In 2001, Mr. Alardin, along with his company Remote Monitoring Technologies, entered into a partnership with Dallas businessman Gregg Hoss and his company, Hoss Equipment Company, to perfect the technology and further develop and market wireless video surveillance trailer systems. In March of 2005, as the technology was being perfected and as the market became poised for growth, Mr. Hoss barred Mr. Alardin from the premises of the partnership. Hoss Equipment Company continued developing and marketing the wireless video surveillance trailer systems and subsequently generated approximately $2.0 million dollars in revenue. Mr. Hoss denied the existence of any legal partnership with Mr. Alardin and took the position that his relationship with Mr. Alardin was, at best, a marketing partnership and, as a result, he was fully within his rights to do what he did.

In January 2006, Mr. Hoss and Hoss Equipment Co., by and through their attorney Jack Balderson of Thompson & Knight, brought this lawsuit against Mr. Alardin seeking, among other things, repayment of the money put into the wireless video surveillance systems prior to the lock-out. Mr. Hoss claimed such money had not been capital contributions to a legal partnership but instead loans to Mr. Alardin and his company that had never been repaid.

Mr. Alardin approached Heygood, Orr, Reyes, Pearson & Bartolomei to defend him against the allegations brought against him and pursue counterclaims against Gregg Hoss, including breach of fiduciary duty. The case was tried in Dallas County before Judge Jim Jordan and, after a week and half trial and two days of deliberation, the jury returned its verdict and found that Mr. Hoss had, in fact, breached his fiduciary duty to Mr. Alardin. The jury awarded Mr. Alardin $3.0 million dollars in compensation.

Michael Heygood, Partner of HORP&B, was the lead trial attorney for Tony Alardin, and was assisted at trial by Ryan Browne. Mr. Heygood commented, “At the end of the day, as is often the case, the jury was able to understand what was really going on.” According to Mr. Heygood, “Even though there was no written partnership agreement, the jury recognized the partnership between Mr. Hoss and Mr. Alardin and agreed that Mr. Hoss failed to treat Mr. Alardin fairly or justly.”

About Heygood, Orr, Reyes, Pearson & Bartolomei

The Law Offices of Heygood, Orr, Reyes, Pearson & Bartolomei is a Texas civil litigation firm representing business and individuals in matters involving personal injury, business litigation, dangerous prescription drugs, product defect and wrongful death lawsuits and more. More information on the firm is available at www.reyeslaw.com.