Countering Fraud & Fighting Discrimination

Art provided strategic, editorial and earned media services to plaintiff’s communications teams, including these three landmark cases:

* The largest sex discrimination case in U.S. history, filed by female Walmart employees (Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.)

• Action against a dozen Wall Street banks over their role in the 2008 mortgage-backed securities scandal (Maine State Retirement System et al., v. Countrywide Financial Corp. et al.)

• Settlement talks between Native American farmers and USDA over decades of discrimination in farm loans (Keepseagle v. Vilsack)

Scope of work: Consulting with lead counsel, co-counsel, plaintiffs and technical experts; helping develop messaging and strategy; writing press materials and backgrounders; assisting journalists; facilitating interviews.

Strategy: Accurately translate complex legal issues into plain English, adding a human dimension and complying with court requirements.

Results:

-- A $500 million settlement against the banks, the largest recovery to date stemming from the 2008 financial crisis.

-- A $760 million settlement for the Native American farmers.

-- The Walmart cases are being re-filed at the state level after the U.S. Supreme Court denied national class certification.

Client: Cohen Milstein
(Art's work via turner4D)