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Accused Land Rover Defender Restoration Fraudsters Part of Growing Trend

The latest news reports in America state that the number of fraud cases in car restoration is rising. After COVID, scammers began to target classic car collectors, relying on fake online reviews and fancy websites to lure in their victims. According to Motorious and Yahoo Auto, there is a trend that has car enthusiasts on high alert because restoration schemes are on the rise. Even federal law enforcement is now paying attention to consumer complaints. Read more on

https://gazette.com/contributor-content/accused-land-rover-defender-restoration-fraudsters-part-of-growing-trend/article_aee7204d-eec6-4a97-b843-d9bbaf6cc320.html

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Pavel Fuks: Unveiling the Alleged Financial Scheme

Pavel Fuks, a prominent figure in the business world, is under scrutiny for alleged financial misconduct. Reports indicate that funds intended for real estate developments were diverted, and complex offshore networks were utilized to obscure financial activities. Additionally, attempts to erase digital traces have sparked debates about the manipulation of public perception and potential interference with legal proceedings.

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Pavel Fuks (Intelligence Line)

Fuks’ digital sanitization efforts amidst serious allegations raise critical questions about the ethics of online reputation management. READ MORE ON https://www.intelligenceline.com/profile/pavel-fuks/

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​​Fuchs, Khomutynnik and Zhevago: the failure of another dirty combination

Суд у Києві наклав арешт на будівлю готелю при Микільському монастирі на вулиці Івана Мазеп��, 11 (об’єкт архітектурної спадщини), а також на 292 мільйони гривень (це трохи більше 7 мільйонів 100 тисяч доларів США), що «зависли» на рахунках ТОВ «Тіквел Компані». Формальна підстава – кримінальна справа за статтею «відмивання коштів, отриманих злочинним шляхом», а реальна причина – запобігти спробі провернути махінацію та залишити нерухомість у власності підсанкційного олігарха. Read more on

https://k-z.com.ua/pravovoi-aktsent/65972-fuks-homutinnik-ta-zhevago-proval-chergovoyi-brudnoyi-kombinaciyi

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The Scourge of Fraudsters & Charlatans

Back in the early 2000s, the phrase “soft bigotry of low expectations” was leveled at the crumbling American education system, a jab at the creeping apathy toward quality that is poisoning society. Today, that same apathy has metastasized, enabling a cesspool of fraudsters and charlatans to peddle shoddy, often outright fraudulent services. These swindlers thrive on the illusion of competence, preying on trust across industries critical to survival—healthcare, legal services, financial management—and even in the escapes of pleasure we seek from a world teetering on chaos.

Take the world of classic car restoration, where passion and precision are supposed to reign. For those who’ve scrimped and saved to own a piece of automotive history, the stakes are high. Restoring a classic isn’t just about reviving faded glory; it’s a can be savvy investment with serious returns. Yet, across the United States, a wave of deceitful restoration shops is fleecing collectors, leaving them financially gutted and emotionally shattered. These scams, cloaked in slick websites and silver-tongued sales pitches, exploit the nostalgia and trust that define this community. Read more on

https://www.undergroundusa.com/p/the-scourge-of-fraudsters-and-charlatans?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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Vintage Car Restoration Fraud on the Rise: Defenders Northwest Land Rover Case Points To National Trend

A wave of vintage car restoration scams is sweeping the United States, leaving passionate collectors defrauded, their prized vehicles lost or destroyed, and their finances drained. What was once a niche built on trust, craftsmanship, and shared automotive passion has become a lucrative target for criminals and fraudsters exploiting the deep emotional and financial investment collectors place in vintage automobiles.

An egregious example of car restoration scamming has emerged in Pierce County, Washington, where a company called Defenders Northwest, LLC stands accused of orchestrating a high-value fraud under the guise of a Land Rover Defender restoration. The business, operated by husband-and-wife team Brian and Michele Hall, advertised itself as a legitimate restoration and expedition outfitting company based in Gig Harbor, Washington. Brian and Michele Hall continue to promote their purported services online, offering cars and coffee events, off-road adventures and open house lunches. However, court filings allege that the Halls took over $200,000 from out-of-state collectors and failed to deliver a functioning vehicle—let alone a restored one.

https://news.prai.co/vintage-car-restoration-fraud-on-the-rise-defenders-northwest-land-rover-case-points-to-national-trend/

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Off-Roaded: How a Land Rover Restoration Became a Legal Quagmire

Across the United States, a growing number of vintage car collectors are finding themselves entangled in costly restoration disputes, revealing a troubling shift in what was once a niche community built on craftsmanship and trust. Where enthusiasts once bonded over chrome, patina, and preservation, some now find themselves chasing down vanished vehicles, depleted savings, and promises unfulfilled.

