An article in the June 13 Phoenix Business Journal about a lawsuit that alleges fraud by area shopping center owners featured comments from Gary Birnbaum, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Program Development at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. The complaint alleges Ron Barness and Alex Papas, principals of Barness Papas Investments LLC and RBI, underreported or misrepresented shopping center sales to investors involved with their real-estate businesses. Birnbaum told reporter Mike Sunnucks it's common for investors to allege fraud and breach of contract, with defendants blaming the impact on investments on risks and changing market conditions. "It's certainly a function of the market," said Birnbaum, referring to the rising number of investor and other real estate-related litigation. To read the full story, click here.