Go east, young man: The Insider sees Arizona as the next big battleground for construction-defect litigation. Kasdan, Simonds, Riley & Vaughan, a plaintiffs law firm in Irvine, is ramping up its two-year-old Phoenix office, where name partner Ken Kasdan also has a home. Meanwhile, Santa Ana lawyer William Ingalsbe says he is studying for the Arizona bar so he can defend builders there. The Insider recently reported on Ingalsbe’s successful defense of National Ready Mix in a $5 million suit brought by 19 Kasdan-represented homeowners in the Seasons and Expressions developments in Mission Viejo. It was a rare win for the building industry, which has paid out billions of dollars as a result of construction-defect suits. “One defense verdict does not a sea change make,” said Kasdan partner Vance Simonds, who added the verdict is being appealed …
Readers of last week’s item on African-Americans in OC who manage large work forces might have noticed we didn’t list UPS’ Rosemary Turner, a former Business Journal Women in Business Award winner. She oversaw 7,500 employees as vice president, Southern California District, which includes OC. The UPS lifer recently was transferred to a bigger territory in Philadelphia. Turner’s replacement: George Willis, who was transferred from UPS’ Charlotte operations. Like Turner, Willis is African-American …
The Insider notes that UCI’s record fund-raising results coincide with the connection a few months back of Anteater Road and Shady Canyon Drive, which created a direct link between the campus and some of OC’s best-heeled residents. “I drive it everyday!” beams UCI fund-raising chief Tom Mitchell …
Two and a half years after concluding its $50 million construction campaign, South Coast Repertory is planning to raise $15 million over five years to increase its endowment fund, currently at $26 million. Larry Higby succeeds Chris Anderson as SCR board prez …
For years, society mag Newport Beach (714) was run from Beverly Hills by Seth Baker, who also tends to Beverly Hills (213). But a few months ago his son Scott took over as 714’s publisher and moved with wife/Quiksilver model Veronica (nee Kay) Baker to Irvine’s Turtle Rock. A few weeks back they cemented their local ties by producing a native son,Chance Baker, born at Hoag Hospital …
The Hoff sighting: Yes, that was David Hasselhoff at Club Vegas in Costa Mesa last weekend …
UCI’s Fariborz Maseeh-funded Persian Studies department named its first key appointments: Nasrin Rahimieh, specializing in modern Iranian literature and cinema, is the center’s director and a professor. Hossein Omoumi, a traditional Persian music scholar (and accomplished player of the ney, the Persian reed flute, no less), is a professor. Maseeh sold a Massachusetts tech company to Corning in 2000 …
Bill Halford is chairing the real estate industry’s Good Scout Award luncheon honoring architect Carl McLarand Oct. 9 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Call (714) 546-4990, ext. 147.
