William Cumming
Top rated Business Litigation attorney in Costa Mesa, California
Cumming & Associates, APLC
Practice Areas: Business Litigation, Business & Corporate, Estate Planning & Probate; view more
Licensed in California since: 1999
Education: Loyola Law School Los Angeles
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2023 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2006 - 2007 Call today:
714-432-6494
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Free Consultation Cumming & Associates, APLC
3080 Bristol StSuite 630
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Visit website
Details
Attorney William R. Cumming founded Cumming & Associates, APLC, to offer businesses and individuals in California with representation and advocacy backed by more than two decades of experience. With the goal of providing high-quality, client-focused service, Bill handles litigation disputes in a variety of areas, corporate transactional matters, real estate, estate planning, and bankruptcy.Â
After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, Bill spent some time in Japan teaching English. He returned to the U.S. and earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 1998.
Bill is admitted to practice in all state courts, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
Bill frequently shares his knowledge of real estate, litigation, and bankruptcy matters to professional organizations. He has also served as an adjunct law professor at Trinity Law School. He is a member of several bar associations, including the Orange County Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Orange County Bar Association, and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. He has his real estate broker's license, and he has also obtained his pilot’s license.
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Practice areas
Business Litigation, Business/Corporate, Estate Planning & ProbateFocus areas
Business Organizations, Contracts, Estate Planning, Living Wills, Partnership, Power of Attorney, Probate & Estate Administration, Trade Secret
- 40% Business Litigation
- 30% Business/Corporate
- 30% Estate Planning & Probate
First Admitted: 1999, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.cummingandassociateslaw.com/william-r-cumming/
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Overseas Missionary Fellowship, English Trainer
- Adjunct Law Professor, Trinity Law School
Educational Background:
- The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), B.A. in Economics and Political Science, 1994
Verdicts/Settlements:
- Represented an employer who hired two people as independent contractors. A lawsuit was filed alleging misclassification of their employment status, PAGA violations, and other various employment claims. The parties reached a confidential settlement before trial, 2020
- I represented two defendants in an alleged securities litigation case and the potential exposure was seven figures. We filed two demurrers that were granted. After much negotiation for over two years, we were able to settle the case for what we offered two years earlier. , 2023
- Settlement I represented defendant Sunny Wong in a litigation case entitled Yiu Tung So v. Sunny Wong, et al. filed in the Orange County Superior Court. The dispute related to and arose out of a partnership dispute. After extensive negotiations, the case was settled for a confidential amount. , 2021
- Settlement I represented Mission Viejo Ornamental Iron, Inc. in a federal copyright infringement lawsuit filed in the United States District Court Central District of California and entitled Parasoleil, LLC v. Coastal Cuttings, LLC, et al. After discovery and motion practice, Mission Viejo Ornamental Iron, Inc. settled for a confidential amount. , 2021
- Settlement I represented Adam Bright who was a defendant in a breach of contract case filed in the Orange County Superior Court involving a dispute relating to a breach of promissory note for approximately $70,000. After extensive negotiations, the parties reached a settlement without the time and expense of litigation. , 2021
- Verdict We represented MFC Lending, LLC in a complaint against Westbrook Pacific & Associates and Brandon Demps relating to the breach of a promissory note and fraud-related claims relating to the promissory note. After presenting evidence at trial, the court awarded MFC Lending, LLC approximately one million relating to the breach of the promissory note and upheld the fraud claims., 2021
- Verdict I represented a plaintiff named Afshin Shahintabe in a lawsuit against Brad Gorman filed in the Orange County Superior Court. The lawsuit related to Mr. Gorman improperly taking $545,000 from Mr. Shahintabe relating to EB-5 visa program. After presenting evidence at trial, the court entered a default judgment against Mr. Gorman and in favor of Mr. Shahintabe for approximately $800,000. Their was also a finding of fraud. , 2021
- Settlement I represented a company called Hand Air Express, LLC as a defendant in a lawsuit. A lawsuit alleged Hand Air Express, LLC owed a staffing company that provided employees to Hand Air Express, LLC approximately $300,000. The parties litigated the dispute and over a period of time, the general consensus was that plaintiff's claims had little to no merit. The parties settled for a nominal amount. , 2022
- Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment Prevailed on a motion to set aside an entry of default and default judgment against a defendant in which the judgment totaled $3.4 million that was based upon claims of conversion and fraud.  , 2022
- Prevailed on a motion for summary judgment relating a dispute between the parties as to whether the money the defendants invested was considered a loan or investment and whether the repayment to the defendants was at a usuary interest rate. , 2022
- Represented the plaintiff real to a real property dispute relating to who was the correct owner. The parties settled shortly before trial for a confidential amount, 2018
- Bill Cumming was retained to represent a defendant in a lawsuit filed in the Orange County Superior Court relating to whether the defendant improperly obtained money from another business while he was employed by the plaintiff who was his prior employer. The plaintiff was demanding $200,000 in damages. A letter was sent to the plaintiff's counsel explaining the weakness of the case. The parties settled for a nominal amount and avoided the time and expense of litigation, 2020
