Ryan D. O'Dell, Esq.

OVERVIEW

I am a founding member of Manahan O'Dell LLP. For nearly 25 years, I have represented a diverse clientele, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and individuals. I have broad experience prosecuting and defending high-stakes business disputes, representing litigants in federal and state courts across the country and in all forms of dispute resolution, including jury trial, arbitration, and mediation. I am admitted to practice in California, Kansas, and Missouri, and I have been admitted pro hac vice in state and federal jurisdictions in sixteen states.
 

I regularly represent participants in the commercial and residential construction processes, including owners, developers, architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, insurers, and sureties.  I handle construction contract drafting, construction and design defect claims, first and third-party insurance claims, construction delay, disruption, change order claims, mechanic’s liens, stop notices, bond claims, title disputes, and False Claims Act and Qui tam claims.
 

I also litigate complex commercial, real estate, employment, and RICO matters.

In every representation, I zealously represent my clients to resolve disputes efficiently and cost-effectively.
 

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Business & Commercial Litigation

Public and Private Construction Litigation and Insurance Coverage

Real Estate Litigation

Employment Litigation
 

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Represented multiple defendants against federal and state RICO claims involving alleged damages of more than $250,000,000; Fund Recovery Services, LLC v. RBC Capital Markets, LLC, et al., United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Case NO. 1:2-CV-05730; Fund Recovery Services, LLC v. RBC Capital Markets, LLC, et al., Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Case No. 2022 L 009861.

• Represented owner in complex litigation involving the original construction of a 544 unit multifamily project in Del Rey Shores—the then largest multifamily HUD project in the country; American/BCEGZ, a Joint Venture v. Shores, LLC, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC538363.

• Represented owner in appeal of denial of contractor’s motion to compel arbitration; American/BCEGZ, a Joint Venture v. Shores, LLC; California Court of Appeals, Second District.   American/BCEGZ v. Shores, LLC, No. B296524, 2020 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 2684 (Apr. 30, 2020)(affirmed).

• Represented owner of headquarters in Los Angeles involving construction defects, including claims on Owner Controlled Insurance Policy.

• Represented window manufacturer and installer in lawsuit involving headquarters in Temecula, California, regarding mechanic’s lien claims, breach of contract claims, breach of California Business and Professions Code, and Civil Theft Claims 496 claims.

• Represented developer in business dispute relating to finder fees for several developments in Missouri and Kansas.

• Represented owner of alternative fuel plant regarding claim on builder’s risk policy and other related claims.  E3 BioFuels-Mead, LLC, E3 Biofuels, LLC, E3 Biofuels-Mead Holdings, LLC, E3 Biofuels, LLC v. Biothane Corporation, Dilling Mechanical Contractors, Inc. and Perennial Energy, Inc.; E3 BioFuels, LLC v. Dilling Mechanical Contractors, Inc.; k/n/a Dilling Group, Inc.,

• Represented national soils engineering firm in various litigation.  GeoSystems Engineering, Inc. (now known as Kleinfelder Central, Inc.) v. Facility Associates, Inc., Imagine3 Architects, LLC, Design-Build.Com, LLC.

• Represented subcontractor in various litigation.  Hydro Conduit Corporation d/b/a Rinker Materials Prestress and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company – Ball Kelly, LLC d/b/a Taylor Kelly, et al. v. Hydro Conduit Corporation d/b/a Rinker Materials Prestress and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.

• Represented steel manufacturer in dispute involving largest steel plant in the country, located in Ghent, KY.

• Represented metal fabricator in business dispute.  Phoenix Fabrication, LLC – Aquapure and Phoenix Fabrication, LLC – Steel & Pipe Supply Company, Inc., and Phoenix Fabrication, LLC – Valmont Coating/Salina Galvanizing v. Dearborn Mid-West Conveyor Co., Inc.

• Represented national window manufacturer in a variety of construction defects matters.

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EDUCATION

University of Missouri, Columbia, Juris Doctor

University of Arizona, BA, Cum Laude

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ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

California, Kansas, Missouri

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

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HONORS & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, Dean’s List, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Dispute Resolution

Law extern to Hon. Ann Covington, Missouri Supreme Court.

San Diego County Bar Association

Former Member of the Board of Directors of the West Highland’s Pacific Homeowner’s Association

University of Arizona Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society

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PUBLICATIONS

Construction Change Order Claims, 2nd Edition, 2005

Does Title VIl Preclude Enforcement of Compulsory Arbitration Agreement, Journal of Dispute Resolution, Volume 1999, No. 1.

Federal Court Positively Adopts a Federal Common Law Testimonial Privilege for Mediation: Is It Justified? Journal of Dispute Resolution, Volume 1999, No. 2.