“…uniquely situated in that it has a solid roster of real trial lawyers with courtroom experience in complex matters. That background ensures that any matter is better handled from inception as they know how the whole movie plays out.”
Legal 500 Client
Few litigation firms, let alone boutiques, handle cases on “both sides” of the “v.” – that is, represent plaintiffs as well as defendants. But Massey & Gail does, and because we do, we are more effective lawyers regardless of the side we represent. We understand what it means to investigate wrongdoing, to construct a persuasive factual record, and to meet the legal challenges that plaintiffs who face the burden of proof must overcome.
Our experience representing plaintiffs is not isolated. Our lawyers have been handling significant plaintiffs-side representations in courtrooms for decades. And, like our defense-side practice, that experience extends to trials and appeals in courtrooms around the country. Jonathan Massey, for example, worked on pivotal Supreme Court cases on punitive damages early in his career. Lenny Gail has tried several cases representing plaintiffs to verdict. And nearly half of Suyash Agrawal’s trials have been for plaintiffs—including a $2 billion class action asserting breach of contract against the world’s largest financial derivatives exchange operator.
For the right matters, we also handle commercial cases on contingency and other alternative fee structures. That experience sharpens our approach to evaluating risk and zealously representing our clients who have been wronged.
Representative Matters
Former Commodities Traders
Representing class of former commodities traders in a multibillion-dollar breach of contract class action in Illinois state court against the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade.
CoinMe
Represented Coinme in Illinois litigation involving breach of contract and tortious interference claims arising from a business partner dispute; resolved through settlement.
LandAirSea
Represented LandAirSea Systems, a GPS manufacturer, in trade secret and unfair competition litigation in Illinois against a former business partner involving alleged misuse of confidential information; resolved through settlement.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
Represented Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in a $10.1 million appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit involving enforcement of casino gambling obligations; defended the judgment in favor of the client.
Flint Water Crisis
Represented plaintiffs in the Flint Water Crisis litigation involving claims arising from lead contamination of Flint, Michigan’s municipal water supply, including complex personal injury, property damage, sovereign immunity, insurance coverage, and latent injury issues affecting adults, children, and businesses.
Costa Rican Banana Plantation Workers
Represented Costa Rican banana plantation workers before the Supreme Court of Hawaii in a long-running toxic tort action involving alleged exposure to the banned pesticide DBCP and resulting sterility injuries, addressing causation, expert testimony, and evidentiary standards for proving pesticide exposure.
Non-profit Organization
Represented non-profit organization providing mental health support for veterans in the Appellate Court of Illinois in a legal malpractice dispute that settled on confidential terms.
Local Appliance Relators
Represented local appliance relators in a multimillion-dollar qui tam action in Illinois Court of Appeals against a national home improvement retailer involving alleged failures to collect and remit sales tax in connection with appliance installation services; defeated summary judgment and awaiting trial.
Former Financial Services Relators
Represented former financial services relators in a qui tam action in Illinois state court against a global private equity firm involving alleged excessive fees charged to state pension funds, including the Teachers’ Retirement System of Illinois; resolved through settlement.
Family of Seth Rich
Represented the family of murdered Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich in litigation against Fox News arising from allegedly false and defamatory reporting and conspiracy theories surrounding Rich’s death, involving claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress and related torts; resolved through settlement.
Law Firm
Representing a plaintiff-side law firm in objecting to a proposed nationwide class settlement involving claims related to glyphosate-based herbicides, challenging the adequacy of protections for future claimants.