What we handle · Los Angeles
Fraud & Misrepresentation Lawyer in Los Angeles
Neva fall for it twice.
If you're bringing the claim
Someone lied to you and you lost money because of it. An investment that never existed. A business partner's "audited" numbers. A seller who knew about the problem and said nothing. Fraud is a civil claim as well as a crime, and the civil claim is how the money comes back. A fraud lawyer in Los Angeles proves what was said, what was known, and what it cost you.
If you're defending one
Or you've been accused of fraud, and the word alone is doing damage. Fraud claims are often added to ordinary contract disputes to raise the pressure and reach for punitive damages. They have to be proven to a specific standard, with specifics. We hold the other side to that standard and separate what was a business disappointment from what was a lie.
Common situations we handle
- “I invested based on numbers that turned out to be made up.”
- “The seller knew about the defect and hid it.”
- “My business partner cooked the books.”
- “I was talked into a contract by promises nobody intended to keep.”
- “A contractor or adviser took my money and disappeared.”
- “I'm being accused of fraud over a deal that simply went wrong.”
What the law says
Civil fraud in California means a false statement of fact (or concealment of a fact someone had a duty to disclose), made knowingly or recklessly, intended to be relied on, actually relied on, and causing loss. Each element has to be shown, and fraud must be pleaded with particularity — who said what, to whom, when. A promise made with no intention of keeping it is "promissory fraud". Negligent misrepresentation — a careless false statement — is the lesser cousin and is often easier to prove.
Fraud claims sit alongside contract claims but behave differently: a contract limits damages to the deal; fraud opens the door to punitive damages and to rescinding the deal entirely.
Related: Business litigation & contract disputes · Elder abuse & financial exploitation
What's at stake
Your actual losses, the benefit you were promised in some cases, rescission of the deal, and punitive damages where the conduct was malicious or oppressive. None of this is automatic; it depends on proof.
How long you have
Generally three years from when you discovered the fraud, or reasonably should have. "Should have" is where these cases are fought, so the earlier you act after suspecting something, the fewer arguments the other side has.
What happens next
- 1
Tell us what happened
The quiz, a text, or a call. Fifteen minutes, free.
- 2
We tell you straight
Whether you have a case, what it would take, and which way of working applies.
- 3
Clear terms in writing
If we take it, you get clear terms in writing before anything starts.
Three ways we work. Some cases we take on contingency — no fee unless we win; if there's no recovery you don't pay us a fee, though you may still be responsible for case costs, which we explain in writing before anything starts. Some cases we do for a fixed fee you know before we begin. Some are hourly. We tell you which applies in the first call.
Why Cirkveni 2.0
Trial training
Neva trained on the plaintiffs' trial team at a top Los Angeles litigation firm. Every case is prepared as if it will go to trial.
Direct access
You deal with the lawyer. Your calls and texts reach Neva, not a queue.
Straight talk
Plain English, honest about the odds, and a fee you know before we start.
Second generation
The first Cirkveni law office opened in 1992. Same instinct, rebuilt for now.
What a client said
“I would recommend Neva. She is knowledgeable, detailed, patient, and did a great job of explaining the process and answering my questions. I was very pleased with the experience and settlement.”
— Cathy P., Google review
5.0 on Google
Results depend on the facts of each case.
Questions people ask
Find out where you stand.
Text or call +1 (424) 230-3912, or take the five-question quiz.