- Represented an individual as a defendant who was sued for breach of contract relating to the purchase and sale of a business. The client was the defendant. We argued the contract at issue was not between the plaintiff and the individual defendant, but rather the plaintiff and the corporate defendant. We file a motion for summary judgment and it was granted it is entirety, 2019
- Bill Cumming was retained to represent the plaintiff in two separate lawsuits relating to a derivative action and a dissolution action. The two cases were consolidated. The case related to a business dispute between two parties and whether the defendant improperly started a new company to compete with an existing company the parties owned together. Shortly before trial, the parties reached a confidential settlement after a 15 hour mediation, 2018
- Bill Cumming was retained to represent defendant Juny Campos in a case entitled Aracelia Aguilar-Garcia v. Juny Camps filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Riverside. The case related to whether the plaintiff was entitled to have an ownership interest in a house located in Riverside County. After a 14 day bench trial, the court issued a defense verdict and awarded the defendant approximately $80,000 in attorney's fees and costs, 2018
- Bill Cumming represented plaintiff Cynthia Daniel in an adversary action filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court Central District of California entitled Cynthia Daniel v. Jose Del Valle, Adversary Case No. 6:10-ap-01361-MJ. After a 10-day bench trial, the court issued a memorandum of decision holding that defendant Jose Del Valle engaged in fraudulent conduct relating to a real estate Ponzi scheme, and a judgment was entered against Jose Del Valle for $1,136,321, 2017
Honors/Awards:
- I received a reward from Lawyer Monthly ADR Awards relating to my work as a litigation attorney. , Lawyer Monthly ADR Awards , Lawyer Monthly ADR Awards , 2023
- I was nominated and selected as a Super Lawyer. , Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2021
- I was nominated and selected as a Super Lawyer. , Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2022
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Volunteer in different capacities at church, which include playing music, kids's ministry, and AWANA., 2023
- I represented a retired pastor pro bono that was sued by a former church member that alleged the pastor owed her money. The pastor did not owe her any money. We filed a motion for summary judgment that was granted. The case was resolved in 2023 after five years of litigation. , 2023
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Pilot's License, 2023
- Real Estate Brokers License, 2023
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Frequent Lecturer at different organizations regarding real estate and bankruptcy issues, 2023
- Federal Bar Association, Orange County Chapter, 2023
- American Bar Association, 2023
- Orange County Bar Association, Member, 2023
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers, 2023
- Adjunct Law Professor, Trinity Law School, 2023
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 2023
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, 2023
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 2022
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, 2023
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2023
Transactions:
- Represented the seller of a private company in a stock sale transaction to a buyer that is a publicly traded company. I was responsible for drafting, reviewing, and revising the purchase agreement and related documents, the due diligence process, and other related issues. The transaction was for $1.6 million. , 2022
- Represented the seller of a private company in a stock sale transaction to a buyer that is a publicly traded company. I was responsible for drafting, reviewing, and revising the purchase agreement and related documents, the due diligence process, and other related issues. The transaction was for $3.2 million. , 2022
- Represented the seller of a private company in a stock sale transaction to a buyer that is a publicly traded company. I was responsible for drafting, reviewing, and revising the purchase agreement and related documents, the due diligence process, and other related issues.  The transaction was for $5.6 million. , 2022
- I represented the buyer in selling real property in Menifee, California. I was responsible for due diligence, preparing and revising the purchase agreement documents, and other related issues. The real property sold for $11 million. , 2023
- Represented the seller in the sale of a limousine business for $4 million dollars, 2020
- Represented several clients in the creation of corporations and limited liability companies, 2020
- Represented the buyer in a purchase of a manufacturing company for $125,000, 2020
- Represent the seller in a pending sale of his insurance business for $2.8 million, 2020
- Represented two partners in a joint venture agreement to purchase three assisted living companies and real properties that operated each company, 2019
- Represented several clients in the creation of corporations and limited liability companies, 2019
- Represented the seller in a sale of a limousine business and the purchase price was $7.5 million, 2018
- Represented several clients in the creation of corporations and limited liability companies, 2018
Representative Clients:
- World Challenge, Inc. a nonprofit organization., 2023
- Represented several private companies in stock and asset sales in 2022 to a publicly traded buyer. I was responsible for drafting, reviewing, and revising the purchase agreement and related documents, the due diligence process, and other related issues. The transaction totaled around $11 million. , 2022
Industry Groups:
- Business Community
- Churches
- individuals needing estate plans
- Real Estate
Selections
3 Years Super Lawyers
2 Years Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2023
- Rising Stars: 2006 - 2007
