Scott B. Mahler

Scott Mahler is an experienced litigator and trial attorney whose practice focuses on business litigation and real estate litigation. He has successfully represented clients at jury and bench trials, as well as binding arbitration. He also handles appellate matters, including successfully petitioning the California Supreme Court for review. Mr. Mahler frequently represents title insurance companies, title and escrow companies, lenders, and creative professionals. Mr. Mahler has litigated hundreds of matters regarding a variety of issues, including business disputes, real estate disputes, lender issues, title insurance coverage, escrow liability, insurance bad faith, and real estate appraiser issues.

Mr. Mahler is a frequent speaker and panelist for various professional organizations. In the past, he has served as a guest lecturer for the Los Angeles County Bar Association, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, California Land Title Association, California Escrow Association chapters, Escrow Institute of California, and the Appraisal Institute.

Honors & Recognitions

• UCLA Alumni Scholarship, Recipient
• Loyola Law School, American Jurisprudence Award in Negotiations, Recipient
• Loyola Law School, First Honors Award in Negotiations, Recipient

• Webcor Construction, LP v. Lendlease (US) Construction, Inc. et. al, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 19STCV03357: Represented a major title insurer as trial counsel in successfully establishing the validity and priority of the construction lender’s deed of trust, over the general contractor’s asserted priority of lien claims of over $215 million in connection with the downtown Los Angeles real estate project commonly known as the “Graffiti Towers.” In addition, successfully obtained a decision that the general contractor breached a subordination agreement, including a determination that title insurer was entitled to its attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses as a result of the general contractor’s breach.
• Young Men’s Christian Association of the Foothills v. Schieffelin, et. al, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 18STCV04019: Obtained unanimous jury verdict defending a homeowner in connection with a prescriptive easement action.
• Lucerne Valley, LLC v. Sunrise Financial, LLC, et. al, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC591739: Obtained judgment in two phase trial (including successful motion for judgment in the trial’s second phase), representing purchaser in a quiet title action in connection with the sale of a multi-million dollar home in Westwood, California.
• Willemsen v. Mitrosilis (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 622: Obtained summary judgment, affirmed in a published opinion, on behalf of real estate appraiser, with the Court of Appeal holding the purchaser of commercial property was not a third-party beneficiary of contract between lender and appraiser and thus lacked any breach of contract cause of action against appraiser based on failure of appraisal to identity earthquake fault lines and future road.

Practice Areas