Wiley Rein Sues Former Client for Failing to Pay Bills

Wiley Rein filed a $450,000 suit against its former client SCC Acquisitions after SCC allegedly failed to pay for work the firm provided.

Thomas Kirby, a partner at the firm handling the lawsuit, says the real estate development company, which does business as SunCal Companies and is based in Irvine, Calif., retained Wiley Rein about six months ago to handle a conflict with an Environmental Protection Agency regulation that was giving the company trouble with a development.

Kirby says SCC made some payments to Wiley Rein, but the company refused to pay the balance of $453,279 despite "lengthy efforts to reach some sort of agreement."

"We hate to do it, but we run a business and we do want to get paid," Kirby says. "It's an unfortunate situation, but we're dealing with it in a businesslike manner."

SCC Acquisitions did not immediately return calls for comment.

UPDATE (1:51 p.m., Oct. 30): SunCal Companies spokesman Joe Aguirre wrote in an e-mail, "As with any matter that has entered litigation, we cannot discuss the issues pertaining to these proceedings. Our legal team is acting on behalf of our company and will respond at the appropriate time."