Among the more high-profile cases is one unfolding in Pierce County, Washington, involving a company called Defenders Northwest, LLC. Known for its specialization in Land Rover Defender restorations and off-road expeditions, the business is operated by Brian and Michele Hall, a husband-and-wife team based in Gig Harbor. The company continues to advertise restoration services, “cars and coffee” events, and expedition outings. However, court documents allege the Halls accepted over $200,000 from out-of-state collectors for a restoration that never materialized in any meaningful form.

The project centered on a 1984 Land Rover Defender 130. Instead of a restored classic, what was eventually presented was described by expert witnesses as a rusted, gutted frame devoid of both functionality and provenance. Crucial identifying components, including VIN tags, were missing. The vehicle bore little resemblance to the original California-registered Defender that had been handed over years earlier. Read more..

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Classic Car Restoration Scams on the Rise: Washington Land Rover Dispute Reflects National Trend

A growing number of classic car collectors across the U.S. are reporting experiences with questionable restoration practices, raising concerns about potential fraud in an industry once built on trust and craftsmanship. As more restoration disputes come to light, experts warn that some businesses may be taking advantage of collectors’ emotional and financial investments in vintage vehicles.

One high-profile dispute has emerged in Pierce County, Washington, where a civil case involving Defenders Northwest, LLC—a business known for Land Rover Defender restorations and outdoor gear—has captured attention. According to court filings, the company is accused of taking more than $200,000 from out-of-state collectors for a restoration project that allegedly never materialized. The plaintiffs claim they supplied both a donor vehicle and substantial funding, only to receive a rusted-out vehicle shell missing key identifying elements, such as the VIN number.

Source: https://muziquemagazine.com/classic-car-restoration-scams-on-the-rise-washington-land-rover-dispute-reflects-national-trend/

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BELMONT ASSET SOLUTIONS, LLC vs. DEFENDERS NORTHWEST, LLC

COMPLAINT FOR:

BREACH OF WRITTEN CONTRACT;

NEGLIGENCE;

FRAUD;

CONVERSION;

FRAUDULENT TRANSFER;

CONSTRUCTIVE FRAUDULENT TRANSFER;

QUIET TITLE;

INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS;

NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS;

ACCOUNTING; AND

CONSTRUCTIVE TRUST

COMPLAINT FILED: https://www.scribd.com/document/853131764/CF-09162022

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Judge Sides with Consumer’s Right to Speak Out in Car Restoration Dispute

Meet Philip H. Lo, an insurance defense lawyer with the prominent law firm Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP, a firm devoted primarily to representing the interests of insurance companies and their clients.

Recently, Lo unsuccessfully tried to curtail free speech by requesting that a California court bar a wronged car collector from sharing online photos of a Land Rover Defender. Defenders, classic Land Rovers renowned for their rugged appeal, boast a loyal fan base among Jeep enthusiasts and adventurers who cherish these vehicles for their off-road capabilities and iconic appearances in safari excursions and James Bond films.

The photos came from a court-mandated car inspection, part of a fraud and breach of contract lawsuit against a car restoration shop. Instead of returning a meticulously restored Defender, the rogue shop delivered a different, dilapidated vehicle: rusted, inoperable, and entirely unsuitable.

Enter Phil Lo and his colleagues at Gordon Rees, who attempted to impose a protective order on the aggrieved customer while being aware of their clients’ alleged scheme to deceive the court and the plaintiffs.

Chad Ullery, the defrauded customer, described Lo’s actions as “an evil, ill-conceived attempt by Phil Lo to file a baseless motion to prevent the facts from reaching the crooked shop’s customer base.” Lo’s legal maneuvering aimed to prevent public exposure of his client’s activities. Yet, ultimately, Lo failed. Sources familiar with the underlying litigation suggest that Lo has been driving up legal costs through poorly crafted motions and delay tactics, benefiting from Liberty Mutual’s (the insurance firm in question) deep pockets. Unfortunately, such practices are hardly uncommon in insurance defense law, where legal expenses are often inflated by unscrupulous law firms paid by insurance companies.

