Bernstein Liebhard LLP Named to The National Law Journal's 2014 "Plaintiffs Hot List" - The Only Firm in the Country to Be Named for Twelve Consecutive Years

NEW YORK, March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP is honored to announce that the firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" for the twelfth consecutive year.  Bernstein Liebhard is the only firm in the country to be named to this prestigious list every year since the list was first published in 2003.

The National Law Journal selected twelve firms that "landed groundbreaking verdicts, negotiated big settlements and, in many cases, paved the way for the resolution of other disputes."  This year The National Law Journal focused on the diverse nature of Bernstein Liebhard's practice, highlighting the firm's growth in the mass tort practice area and its continued success in its securities litigation and consumer litigation practice areas.  Stanley D. Bernstein, senior partner of the firm, commented on the firm's expansion and success:  "we found that we could spread our wings and use our skills in different types of plaintiffs' litigation." 

The National Law Journal highlighted some of the firm's successes this past year, including a historic $20 million punitive damages award obtained in a consumer class action brought in Connecticut state court, an $11 million jury verdict obtained in a case against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon Inc. in connection with pelvic mesh implants, and a $219 million settlement obtained on behalf of investors in Madoff feeder funds.  Summaries of the cases highlighted are set forth below:

• Artie's Auto Body, Inc. v. Hartford Fire Insurance Co., No. X08-CV-03-0196141S (CLD) (Conn. Super. Ct.):  In one of the few class action cases to go to trial, the firm obtained the largest punitive damages award ($20 million) in the history of Connecticut's Unfair Trade Practices Act.  The award stems from a four-week jury trial where partner Ronald J. Aranoff, as co-lead counsel, won a verdict of $14.7 million for a class of hundreds of auto body repair shops to recover for the harm caused by The Hartford Fire Insurance Company's illegal practice of artificially suppressing labor rates for auto body repair workers and illegally steering its insureds to a closed network of preferred auto body repair shops. 
• In re Pelvic Mesh/Gynecare Litigation - Gross v. Gynecare Inc., No. ATL-L-6966-10 (N.J. Super. Ct.):  Partner Jeffrey S. Grand was a member of the trial team that successfully tried the first case against defendants Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson in the In re Pelvic Mesh/Gynecare litigation.  The jury found for the plaintiff, awarding more than $11 million in compensatory and punitive damages.  The trial paves the way for similar cases which have been brought in both federal and state courts.
• In re Beacon Associates Litigation, No. 09 CIV 0777 (LBS) (AJP) (S.D.N.Y.):  As Investor Counsel representing investors in hedge funds that invested with Bernard L. Madoff, partner Jeffrey M. Haber, working with lead counsel, Lowey, Dannenberg, Cohen & Hart, P.C., secured a $219 million settlement for the classes they represented.  The $219 million settlement resolves claims in the In re Beacon Associates Litigation and In re J.P. Jeanneret Associates. Inc., No. 09 CIV 3907 (CM) (AJP) (S.D.N.Y.) class actions, as well as additional lawsuits in federal and New York State court, including suits brought by the United States Department of Labor and the New York Attorney General.    

Bernstein Liebhard LLP, established in 1993, represents plaintiffs in various types of class action and complex litigation.  For more information, please contact Stanley D. Bernstein at (212) 779-1414 or [email protected].

Bernstein Liebhard LLP
10 East 40th Street
New York, New York 10016
(212) 779-1414
(877) 779-1414
www.bernlieb.com

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2014 Bernstein Liebhard LLP.  The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414.  The lawyer responsible for this advertisement in the State of Connecticut is Michael S. Bigin.  Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

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SOURCE Bernstein Liebhard LLP