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  Landmark Cases

 

1.  Attorneys Mark Mandell and Yvette Boisclair represented Brendan Cunha in a lawsuit against multiple doctors and hospitals who failed to report the child abuse being suffered by Brendan at the hands of his biological father. After a substantial recovery, and as a result of the injuries suffered by Brendan, the Rhode Island State Child Abuse law was changed and strengthened. The law is called “Brendan’s Law.”

2.  Attorneys Mandell and Boisclair represented the family and estate of Germaine Morsilli who died after months of grossly substandard care at the Hillside Nursing Home. A substantial result was obtained. As a result of the bad conduct at Hillside, the Rhode Island State Nursing Home law was changed and strengthened. The law is called the "Germaine Morsilli Nursing Facility Quality Improvement and Reform Act."

3.  Attorney Mark Mandell is co-lead counsel of the Station Fire litigation. The lawsuit arose out of the tragic fire that occurred at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island on February 20, 2003. One hundred people died and hundreds of others were injured. Settlement of over $176,000,000 has been obtained. As a result of the Station Fire, the Rhode Island State Fire Safety Law was changed and strengthened, importantly imposing new stricter requirements concerning the installation and use of sprinklers. It is named "The Comprehensive Fire Safety Act of 2003" signed by Governor Donald L Carcieri on July 7th, 2003 and was dedicated to the victims and families of victims of the Station Nightclub fire with the express intent that "Rhode Island will never again be the place of such a tragedy."

4.  Rhode Island Senate Reapportionment Litigation – 1982
Attorney Mark Mandell represented Senator Richard Licht in this highly publicized Senate Reapportionment lawsuit. Trial lasted three weeks before Justice James Bulman of the Rhode Island Superior Court. Justice Bulman found beyond a reasonable doubt that the reapportionment plan being challenged by Senator Licht was racially discriminatory, constituted improper political gerrymandering and violated the constitutional principle of one person one vote. The Defendants, including the State of Rhode Island, appealed. After written briefs were submitted and oral arguments were given the Rhode Island Supreme Court agreed with Justice Bulman.

5.  Attorneys Mandell and Boisclair represented Daniel Ernst in his liquor liability lawsuit against Chen’s Restaurant and Timothy Beauregard (who was overserved and became drunk at Chen’s).  The result after a three week trial was the largest verdict ever in Washington County, one of the three largest personal injury verdicts ever in Rhode Island, and the largest dram shop verdict ever in Rhode Island.

 6.  Attorney Mark Mandell represented Donna and Heather Reilly against the United States seeking compensation for the severe brain injuries Heather suffered at birth due to the negligence of a Navy obstetrician.  After a three week trial, the result was one of the largest, if not the largest, judgments rendered in a medical negligence lawsuit against the United States at the time.  The Defendant, United States, appealed and the Reillys verdict was upheld on appeal for $10,000,000.00.