MNR Recent Cases:

• Ouiess v. Mohammed Bin Salman et al.: Representation of international journalist and Al Jazeera anchor, Ghada Oueiss, in lawsuit against the Saudi Crown Prince and other co-conspirators for various torts related to a well-coordinated “hack and leak” cyber operation to intimidate and injure Ms. Ouiess as retaliation for critical news coverage. The case is being litigated in federal district court in the Southern District of Florida(20-Cv-25022).

• Gelt Trading v. Co-Diagnostics (20-Cv-00368): Lead plaintiff’s counsel for a class of stock shareholders who purchased stock in a diagnostic company trading on NASDAQ that trumpeted its Covid-19 diagnostic testing through false and misleading public announcements. The case is being litigated in federal district court in Utah.

• Madrigal v. Kendall Healthcare Group: After trial, MNR’s clients obtained over $12 million in statutory appraisal proceedings following a squeeze-out merger that liquidated their shares.  The clients were offered $3.3 million pre-trial.

• Perez Trading: Representation of South Florida company victimized by a $9 million embezzlement scheme. MNR brought a malpractice action against the company’s former auditor – which was resolved quickly in an out-of-court mediation. MNR also pursued and obtained several million dollars in criminal restitution against the wrongdoer.

• Elisabeth Kruss Family Trust v. Michael Rosenberg:  Representation of successor trustee of a family trust in asserting claims for breach of trust and professional malpractice against former co-trustees, including legal counsel for the trust, and accountants for the trust. The claims exceeded $30 million dollars. The case settled prior to trial.

• Representation of the children of Sir Jack Hayward, the former owner of the Wolverham English soccer franchise, in probate-related litigation related to the misappropriation of estate assets.

• BNP Paribas Jersey v. Edoarda Crociani: Representation of a banking institution in enforcement judgment in excess of $100 million. The firm obtained an injunction prohibiting the movement of paintings worth in excess of $30 million and is prosecuting supplementary claims against an offshore trust.

• Moses et al., CACE 20-009588: Representation of several businesses victimized in a financial fraud scheme in which fraudulent business accounts were opened and operated at Bank of America and Regions Bank for the purpose of depositing obvious tax payments made out to the U.S. Treasury. Both banks are defendants.

• Nader Tavakoli v. Vladislav Doronin, No. 18-21592 (S. D. Fla.): Representation of plaintiff Nader Tavakoli, an investment banker, in a lawsuit related to the $250 million acquisition of Aman Resorts, a leading luxury hotel group. Tavakoli brokered the acquisition and was promised a carried interest in the property, but was cut out by Vladislav Doronin, a Russian billionaire. We sued various foreign defendants, including Mr. Doronin. After MNR defeated Doronin’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, the case quickly resolved out of court.

• Representation of a venture capital firm in a professional negligence dispute related to a failed merger and acquisition causing more than $500 million dollars in damage. The matter settled during pre-suit negotiations.

• Broward Outpatient v. Fenstersheib Law Group, PA: Representation of a group of affiliated medical providers suing a personal injury law firm whose employee stole over $6 million in funds owed to providers for theft, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty.

• Representation of a former senior executive who was terminated from his employment at Napleton Automotive Group as retaliation for his unwillingness to provide false testimony in a criminal proceeding.

• Representation of Alcon Vision, LLC in prosecuting claims against contact lens re-sale companies located in Florida for violations of the Lanham Act.

• Representation of a high-end national designer shoe company in action against former chief technology officer for claims in violation of the Defend Trade Secrets Act.

• Representation of a private equity firm in a force majeure dispute related to large event cancellations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. MNR helped obtain a full settlement in pre-suit negotiations.

• Representation of an investor in a FINRA arbitration against a broker/dealer for multimillion dollar investments in unsuitable investments solicited by the broker/dealer.

• Gary Sellers v. The Bears Club: Representation of an individual related to his improper ouster from an exclusive private community golf club by Jack Nicklaus and others.

