Opinion ID: 3063949
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Solowsky-Weiss Discussions

Text: In 2003, Fausto hired Joel Weiss, a lawyer in New York, to try and locate the Hawksbay ten million. Weiss contacted Solowsky in Spring 2003 because Solowsky had represented Tambourine in its 1999 attempt to locate the Lionheart ten million. Solowsky told Weiss that he was owed money by Antonella and Brenman. Hawksbay paid Solowsky the money owed and Solowsky sent Weiss his file on the Lionheart ten million. On October 23, 2003, at Reizen’s request, Solowsky called Weiss. Weiss testified that Solowsky told him that in exchange for indemnification and releases, his clients could assist Hawksbay in finding a substantial amount of Hawksbay’s missing money. Solowsky did not tell Weiss that Reizen had transferred six million dollars into his account a few days earlier. After discussions with his clients, Weiss called Solowsky on October 31, 2003 and secretly taped the phone conversation. A transcript of the recording was introduced into evidence as Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 7. Weiss began by telling Solowsky that Hawksbay wanted to recover its missing money and asked Solowsky what he had in mind. Solowsky explained to Weiss that the ten million dollars had been whittled down to five million dollars and change. Solowsky then offered that in 8 exchange for indemnification and releases his clients could obtain the five million and change for Hawksbay in ninety to one hundred and twenty days. Solowsky also asked Plaintiffs to stop looking for the money in the meantime. Weiss then asked Solowsky if he knew where the five million dollars was currently. Solowsky told Weiss three times that he did not know. Weiss ended the conversation by saying that he would convey Solowsky’s offer to his clients. Solowsky and Weiss also communicated by letter on November 21, 2003 and December 10, 2003. Fausto declined Solowsky’s offer. Fausto testified that he did not find out Reizen had transferred six million dollars into the IOTA account in October 2003 until December 2005.