcel of property located adjacent to our Santana Row property and gave First National Mortgage Company the option to require that we acquire the property at a price determined in accordance with a formula included in the “Final Proposal.” A trial as to liability only was held in June 2006 and a jury rendered a verdict against us. A trial on the issue of damages was held in April 2008; however, the judge has not yet issued a ruling. Reports from our experts and the plaintiff’s experts show potential damages ranging from $600,000 to $24 million. Pending the judge’s ruling, we cannot make a reasonable estimate of potential damages. We will evaluate whether to appeal the jury verdict after the judge issues his ruling on damages taking into account a variety of factors including the amount of damages awarded. If we choose not to appeal or we appeal and are not successful in overturning the jury verdict, we will be liable for damages. Depending on the amount of damages awarded, it is possible, there could be a material adverse impact on our net income in the period in which it becomes both probable that we will have to pay the damages and such damages can be reasonably estimated. In any event, management does not believe this matter will have a material impact on our financial position.
We are also involved in a litigation matter relating to a shopping center in New Jersey where a former tenant has alleged that we and our management agent acted improperly by failing to disclose a condemnation action at the property that was pending when the lease was signed. A trial as to liability only was concluded in April 2007, and in May 2008, a judgment was entered that ruled in our favor on certain legal issues and against us on other legal issues. In December 2008, we reached a settlement with the plaintiff of those matters where the court ruled against us and determined that we are liable. The total settlement was $2.3 million of which we paid $1.15 million and the third party management agent paid $1.15 million. We are currently in the process of settling the amount of the portion of the plaintiff’s legal fees which we are required to pay; we expect the amount to be approximately $1.0 million of which we will pay 50% and the third party management agent will pay 50%. Our share of the total estimated settlement of $1.6 million is included in “general and administrative expense” in the statement of operations.
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