All allegations referenced in this article are drawn from the official court complaint filed by Albert Bushala on October 2, 2024, and have not yet been adjudicated. All parties named in the lawsuit are presumed innocent of any wrongdoing unless and until proven otherwise in a court of law.
A high-stakes civil lawsuit filed by Albert Bushala, brother of prominent Fullerton developer and political donor Tony Bushala, alleges a sprawling family dispute involving $400 million in real estate assets, many located in Fullerton.Members of the Bushala family have contributed to local political campaigns, with Tony Bushala emerging as the most prominent donor, particularly as the named sponsor of an independent expenditure committee.
The October 2024 complaint, filed in Orange County Superior Court, accuses Tony Bushala, his brother George, sister Salma, and other family members of looting tens of millions of dollars from a family-run real estate empire that Albert says they built together over 40 years, now worth more than $400 million. The lawsuit alleges that these transfers were concealed, taken through manipulation and pressure, and involved dozens of real estate properties, many of which are located in the heart of Fullerton.
The complaint paints the lawsuit as far more than a private family matter, alleging a calculated pattern of misappropriation that ultimately excluded Albert Bushala from the wealth he helped build.
According to the lawsuit, Albert, Tony, and George Bushala had for decades operated under an oral “Family Partnership Agreement,” beginning in the 1980s under the guidance of their father, George Bushala Sr.. The brothers worked together to acquire and manage commercial, industrial, and residential properties across California and Nevada.
But as their parents aged, Albert alleges that his sister Salma, aided by her husband Harold and with the cooperation of George and Tony, began to manipulate and pressure their elderly father. The complaint describes an elaborate pattern of asset transfers; allegedly stripping the partnership of properties, freezing Albert out, and funneling money into trusts and LLCs under the control of Salma and her allies.
One of the most serious claims centers around the alleged isolation of their father, George Bushala Sr., now 97. In a declaration filed alongside the lawsuit, Albert recounts a troubling phone call from his father in early 2024, during which George Sr. allegedly whispered, “They don’t let me leave the house and I don’t have a cell phone. I don’t know what to do.”
A month later, when Albert and his wife attempted to visit, they were blocked at the private community’s security gate and listed as “Code Red.” According to court filings, they had to call the sheriff to conduct a wellness check just to gain entry. The visit ended in a confrontation, during which George Jr. allegedly burst into the house screaming at Albert and threatening violence; an incident that Albert’s wife partially filmed and submitted as evidence in the case.
But this personal rupture was only one part of a much larger pattern, according to the lawsuit. Albert accuses his siblings of transferring ownership of high-value real estate without his knowledge; including a Hollywood retail property on Cahuenga Boulevard valued at $23 million, multiple Las Vegas condos, a Desert Hot Springs RV park, and several industrial and commercial sites in Fullerton. Even the family home, the lawsuit claims, was deeded to Salma and her husband Harold, who then began charging their own elderly parents $10,000 a month to remain in it.
Many of the properties listed in the lawsuit are located in Fullerton and have appeared on recent City Council agendas. These include the cold storage warehouse at 310 E. Walnut Ave. (valued at $34 million), the mixed-use building at 124 W. Wilshire Ave. (valued at $9 million), the Elephant Packing House off Truslow Ave. (valued at $12 million), and the Santa Fe Express Café (valued at $3.5 million); a city-owned property currently leased by Bushala Brothers Inc. and up for potential extension.
The Bushala family’s network of business entities, including Bushala Brothers Inc., Bushala LLC, ANB Properties, and GKB Jr. LLC, are central to the case. While not every entity has a confirmed city relationship, public records show that some of the listed properties have appeared on recent agendas or been tied to lease discussions.
The complaint argues that the defendants transferred assets without Albert’s knowledge or consent, depriving him of his rightful interest. It seeks a full accounting of the family’s real estate holdings and court oversight.
Among the legal claims filed are breach of fiduciary duty, civil conversion (theft), aiding and abetting financial abuse, and a violation of California Penal Code §496(c), which criminalizes the misappropriation of property. Albert is seeking more than $133 million in compensatory damages, treble damages under the penal code, the imposition of a constructive trust over all disputed properties, and legal recognition of the decades-long family partnership.
