Under normal circumstances, no one would choose to be involved in a legal conflict that has to be decided by the courts. However, situations arise all the time that require court involvement.

Business partnerships sour. Marriages end. Property owners fail to take care of homes, apartments, and retail buildings. Businesses go bankrupt. Municipalities need to address blighted and abandoned properties in their communities. 

The optimal outcome is to find the fairest resolution to a conflict, whether it’s between business partners, a divorcing couple, a municipality and a property owner, or any other combination of stakeholders.

The receivership remedy is one powerful tool that the California courts have at their disposal. 

When a conflict involves a business or piece of real estate, a court-appointed receiver can step in to do any of the following and more:

• Assume control of day-to-day operations
• Oversee inspections, renovations, and remediation
• Investigate and access a judgment debtor’s available assets
• Distribute assets according to the court’s instructions
• List and sell properties 
• Collect rent 

If you are in a situation where a court is prepared to appoint a receiver to resolve the conflicts of your case, you may have the option of proposing and recommending a receiver for the court’s consideration. 

If you are comparing court-appointed receivers, here are 3 pieces of advice about choosing the best one! 

1. Choose someone with expert-level knowledge of California law.

Court-appointed receivers in California are not required to be attorneys, and not all receivers have the same level of expertise in the California legal system. 

When reviewing your options, look for someone who knows the legal system inside and out. The more they know about the courts and how the receivership remedy can be used in your particular case, the more confident you can be that everything will be done correctly and expediently.

One way to assess a receiver’s knowledge and expertise is to ask them a question about your case or a case like it. 

2. Check for experience with your specific kind of court case.

Receivers can play many different roles. A health and safety receiver will be responsible for a very different list of tasks than a rents and profits receiver, for example. 

How much experience does each potential receiver have with navigating the complexities of your kind of case? 

A court-appointed receiver brand new to the work may not have the knowledge and experience necessary to effectively carry out the court’s orders.

Also, ask to see information about cases that the receiver has successfully resolved for the courts in the past. Case studies, testimonials, and even news reports can go a long way toward showing experience. 

3. Evaluate potential receivers for professionalism.

How professional is each candidate? 

Do they model professionalism in their written and spoken conversations? Do they respond promptly to any questions you have? Do they maintain a sense of professionalism while interacting with the public and stakeholders in the case?

You may not be able to see them in action before they start the work, but you can look at how they communicate in online spaces, over email, and over the phone. 

Griswold Law–A Court-Appointed Receiver with Expertise, Experience, and Professionalism

Richardson “Red” Griswold and his team have been appointed as court-appointed receivers countless times across the state of California. 

The professionalism, experience, and expertise of Griswold Law can be seen in their work history. 

Reach out today to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.