Pacific Coast Business Times

By Josh Molina
Staff Writer

From his second-story office across the street from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Michael Denver is an attorney who goes after the “bad guys” in suits.

Hollister & Brace has filed a Class Action lawsuit against ZB, N.A., doing business as California Bank & Trust, (CB&T) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. The Complaint alleges that CB&T knowingly provided substantial assistance to a $125,000,000 fraud initiated by International Manufacturing Group, Inc. (IMG).

IMG misled investors into believing their funds would be used for IMG’s purchase and importation of “wholesale” batches of latex surgical gloves and other medical supplies. Unbeknownst to the investors, IMG’s “wholesale” business was non-existent and a complete fraud.

The Complaint alleges that: (i) CB&T knew that IMG’s “wholesale” business was a fraud; (ii) nonetheless, CB&T provided IMG with substantial assistance by, among other things, allowing funds from defrauded investors to be deposited in CB&T accounts and by disbursing those funds from

The Frank Crandall Community Service Award for 2016 has been presented to the firm of Hollister & Brace.  The award was named in honor of the late Frank Crandall, a highly regarded Santa Barbara attorney, well-known for his civic activities and generous contributions to worthy causes.

It truly is an honor to serve as the 2017 President of the Santa Barbara County Bar Association. Along with Past President, James Griffith, and my fellow Officers, Jeff Chambliss, Amber Holderness and Elizabeth Diaz, I will work hard to ensure that 2017 will be another great year for the Bar, with ample opportunities for continuing education, professional networking and personal growth.

An article on the Class Action suit filed on March 18, 2016 by Michael Denver on behalf of the victims of the Nationwide Automated Systems, Inc. (“NASI”) Ponzi scheme was featured in the April 15-21, 2016 edition of the Pacific Coast Business Times.  You can view the article here.  View the class action complaint here.  Anyone who invested in NASI and who would like to assist in the investigation may fill out a NASI claim form that may be viewed here.