Stefan Perovich
Orange County, California
[email protected]
​214.981.9200 (main)
 310.962.2937 (direct) 
 214.981.9203 (fax)

---

Partner​

Stefan Perovich is the managing partner of the Orange County, California office of Calhoun, Bhella and Sechrest.  In 2003, Stefan completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), receiving a B.A. in history and a minor in political science.  He went on to acquire his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law in 2006.  For nearly two decades, Stefan has served clients in the areas of health care litigation, securities defense, bankruptcy, maritime law, mortgage banking litigation, environmental law, and appellate work.  
​
Health Care Litigation
Stefan advocates for clients in the health care sector, handling a range of serious civil and criminal legal challenges, including those involving RICO, the False Claims Act, whistleblower cases, Stark Law, anti-kickback statutes, and accusations of fraud against federal health care programs. For instance, Stefan is pursuing multiple lawsuits on behalf of providers seeking reimbursement for COVID-19 services. Stefan successfully defended a hospital group’s seller in a notable multimillion-dollar contract disagreement initiated by the buyer, winning a summary judgment. He also represented a clinic network in claims related to a capitation agreement that was wrongfully terminated by a major insurer. Furthermore, Stefan has protected medical providers facing accusations from government and semi-government entities about alleged billing irregularities, achieving positive outcomes in Medicare reimbursement and appeals, and conducting internal audits and inquiries.

Securities Defense
In the securities sector, Stefan represents financial firms and individual brokers facing allegations of suitability issues, fiduciary breaches, fraud, negligence, contract breaches, execution failures, churning, unauthorized trading, supervision failures, and violations of federal and state securities regulations. His defense extends across securities arbitration forums like FINRA, and in state and federal courts.
​
Bankruptcy
Stefan serves corporate clients by defending against claims related to preferences, turnovers, avoidance, and fraudulent transfers, among other bankruptcy-related proceedings. He also works with secured and mezzanine lenders in bankruptcy and restructuring scenarios involving hospitality, retail, and mixed-use developments.

Maritime
In maritime law, Stefan handles defense cases concerning personal injury (Jones Act), wrongful death, cargo damage, oil pollution, and criminal environmental issues in both state and federal courts. He also engages in vessel and incident investigations and manages responses to pollution incidents. His experience includes a secondment with Thomas Miller (UK Club) in New Jersey, providing him with valuable insights into P&I club claims management.

Mortgage Banking Litigation
Stefan defends clients in the mortgage banking industry against various borrower complaints, including allegations of fraud, wrongful foreclosure, and infractions against RESPA, TILA, and the FDCPA.

Appellate
Stefan has drafted numerous appellate briefs and presented arguments before the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Notable cases include Hoskins v. Citigroup, Inc. (In re Viola) and others involving significant financial and legal implications.


 

---

RELEVANT  OPINIONS:

• Rivera v. Deutsche Bank Nat’l Trust Co. (In re Rivera), 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4842 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. Nov. 24, 2014) (reversing dismissal of debtors’ second amended complaint).
• State Comp. Ins. Fund v. Drobot, 2015 WL 12712321 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 18, 2015) (granting summary judgment on claims asserted by buyer of hospital entities).
  
• Rivera v. Deutsche Bank Nat’l Trust Co. (In re Rivera), 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 3019 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. Aug. 16, 2016) (upholding bankruptcy court order following trial/evidentiary hearing on proof of claim).  Stefan’s Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel oral argument from In re Rivera can be viewed here, starting at minute 12.
  

• Ellison v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (In re Ellison), 2017 Bankr. LEXIS 2561 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. Sept. 8, 2017), aff’d, 758 F. App’x (9th Cir. Mar. 15, 2019) (affirming bankruptcy court’s order denying discharge).
• Rivera v. Deutsche Bank Nat’l Trust Co., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150388 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 15, 2017) (affirming bankruptcy court’s dismissal of debtors’ Chapter 13 case).  
• McZeal v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 14249 (9th Cir. May 30, 2018) (affirming dismissal of purported class action claims against lender).
• Ellison v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (In re Ellison), 758 F. App’x 615 (9th Cir. Mar. 8, 2019). Stefan's Ninth Circuit oral argument can be viewed here, starting at 10:45.

BAR ADMISSIONS
California (2006)
All California state and federal courts
District of Colorado
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Supreme Court of the United States

EDUCATION
J.D., University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 2006
B.A. (history, minor in political science), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 2003

PRACTICE AREAS
Appellate
Bankruptcy & Insolvency
Business Litigation
Commercial & Residential Real Estate Lending Litigation
Environmental
Health Care
Maritime
Securities