A significant portion of our practice is dedicated to representing businesses and individuals in commercial disputes. This includes representing plaintiffs or defendants during pre-suit negotiations, alternative dispute resolution formats, and trials.

MNR Recent Cases:

• Florida Department of Financial Services v. Mariano, et al., Case No. 2017 CA 2421 D (2d Cir. Ct): Representation of a member of the board of directors of a large insurance corporation brought by the Florida Department of Financial Services. The Department has brought breach of fiduciary duty and “Caremark” claims for oversight failures related to alleged accounting fraud committed by the CEO of the company. The company is now insolvent, and the claims are in excess of $300 million dollars.

• Madrigal v. Kendall Healthcare Group:  After trial, MNR’s clients obtained over $12 million in statutory appraisal proceedings following a squeeze-out merger that liquidated their shares. The clients were offered $3.3 million pre-trial.

• Allstate Insurance Co. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., et al: No. 15-11703 (Fla. 17^th Cir. Ct.): Representation of former Wells Fargo banker, Eddy Saavedra Cruz, who is a co-defendant in a suit by various Allstate Insurance entities.  Allstate alleges that Mr. Cruz, Wells Fargo, and others conspired to assist a series of Florida medical clinics to submit over $20 million in false insurance claims to Allstate related to staged vehicle accidents and for medical treatments that were never actually administered.

• Vandermolen v. Paul Zoch, No. 16-CA-31707 (Fla. 11^th Cir. Ct.): Representation of a former Wells Fargo banker in several consolidated lawsuits related to an alleged fraud related to investments in movie productions.  The three related suits alleged damages in excess of $20 million, and claimed that our client, Paul Zoch, had fraudulently induced several companies to enter into fraudulent movie financing deals, where the financing provided was alleged to have been stolen. All three of the suits were resolved out of court. Our client was not required to pay any monies to settle the suits. MNR also represented Mr. Zoch in a related FINRA matter where he was completely exonerated.

• Perez Trading:  Representation of a South Florida company victimized by a $9 million embezzlement scheme. MNR brought a malpractice action against the company’s former auditor – which was resolved quickly in an out-of-court mediation. MNR also pursued and obtained several million dollars in criminal restitution against the wrongdoer.

• Representation of owner and related business partnerships in litigation with family members over control and ownership interests in various partnership entities worth in excess of $20 million dollars.

• Representation of a venture capital firm in a professional negligence dispute related to a failed merger and acquisition causing more than $500 million dollars in damage. The matter settled during pre-suit negotiations.

• Moses et al., CACE 20-009588: Representation of several businesses victimized in a financial fraud scheme in which fraudulent business accounts were opened and operated at Bank of America and Regions Bank for the purpose of depositing obvious tax payments made out to the U.S. Treasury. Both banks are defendants.

• Representation of private equity firm in a force majeure dispute related to large event cancellations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. MNR helped obtain a full settlement in pre-suit negotiations.

• Representation of large blockchain company in litigation against its former COO for misappropriation of confidential business information, conversion of company property and tortious interference with existing client relationships.

• Nader Tavakoli v. Vladislav Doronin, No. 18-21592 (S. D. Fla.): Representation of plaintiff Nader Tavakoli, an investment banker, in lawsuit related to the $250 million acquisition of Aman Resorts, a leading luxury hotel group. Mr. Tavakoli brokered the acquisition and was promised a carried interest in the property, but was cut out by Vladislav Doronin, a Russian billionaire. We sued various foreign defendants, including Mr. Doronin. After MNR defeated Doronin’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, the case quickly resolved out of court.

• Representation of medical practice sued by a large physician practice group over a failed business partnership in a laboratory business. After several months of litigation, MNR obtained a complete dismissal of the case.

• Representation of a former senior executive who was terminated from his employment at Napleton Automotive Group as retaliation for his unwillingness to provide false testimony in a criminal proceeding.

