Plotting Your Course In Real Estate Law

Matthew E. Coleman

Matt Coleman has been practicing in Santa Clara County since 1996.  During his career he has handled all manner of real estate, business, and trust litigation, including jury trials, bench trials, binding arbitrations, mediations, and appellate work.  Mr. Coleman has represented individual homeowners; contractors; closely-held corporations and LLCs; corporate shareholders and managers; and both landlords and tenants. 

Mr. Coleman’s practice includes real estate litigation such as construction defects and contractor disputes; breach of contract and disclosure issues; homeowners’ association disputes and CC&R enforcement; boundary disputes; and landlord/tenant disputes.  His business litigation experience includes a broad range of contract disputes; indemnity claims; alter-ego defense; and trade secret misappropriation claims.  He has also represented homeowners before local city planning commissions and assisted with zoning and code enforcement issues.

A sample of Mr. Coleman’s recent cases includes:

1. • Successful jury verdict in favor of trust beneficiaries in a lawsuit arising out of a land sale;
   

2. • Successful defense summary judgment in favor of homeowners against a homeowners association that sought more than $200,000.00 in penalties for alleged CC&R violations;
   

3. • Bench trial on behalf of prominent local real estate development company on a claim for breach of an insurance contract that resulted in a six-figure payment to the client;
   

4. • Successful negotiation on behalf of a corporate client that reduced a state tax lien assessment from $5 million to less than $50,000.00;
   

5. • Successful negotiation of a residential construction defect and personal injury lawsuit that resulted in a seven-figure payment for the homeowner client; and
   

6. • Successful appeal of an adverse ruling against client purchasers of residential real estate, resulting in a six-figure settlement paid to his clients.
   

Mr. Coleman has practiced in both federal and state court, including Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Alameda and San Francisco counties.  Mr. Coleman also currently volunteers as a certified Settlement Temporary Judge for Santa Clara County Superior Court.