We represented Playa Phase 1 Commercial Land Company LLC, the owners of over 1,000 acres in west Los Angeles, by far the largest undeveloped parcel of property in the county of Los Angeles. In a prior proceeding, an arbitrator determined that Playa (represented by other counsel) had breached agreements to sell commercial land to a company owned by Los Angeles-based developer Robert F. Maguire III for $100 million. Thereafter, Playa retained Quinn Emanuel to defend it against Maguire's claim for damages. The damages were real. By the time plaintiff filed its damages claim, our client sold the same land for over $300 million. Based on the finding of liability, Maguire asserted a damages claim in California state court seeking damages in excess of $600 million. Therefore, the only question was the size of the check that our client would write. Nine months before trial, we persuaded the Court to hear an early motion in limine to consider the admissibility of Maguire's lost profits damages claim--almost $500 million of the damages sought. The Court granted our motion in limine, precluding any claim for lost profits and, in the process, made a ruling that called into question whether Maguire could recover any damages for Playa's breach. Shortly after the Court’s order granting the early motion in limine, the case settled on extremely favorable terms for what amounts to litigation costs.