Daily Business Report — Nov. 1, 2010

Welcome to the new SD METRO Magazine!

After 25 years as San Diego Metropolitan,  the time seemed to be at hand to give it a respectful resting place and say a job well done as we move on. You’ll find  broadened editorial content in the November edition, our first issue as SD METRO.We won’t have everything that we have planned  but we hope you’ll notice our start and the expanding content and  improvements as they come along. Our cover story takes a look at the  spectacular  career of J. Lawrence Irving,  whose  decades in the law have taken him from trial attorney to federal judge to the most  sought after legal mediator in the country. Judge Irving is a true San Diego icon.

Our West Coast Craftsman, which has been around for 13 years as a major part of our North Park News and Kensington News newspapers, makes its debut in SD METRO with this issue. The lead story was written by Tom Shess, its founding editor and publisher and one of San Diego’s most distinguished journalists.

Margo Schwab’s Social Diary makes its launch in SD METRO as well. We’ve engaged Margo to take camera and pen to events throughout the city.   She starts here with her coverage of  the University Club’s fabulous new million-dollar expansion.

Our new Dining sections opens with Katelyn O’Riordan’s “Five Places to take Out-of-Town guests,” from the fancy to a great place for a burger and fries. Katelyn’s piece precedes SD METRO’s new dining guide.

San Diego’s 15 Most Admired Companies, chosen by our panel of judges as well as those of you who voted on our Website (sandiegometro.com) will appear in our December issue. From a myriad of nominations came a very select group of San Diego business enterprises. The judges, with a tough task at hand,  poured over midnight oil to make their selections.

This month will also mark the beginning of the selection process for San Diego’s Metro Movers 2011. Please go to our Website to cast your ballots.  The winners will be announced in our January issue.

Enjoy our new start!

Robert Page, Chairman/CEO

Gomez Law Firm attorneys win Trial Lawyer Awards

Three attorneys at The Gomez Law Firm have been presented five Outstanding Trial Lawyer Awards by Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (CASD)  in recognition of outstanding verdicts in connection with a jury trial. The honorees are John H. Gomez, Robert Hamparyan and James S. Iagmin. The awards were presented at CASD’s annual awards and installation dinner at the U.S. Grant Hotel. The Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award is given to individuals based in San Diego responsible for an outstanding verdict in connection with a jury trial involving a civil or criminal matter. The case must be tried to a verdict. Other criteria include ingenuity, liability aspects, service to the community and the amount of the verdict.

Gomez and Iagmin received the award for the case of Wieder v. San Diego Unified School District, et al. In that case, Gomez and Iagmin obtained a $1.25 million verdict for an underage female student that had a sexual relationship with her high school teacher. Gomez and Iagmin received the award a second time for the case of Chapman v. Tolo. In that case, Gomez and Iagmin obtained a nearly $2 million verdict for a young Marine Corps reservist that crashed into a car on Interstate 162 near Mission Valley.

Hamparyan was awarded the Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award in the case of Rogers v. Storms & Slover, tried in conjunction with attorney Ryan Harris. In that case, Hamparyan and Harris obtained a nearly $13 million verdict for a severely brain injured young woman in Visalia, Calif. Gomez was recognized by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine (SD METRO) in January as one of 30 “Movers to Watch” in 2010 for their professional accomplishments. He founded The Gomez Law Firm in 2005, which specializes in employment law and personal injury cases. Last year, the firm obtained verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million each in more than 10 separate cases. Gomez was named Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2006 by the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego

USD Energy Acquires Chilean Mining Operation

USD Energy Corp. in San Diego has agreed to acquire Santa Teresa Minerals S.A. of Chile in an all-stock transaction. Santa Teresa Minerals operates gold and copper mining operations that are based in Santiago, Chile. It owns mining rights in five exploration projects: Casuto, Los Azules, Tauro Cinco/Seis, Los Chipi and Free Gold. Mineral exploration in theses five projects include gold, copper and copper sulfate. “Our mining operations in Chile have begun production, and we are ready to grow with additional capital injections,” said Trisha Malone, CEO of USD Energy. The gold reserves in Casuto alone are estimated at 3 million ounces of alluvial gold and potentially up to 7 million in additional gold reserves. The Free Gold project is already in production and is beginning to scale its operations.

$50 Million Pipeline Project is Completed

Otay Water District has completed the $50 million Jamacha Road pipeline project, the largest capital improvement program in its 54-year history. The work involved the installation of a large diameter pipeline over more than five miles in length in East County, the construction of two 10-million-gallon water storage reservoirs in Rancho San Diego and the repaving of streets in El Cajon and Rancho San Diego. The project is part of the East County Regional Treated Water Improvement Program, an effort to improve water treatment capacity in the region. The San Diego County Water Authority, Lakeside Water District, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Otay Water District and Helix Water District are all implementing elements of the program including upgrades to flow control facilities and the construction of new pump stations, reservoirs and pipelines to distribute locally treated water to customers.

SCORE San Diego Small Business Workshops

• Nov. 2 – Customer Service: The Key to Success – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

• Nov. 3 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• Nov. 4 – Marketing & Contracting w/ Federal Government – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Nov. 6 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door)

• Nov. 8 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; FREE! Please pre-register).

• Nov. 9 – Financial Statements – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• Nov. 10 – Internet Marketing 303: Social Media – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• Nov. 12 – Women’s Networking Breakfast & Exhibits – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha De Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; pre-paid registration $35 by 9/14, $45 thereafter; exhibitor rate: $85 by 9/14, $95 thereafter)

• Nov. 13 – How to Start and Manage Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Nov. 15 – Professional Selling – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Nov. 16 – Legal Issues: Organizational Structure – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• Nov. 16 – Restaurant 201 – Carlsbad – 9 a.m. to noon at National University in Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• Nov. 17 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Nov. 19 – Internet Marketing 101 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Nov. 19 – QuickBook Basics for Non-Profits – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Nov. 20 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).

• Nov. 22 – Good Governance for Non-Profits – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Rd #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

• Nov. 22 – Restaurant 101 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• Nov. 23 – Internet Marketing 201: SEO – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University in Mission Valley (4007 Camino del Rio South, San Diego 92108; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• Nov. 23 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; FREE! Please pre-register).

• Nov. 30 – Tax Considerations for Small Business – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.