Mehri & Skalet has a remarkable record of success.
This means securing large financial settlements for our clients who have been wronged in the marketplace, on the job, or in their homes.
It also means achieving results that go far beyond immediate financial justice. Many of our settlement agreements include requirements that defendants – often major corporations – reform their internal operations to prevent future violations and fairly protect everyone.
M&S filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of female financial advisors against Smith Barney alleging discrimination in account distribution, business leads and referrals, partnership opportunities and sales support. The settlement, approved in August 2008, provided significant programmatic relief, including a diversity monitor to ensure that these practices are corrected, as well as $33 million in damages to the class.
August-Johnson v. Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.
In June 2006 M&S filed a class action lawsuit against Morgan Stanley on behalf of 2,700 female financial advisors alleging systemic gender discrimination with respect to compensation, account assignments, partnership participation, and promotions. The settlement included a lump sum payment of $46 million dollars and significant programmatic relief. The systemic change outlined in the settlement will increase the earnings of female financial advisors by at least $16 million over five years, and the parties have jointly selected a board of independent experts to develop and implement non-discriminatory human resource policies and practices.
M&S represented purchasers of the Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion line of desktop computers alleging that the computers experienced “hanging, freezing and locking” of their systems, making the computers unusable. Under the settlement agreement class members received a direct monetary payment, a discount certificate, or both.
Ingram v. The Coca-Cola Company
Cyrus Mehri represented a class of 2,200 current and former salaried African-American employees of The Coca-Cola Company charging racial discrimination in promotions, compensation and evaluations. The settlement agreement provided $192.5 million in financial compensation and installed a court-appointed task force, chaired by former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, with the authority to ensure dramatic reforms of Coca-Cola’s employment practices.
Norflet v. John Hancock Life Insurance Company
M&S represented a class of African-Americans who had purchased, or were beneficiaries to, life insurance policies sold by John Hancock in the 1940s and 1950s. The suit alleged that John Hancock deliberately placed African-American consumers into industrial or monthly debit policies that had little value. The settlement in this case provided $24.4 million to the class of policy holders. The settlement included a $15 million cy pres award which is in the process of being distributed to organizations that benefit African-American communities throughout the United States.
Cyrus Mehri represented a class of African-American employees of Texaco Inc. alleging that the company discriminated against them by failing to promote and adequately compensate them in relation to their Caucasian counterparts. The case was settled in 1996 for what was then the largest sum ever allowed in a race discrimination case, $176.1 million. In addition to damages, the settlement called for pay raises for approximately 1,400 black employees as well as systemic programmatic relief.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development- Reverse Mortgages
M&S is currently in litigation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) representing a potential class of seniors whose spouses obtained HUD-insured reverse mortgages on their homes. While this case is on-going, tangible results have already been achieved. Within one month of the initial filing HUD issued a clarification of their rules to ensure that the unjust eviction of these seniors will be stopped.
M&S represented New Jersey small business owners in a class action lawsuit against Verizon Communications alleging repeated overcharging on telephone bills. The amount in question was only $1.01 per month, but the extent and duration of the practice had an enormous cost to small businesses in the state. Under the settlement Verizon agreed to pay $1.65 for every improper $1.01 charge. Approximately 45,000 accounts were able to recover damages. Payments to the class totaled approximately $1,725,000.
To review other companies against which M&S has litigated click here.
For additional information on our most successful cases you should review these books and periodicals which have been written about M&S accomplishments.