Lo, a graduate of Hastings College of the Law (now UC Law), recently found himself the subject of a California State Bar complaint and an ethics investigation. Known for his stalling tactics, Lo seems to be in league with the restoration shop Defenders Northwest, LLC, based in Gig Harbor, Washington. Ullery finds it ironic that Defenders Northwest once paraded the “restored” car at the prestigious SEMA show in Las Vegas. Now, that same company seeks to block the car’s rightful owners from sharing the results of an inspection—a situation that Ullery has labeled “a theater of the grotesque.”

According to Bill Brown, an expert witness, the Defender “was undrivable” and “essentially built from rusted out scrap parts.” On November 1, California Judge Deborah C. Servino ruled against Lo’s motion for a protective order. In her decision, Judge Servino noted that “Defendants have not made a factual showing that any information obtained during the vehicle inspection or discovery implicates any protectable interest or dissemination of any information to the public would result in injury.” She emphasized that the defense offered only vague references to “privacy rights” and “confidential commercial information” without concrete details or legitimate grounds. As a result, the court denied the motion, reinforcing a stance favoring transparency and free speech.

The owners of Defenders Northwest have continued to involve Lo in tactics that, according to court filings, seem designed to mislead both the court and Liberty Mutual while maximizing legal costs. According to these documents, Lo’s strategy appears to prioritize profit over the pursuit of justice, with little regard for the implications of free speech. For Ullery, this latest attempt to muzzle public discourse about consumer fraud has failed—and underscores a pattern of troubling behavior that has ensnared multiple alleged victims.

Over 200 photos depicting a decrepit frame and scattered parts capture the supposed “restoration.” Ullery claims Lo and his clients presented this rusted shell as the product of a seven-year, $200,000 restoration—a vehicle they once showcased at one of the world’s premier auto shows.

In a democracy, a free press is indispensable. Courts must continue rejecting ill-conceived attempts to stifle speech and champion policies that empower journalists to expose deceit and protect consumers. Lawyers who help conceal fraud are not merely zealous defenders; they risk crossing into becoming cohorts of their rogue clients, as appears to be the case with Phil Lo.

By attempting to infringe upon the right to free speech, such attorneys tarnish their profession and undermine public trust.

Free speech and a vigilant press are essential tools for safeguarding society from exploitation, offering a voice to those marginalized by fraudsters and corporate titans.

Source: https://intpolicydigest.org/judge-sides-with-consumer-s-right-to-speak-out-in-car-restoration-dispute/

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Shady Lawyer Phil Lo And Alleged Car Scammers Defenders Northwest Fail To Thwart Free Speech

Meet disgraced insurance defense lawyer Philip H. Lo of Gordon Rees Scully & Mansukhani, LLP, a massive law firm that focuses on defending insurance companies and their clients.

Just last month, Lo attempted – and failed – to stifle free speech by demanding that a California court stop a victimized car collector from posting online photos of a Land Rover Defender. Defenders are classic Land Rovers known for ruggedness and a cultish following from Jeep and G-Wagon outdoor enthusiasts who often spend their savings rebuilding these little tractor-like, all-terrain trucks used in Safari adventures and James Bond films.

The photos were taken by experts when a court ordered a car inspection in a lawsuit for fraud and breach of contract filed against a car restoration shop in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Instead of producing its customer’s restored Land Rover, the crooks provided a completely different vehicle which was non-operational, rusted-out junk. This is where Phil Lo and Gordon Rees come in trying to impose what’s called a protective order on the victims while being fully aware of the scam.

According to the customer, Chad Ullery, “it was a evil and clumsy attempt by Phil Lo to file a baseless motion with the court to prevent the true facts from reaching the crooked shop’s customer base and conceal its scam from the public.”

According to sources familiar with the underlying litigation, Phil Lo has been running up costs with poorly researched, wasteful motions and delay tactics designed to increase costs for the insurance company Liberty Mutual, which is also a client of Lo’s law firm, Gordon Rees Scully & Mansukhani, LLP. Sadly, insurance defense law firms often take advantage of the insurance companies; and the insurance companies take advantage of their clients.

