About Me (My Story)
My first graduation diploma was a technical degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1989 my family and I came to the United States from a war zone, an ethnic conflict in the former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan. In 1993 I successfully passed the exam administered by the California Board for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors to become a licensed Mechanical Engineer in the State of California. I still maintain this license. Until 1999 I was happily employed with large engineering firms. Then I decided to go on my own.
I signed the lease, purchased and installed equipment, and went to work. Within 6 months it became clear that the equipment was defective. I spent another 6 months trying to make it work. I could not. The equipment’s manufacturer was equally unsuccessful. I lost contracts and acquired huge obligation on the lease. Within a year I was out on the street with eight thousands pounds of metal “pieces”, stored in my backyard. The business was over. My manufacturer refused to compensate me. I had a huge loan secured by my house to pay off in 60 monthly installments. Now I suddenly came in danger of loosing my family residence.
That is when I learned about “CONTRACTS,” and legal ramifications that carry the signing of business documents. I had no prior legal knowledge. I signed papers that I should never have signed in the first place. As a result, I had an unpleasant prospect of litigating on adversarial terms in another State, the manufacturer’s main place of business. I learned that if you go into business, you must consult a knowledgeable attorney. Unfortunately, finding a helpful attorney was another difficult task.
I needed legal education to pull this case from a deep hole. I went to law school. The case was litigated while I was in law school. I was learning on two fronts simultaneously. Eventually, thanks to my tenacity and a brilliant New Jersey attorney’s help, we prevailed and case was settled in my favor on the day of jury selection.
No wonder I was the best in “contracts” in my law school. The case brought me a lot of knowledge and experience in terms of all aspects of litigation. I consider business law my strongest legal area. Another valuable lesson: good legal representation, and what that really means, can pull out seemingly non-winnable cases.
Now, here I am. Vladimir Parizher, Attorney at law.