Case Studies - Mendes & Mount LLP

AI Policies For Lawyers and Firms

Have you used, or do you intend to use, or will you be asked to use some form of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in your practice? If so, maybe you need to put a written policy in place that outlines when, where, and how it is appropriate to engage with such […]

COVID-19: How the Coronavirus Might Impact Professionals

New York, NY/ Much is still unknown about the novel Coronavirus and its potential impact on humanity, let alone the effects it will have on specific countries and industries. What is known is that it is significantly disrupting the global economy, especially the energy and travel sectors; it is causing entire countries to shut down movement within their borders; and causing schools and businesses to shut down, at least temporarily. Although there are no reports that courts are adjourning hearings or halting jury duty obligations,[1] the federal judiciary’s pandemic plan involves “‘key mitigation tactics’ such as more telework, substituting…

It was a nightmare scenario: the most expensive piece of art in the world damaged on the eve of its sale.

LAS VEGAS, NV/ “Le Rêve” is Pablo Picasso’s 1932 portrait of his mistress Marie-Thérèse Walter. Owned by billionaire casino magnate Steve Wynn, it was in the process of being sold for $139 million to hedge-fund mogul and avid art collector Steven Cohen. Days before the sale was to be finalized, Wynn was showing “Le Rêve” to a group of friends and celebrities. Standing next to the painting, he was describing its provenance and gesturing with his arm when he accidently put his elbow through it, creating a silver-dollar-size hole in the canvas.

Discovery of under-the-table negotiations leads to a high- water mark ruling in asbestos coverage action.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ/ When it came time for domestic floor tile manufacturer Congoleum Corporation to pay its fair share of asbestos liabilities under New Jersey law, the company turned away from its insurers. Instead of working with its insurers, it secretly negotiated a pre-packaged 524(g) bankruptcy with counsel for the asbestos claimants, whereby it agreed to assign its insurance assets to an asbestos trust in exchange for the claimants’ supporting votes in the bankruptcy.

In asbestos and pollution claims litigation with more twists than a Gordian Knot, Mendes helps insurers untangle the legal mess.

BOSTON, MA/ Starting in the mid-1980’s, in courthouses across the U.S., W.R. Grace has had insurers tied up in asbestos and pollution claims litigation. The chemical and construction materials conglomerate—whose pollution problems have been well publicized in the book and movie “A Civil Action”—has spent hundreds of millions of dollars defending and settling these claims.

Mendes' trial experience pays dividends

When a former fortune 500 company sought to have its insurers pay for its historic practice of dumping toxic chemicals as part of ongoing operations, we aggressively fought back on behalf of our clients and obtained an optimal settlement of the matter.