• Holotrack Ventures v. Pulse Evolution: Representation of Pulse Evolution, a start-up company, and its directors and officers in a lawsuit brought by foreign investors alleging fraud, misappropriation, and conversion, among other things. The lawsuit was resolved favorably out of court.

• Representation of Alcon Vision, LLC in prosecuting claims against contact lens re-sale companies located in Florida for violations of the Lanham Act.

• Representation of a high-end national designer shoe company in action against former chief technology officer for claims in violation of the Defend Trade Secrets Act.

• McCullough v. Von der Goltz: Representation of owner of offshore zipline tour company facing alter ego claims in lawsuit involving catastrophic injuries in zipline accident. The case was litigated in federal court and then resolved in arbitration.

• Representation of a defendant in a suit by various insurance entities seeking damages in excess of $20 million.

• Representation of a sports company regarding a sporting event canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the event’s rescheduling.

• Algenic v. Jivana, LLC: Representation of a medical practice and its owners in lawsuit alleging fraud, breach of contract, and other claims by an allergy testing company that was involved with them in a failed healthcare business relationship. The case settled out of court.

MNR represents investors, partners, and companies in matters involving securities fraud, misrepresentations, misappropriation, breaches of fiduciary duty, and statutory appraisal matters. Our clients include individual investors and investment funds and companies of all types and sizes, as well as officers, directors, shareholders, and other consultants and professionals. We also represent clients in cases before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and in civil investigation and enforcement proceedings involving securities regulators.

MNR Recent Cases:

• Gelt Trading v. Co-Diagnostics (20-Cv-00368): Lead plaintiff’s counsel for a class of stock shareholders who purchased stock in a diagnostic company trading on NASDAQ that trumpeted its Covid-19 diagnostic testing through false and misleading public announcements. The case is being litigated in federal district court in Utah.

• SEC v. Estate of David Brooks: Representation of the estate of the former CEO of Point-Blank Solutions, who was a target of criminal and civil securities enforcement actions related to allegations of insider trading, in a related civil enforcement action brought by the SEC over $60 million dollars of restrained assets. MNR represented Brooks’ estate (his wife and children were the beneficiaries) and filed a motion to dismiss which raised issues of first impression under Section 304 of Sarbanes-Oxley and the case settled and the family received more than $25 million dollars.

• SEC v. Ruderman: Representation of Carl Ruderman, the former CEO/Chairman of 1 Global Capital, LLC, a large merchant cash advance business that ultimately went bankrupt, in a SEC enforcement action alleging securities fraud violations and seeking in excess of $250 million in disgorgement and penalties. The case ultimately settled without Mr. Ruderman admitting to any wrongdoing.

• SEC v. Shapiro: Representation of Jeri Shapiro, the wife of Woodbridge Financial Group’s Chairman, who was a relief defendant in an SEC enforcement action related to her husband’s operation of a billion-dollar real estate investment Ponzi scheme. MNR obtained a settlement on her behalf in which she made no admission of wrongdoing and only had to pay back $100,000 dollars.

• SEC v. Levin: Representation of defendant who created several investment companies that were the largest “feeder” funds that invested in Scott Rothstein’s $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme. After trial, MNR obtained a significantly reduced penalty for the client, and on appeal obtained a reversal of liability on an issue of first impression.

• Representation of a former CFO of an entertainment park where MNR convinced the SEC and DOJ during the nonpublic investigation phase to not bring any charges against our client. The case related to alleged misstatements made in the company’s corporate filings.

• Representation of the CFO of a large multinational manufacturer in a nonpublic SEC investigation into alleged misstatements in corporate financial filings which ultimately led to the filing of a restatement. MNR convinced the SEC to bring no charges against our client.

• SEC v. Huff: Representation of former CEO of Globetech in a civil enforcement action concerning allegations of stock price manipulation and misleading financial reporting. The case was settled with no admission of wrongdoing.