The case remains pending in Orange County Superior Court (Case No. 30-2024-01430906-CU-NP-CJC).
Over the years, Tony Bushala has emerged not only as a major real estate investor but also as a key political donor in Fullerton. Campaign finance records show that Bushala or entities linked to him have contributed to three of the five current City Council members: Fred Jung, Nicholas Dunlap, and Jamie Valencia.
The Santa Fe Express Cafe is leased by Bushala Brothers Inc. (George Jr. and Tony Bushala), which is operated by Salma Bushala-Hamud. This lease is currently up for extension and is scheduled to be discussed on July 15th, 2025.
Read full law suit below.
Albert’s LawsuitBecause you read this article, you may like this article.
Concerns Arise Over Lack of Transparency in Lease Amendment for Fullerton Transportation Center
Share this:
Discover more from Fullerton Observer
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: Election, Elections, Local Business, Local Government, local history, Local News
The city should not be entering into new contracts, nor extending current contracts, with individuals (or related organizations) with pending legal concerns regarding finances against them.
Agreed.
Someone call Adult Protective Services for George Sr. What an awful way to treat an elderly person. This family is abhorrent.
Tony, and George Jr. Have seldom worked in the Construction industry. They only became financially Independent when there father George Sr. Was not able to continue working, They took over his affairs. Selma, On her 5 TH marriage, runs the day to day activities at the train station cafe. Albert Bushala, has always made his way, owning restaurants and Arco Gas stations.
Tony Gives to all council members using his name and the names of all his children, and family members.Tony was also in deep with Judge NELSON, who is under investigation for many illegal things. FOLLOW THE MONEY.
People should remember that just because allegations have been made doesn’t mean what is alleged is correct. There may be many factors that are unknown. Families are complicated. This issue is still going through the courts.
Why does this publication continue to inaccurately refer to Bushala Bros. as developers? They are property managers. Please provide a list of properties they have developed.
That’s what you took from this article? Lordy.
Besides the Observer’s routine mischaracterization of the professions of two of the parties named in the lawsuit that is the subject of this story, I also “took” that the author didn’t inform readers whether or not he even attempted to contact anyone at all named in the lawsuit or the party filing it for comment. Anyone can sue anyone in civil court over any alleged behavior. No ethical news organization would publicize a civil suit without giving those named in it the opportunity to comment on it.
Have any of the defendants filed an Answer to the Complaint? It would be interesting to read their side of the story.
Hi LR, not yet! None of the defendants have filed an Answer to the Complaint. Instead, they’ve filed demurrers, which are a different type of legal response. A demurrer doesn’t admit guilt, it argues that even if all the allegations were true, the case should still be thrown out on legal grounds (like being too late or not legally valid). Their full legal arguments are summarized in Part 2 of the article.
As a responsible news organization, I am sure the Observer attempted to contact members of the Bushala family to comment on this lawsuit. Can the author share their responses?
Hi Matt. Yes, their legal response is the focus of Part 2 of the article. I break down the arguments they submitted in court. Appreciate you reading!
Can you be more clear in your response to my question? I saw the legal response filed by those named in the suit. Did you attempt to contact the parties who filed the suit or those named in it and did you receive a response from any of those parties prior to publishing either of your stories for the Observer?
Matt – I think the purpose of the article was to point out that the Bushala lease agreement with the city is part of a lawsuit between family members and should be postponed until the issues are sorted through the courts. How would contacting the parties involved in the lawsuit for comment would affect that? They have stated their sides through the documents.
Sharon, the lease agreement for the train station is with Bushala Bros., Inc. which, to the best of my knowledge, does not include Albert Bushala. How does this lawsuit have any bearing whatsoever on the loading dock lease before the city council?
I think it is a basic journalistic courtesy to offer a party who is the subject of a story the opportunity to provide a comment on that story.
ED Response: You are right about basic courtesy – however in this case the lawsuit which includes BBI as one of the businesses in dispute speaks for itself.