Fresno, CA, February 16, 2026 — National insurance defense trial law firm Tyson & Mendes, LLP announced today an appellate victory in a case against a property management company (Evelyn M. Lambdin et al. v. Mangold Property Management, Inc., et al., Cal Ct. App. Div. VI, H050445). The defense was awarded attorney fees after the Court upheld the defense’s successful anti-SLAPP motion.

After tenants failed to pay rent or move, the owner of a home decided to sell the house. Property managers then undertook the necessary actions, culminating in an unlawful detainer and eviction action against the tenants. The tenants sued the property management company and their employees, as well as their attorney at the time, an attorney unassociated with Tyson & Mendes. After the anti-SLAPP motion was granted, plaintiffs appealed. The anti-SLAPP ruling was affirmed by the appellate court. After the appeal, the Tyson & Mendes team requested updated attorney fees totaling $139,495 and $1,289.50 in costs. The trial court granted a total fee award of $130,280.00. Plaintiffs then appealed the updated attorney fee award in a second, separate appeal. The appellate court affirmed the later fee award. In total, allowing the firm’s client to recover $130,280.00 in attorneys’ fees.

The matter was handled by Fresno Branch Office Managing Partner David Frankenberger, Partner Sara Woods, and Senior Counsel Alison Koralewski.

“Reasonableness was at the heart of our case,” said Frankenberger. “Our clients were very reasonable in the way they handled the tenants up to and including the eviction.”

Sara Woods agreed reasonableness was a big driver in the outcome: “The Court in this matter appropriately weighed the facts and upheld our initial victory, and our client is thrilled with the outcome.” Koralewski added, “Our appellate team at Tyson & Mendes is effective, targeted, and strategic. We are grateful to have achieved this outcome for our deserving client.”

For more information and to view career opportunities, visit www.tysonmendes.com. 

About Tyson & Mendes LLP

Tyson & Mendes LLP is a nationwide, AV-rated litigation and trial firm specializing in insurance defense and protecting its clients from Nuclear Verdicts®. Founded in 2002 by Robert Tyson and Patrick Mendes, the firm has experienced tremendous growth, with offices across the United States. Tyson & Mendes is known for its expertise in defending corporations, insurance companies, and their clients against Nuclear Verdicts®.

Serving 21 states nationwide, Tyson & Mendes is one of the fastest-growing civil defense firms in the U.S. and is proud to offer one of the fastest and clearest paths to partnership for its attorneys of any mid-sized law firm in the U.S. The firm is honored to be recognized as a 2024 Best Law Firm by Best Lawyers, named a 2024 Best Company to Work For: Law Firms edition by U.S. News & World Report, awarded the 2023 Liberty Mutual Insurance External Law Firm Partner of the Year Award, awarded the No. 1 “Ceiling Smasher” in Law360’s 2022 Glass Ceiling Report for female equity partnership, and shortlisted for Financial Times’ 2022 Innovative Lawyers North America Award. The firm has also developed a spinoff consulting firm, Apex Defense Consulting, aimed at equipping carriers and counsel with the education, collaboration, and expertise needed to stop Nuclear Verdicts® and slow social inflation.

For more information, visit www.tysonmendes.com and www.apexdefenseconsulting.com.

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