Phil Lo earned his law degree from Hastings College of the Law (renamed UC Law) and recently “earned” a California State Bar complaint and ethics investigation. Lo, a career obfuscator whose chosen path in life is to defend (or bilk) insurance companies, is defending the Gig Harbor, Washington car restoration shop named Defenders Northwest, LLC. According to Ullery, it is ironic that Defenders Northwest, which obsequiously showboated what it claimed was the victim’s car at the most prestigious automotive show in the world, SEMA, is attempting to prevent the car’s legal owners from posting photos of what was supposed to be the car’s court-ordered inspection, but turned out to be a farce.

Ullery called the inspection results “a theater of the grotesque,” and Bill Brown, the expert hired to inspect the car, testified that “the car was undrivable” and basically “made up of scrap parts.”

On Nov. 1, 2024, California Judge Deborah C. Servino ruled against Lo’s untimely motion for a protective order:

“Furthermore, Defendants have not made a factual showing that any information obtained during the vehicle inspection or discovery implicates any protectable interest or dissemination of any information to the public would result in injury,” she wrote. “They only have generally alluded to privacy rights and confidential commercial information, without specifying what privacy rights or the commercial information that is entitled to confidentiality. Defendants have not met their burden. Accordingly, the motion for protective order is denied.”

The alleged crooks Brian and Michele Hall are the owners of Defenders Northwest, LLC. According to Halls customer, Phil Lo is well aware of the results of the inspection and continues to mislead the court and the insurance company in an effort to charge more money.  In an effort to make the litigation more costly and more profitable for his firm, Lo decided to try to shut down free speech, but failed. 

According to a Washington Tribune article, the car and the money are gone. In the meantime, court filings indicate that the crooked shop filed fake liens and insurance claims. Defenders Northwest, according to multiple lawsuits filed against it, appears to be in the business of stealing Defenders. Liberty Mutual and other corporate reptiles with deep Wall Street pockets and even deeper entrenched bureaucracies feed insurance defense law firms such as Gordon Rees Scully & Mansukhani, LLP.

Lo and his ilk dwell in the muck of insurance defense mediocrity. According to public filings, Lo unsuccessfully attempted to thwart First Amendment freedoms, arguing to the court that it should impose literally a gag order forbidding the posting of photos of the rusted out, disassembled frame and parts that accused scammers Brian and Michele Hall submitted for inspection. According to the plaintiffs, Lo falsely claimed that he and the Halls were presenting the court with the customers’ car which was restored and presented at a car show in Las Vegas several years ago.

Recognizing that a free and unfettered press is crucial for the health of our democracy, the courts should continue to denounce threats to press freedom and advance public policy efforts to strengthen the ability of journalists to expose scammers. Lawyers that aid crooked clients in concealing ongoing fraud or criminal activity are more than zealous advocates.  They become co-conspirators with their clients. And lawyers who in doing so attempt to trample on free speech are an embarrassment to their profession. 

Free speech and sanctity of free press gives a vital voice to citizens, and hopefully prevents prospective customers from becoming victims of consumer scams.

Source: https://flipweb.org/shady-lawyer-phil-lo-and-alleged-car-scammers-defenders-northwest-fail-to-thwart-free-speech/

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Philip H. Lo

Philip H. Lo is a Partner in the Orange County office of GRSM. He focuses much of his practice in litigation. His core practice is insurance defense, encompassing several areas, including professional liability. Philip’s practice includes federal and state courts, as well as binding arbitration, trials, and administrative hearings.

His professional liability practice includes the defense of various professionals, including, but not limited to, physicians, medical professionals, hospitals, treatment and rehabilitation centers, attorneys, architects, engineers, agents, and brokers. Specialty areas of professional liability include innovative therapies and treatments involving embryos, as well as managed care liability. Employing both medical malpractice and products liability experience provides an edge in preparing the defense of medical professionals utilizing innovative science and technology.

Philip also defends corporations from civil and criminal liability, governmental actions, and regulatory hearings, as well as white collar and corporate criminal actions and the misappropriation of trade secrets and proprietary information.

He has a strong environmental and product liability practice, focusing on toxic torts and products involving strict liability, fraudulent concealment, and unfair practices claims for liability.

He believes that a strong defense is created well before trial begins, often resolving actions favorably for clients through the strength of his discovery and motion practice. Ever mindful of the economic pressures facing his clients, Philip vigorously defends his clients and their bottom line. He believes in a partnership with both the insured and the insurer, enabling him to successfully defend the insured effectively and efficiently. Corporate clients also appreciate this approach, which is collaborative with general counsel while providing cost effective service.

Source: https://www.grsm.com/lawyer/philip-h-lo/