Wife awarded the equivalent of more than $18 million
Background
W had been married for twenty-two years. Her husband ran a logistics business in Los Angeles County that he built during the marriage. In early 2024 he filed for divorce. His property disclosure listed only 20% of the company, saying the other 80% had been "sold" years earlier to a cousin in China. W knew the cousin could never have paid for it, but she had no evidence. His attorney urged her to sign early and leave with one house.
Strategy
We did not rush to negotiate. In a divorce both spouses must fully disclose their property, and hiding assets carries a price. We demanded six years of company books, bank statements and shareholder records. He stalled, and in August the court ordered him to produce everything. A forensic accountant then traced the money across dozens of accounts, which took nearly a year. The result was clear: the cousin's "purchase" money had been sent out of the company's account and routed straight back, and after the transfer the dividends kept going into accounts the husband controlled.
At his deposition the husband first said he could not remember, then, shown the statements, claimed the cousin was only a nominee holder. We put the transfer records next to the disclosure he had signed under oath and gave both to the judge: he had concealed the 80% stake. After the deposition the court set trial for the following summer. A mediation in March went nowhere; he offered only a little more cash, and W declined.
Case Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| February 2024 | Husband filed for divorce, disclosing only 20% of the company; W retained Lingtu Law in April |
| August 2024 | After his delays, the court ordered him to produce all records |
| June 2025 | Forensic accounting report completed |
| September 2025 | Husband deposed; changed his story to say the cousin was a nominee holder |
| July 2026 | Trial; the judge found intentional concealment |
| September 2026 | Written judgment issued; husband paid with cash and commercial property |
Outcome
At trial in July 2026, the judge found the husband had intentionally concealed the shares and awarded W the entire hidden 80% stake. Together with the share she was already entitled to, she received the equivalent of more than $18 million. After the written judgment in September, the husband paid with cash and two commercial properties.