• Culverhouse v. Bearden: Representation of officers of a public company that sells a data management platform, in action by investor alleging investment fraud and seeking damages in excess of $4 million. Following briefing on our motion to dismiss, the lawsuit was resolved out of court.

• Representation of an investor in a FINRA arbitration against a broker/dealer for multimillion dollar investments in unsuitable investments solicited by the broker/dealer.

• Successful representation before FINRA of a banker accused of misconduct. The client was cleared of any wrongdoing.

MNR represents individuals and companies who are the victims of commercial or financial fraud. We defend executives and corporations in many industries including health care, financial services, military defense contractors, and a range of others against allegations of fraud.

MNR Recent Cases:

• Florida Department of Financial Services v. Mariano, et al., Case No. 2017 CA 2421 D (2d Cir. Ct): Representation of a member of the board of directors of a large insurance corporation brought by the Florida Department of Financial Services. The Department has brought breach of fiduciary duty and “Caremark” claims for oversight failures related to alleged accounting fraud committed by the CEO of the company. The company is now insolvent, and the claims are in excess of $300 million dollars.

• Allstate Insurance Co. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., et al: No. 15-11703 (Fla. 17^th Cir. Ct.): Representation of former Wells Fargo banker, Eddy Saavedra Cruz, who is a co-defendant in a suit by various Allstate Insurance entities.  Allstate alleges that Mr. Cruz, Wells Fargo, and others conspired to assist a series of Florida medical clinics to submit over $20 million in false insurance claims to Allstate related to staged vehicle accidents and for medical treatments that were never actually administered.

• Perez Trading:  Representation of a South Florida company victimized by a $9 million embezzlement scheme. MNR brought a malpractice action against the company’s former auditor – which was resolved quickly in an out-of-court mediation. MNR also pursued and obtained several million dollars in criminal restitution against the wrongdoer.

• Moses et al., CACE 20-009588: Representation of several businesses victimized in a financial fraud scheme in which fraudulent business accounts were opened and operated at Bank of America and Regions Bank for the purpose of depositing obvious tax payments made out to the U.S. Treasury. Both banks are defendants.

• Vandermolen v. Paul Zoch, No. 16-CA-31707 (Fla. 11^th Cir. Ct.): Representation of a former Wells Fargo banker in several consolidated lawsuits related to an alleged fraud related to investments in movie productions. The three related suits alleged damages in excess of $20 million, and claimed that our client, Paul Zoch, had fraudulently induced several companies to enter into fraudulent movie financing deals, where the financing provided was alleged to have been stolen. All three of the suits were resolved out of court. Our client was not required to pay any monies to settle the suits. MNR also represented Mr. Zoch in a related FINRA matter where he was completely exonerated.

• Broward Outpatient v. Fenstersheib Law Group, PA: Representation of a group of affiliated medical providers suing a personal injury law firm whose employee stole over $6 million in funds owed to providers for theft, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty.

• Holland v. Rothman: Representation of an individual who owned a business that marketed precious metals investments in a suit alleging fraudulent representations. The firm moved to compel arbitration of the matter and prevailed.

MNR has represented beneficiaries, heirs, creditors, and other victims in probate litigation on a contingency basis and recovered more than $50 million dollars for our clients in the last 3 years. Representative matters include trust contests, will contests, creditor disputes, breach of fiduciary duty suits, tortious interference with an expectancy suits, and elective share disputes.

MNR Recent Cases:

• Elisabeth Kruss Family Trust v. Michael Rosenberg:  Representation of successor trustee of a family trust in asserting claims for breach of trust and professional malpractice against former co-trustees, including legal counsel for the trust, and accountants for the trust. The claims exceeded $30 million dollars. The case settled prior to trial.

• Representation of the children of Sir Jack Hayward, the former owner of the Wolverham English soccer franchise, in probate-related litigation related to the misappropriation of estate assets.