Public Client

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When corporations harm the public interest through deceptive, dishonest, or dangerous business practices, DiCello Levitt assists state and local governments in recovering the public’s damages, penalizing corporate wrongdoing, and enjoining future harm.

DiCello Levitt’s attorneys have a deep understanding of the public client perspective. We have worked alongside government attorneys and investigators in high-profile cases like the Volkswagen emissions scandal and the Takata airbag litigation, and several DiCello Levitt attorneys began their careers as government prosecutors. Our clients include the City of Baltimore in legal actions addressing the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the State of New Mexico in consumer protection and antitrust litigation, and the states of Michigan and Illinois in historic litigation over environmental contamination with the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.

When we work with public clients, we maintain an unwavering focus on what is best for them today, tomorrow, and years into the future. We approach our work as a joint venture, where we provide support through active, ongoing collaboration while drawing on our own significant legal, scientific, and technological resources to aggressively pursue justice and bring about meaningful social change.

Representative Matters

• State of New Mexico, ex rel. Hector H. Balderas v. Volkswagen Group of America

Represented the State of New Mexico against Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche, asserting state Unfair Practices Act and False Advertising Act claims relating to diesel vehicles they sold in the State of New Mexico containing “defeat devices” they installed to evade emissions standards. Achieved a settlement per vehicle that far exceeded the damages any other state received in related litigation.

• State of New Mexico, ex rel. Hector H. Balderas v. Honda Motor Co. et al.

Obtained more than $25 million on behalf of the State of New Mexico against Honda, Ford, and other automobile companies for the marketing and sale of vehicles with Takata airbag inflators susceptible to rupture and capable of causing death and severe injury.

• State of New Mexico, ex rel. Hector H. Balderas v. Solvay Pharms.

The State of New Mexico retained DiCello Levitt to pursue claims against the manufacture of AndroGel for the deceptive marketing and sale of  this testosterone therapy supplement  as a “cure” for aging men, while omitting the cardiovascular and other risks associated with the drug.  

• State of New Mexico, ex rel. Hector H. Balderas v. Wells Fargo & Company

Successfully represented the State of New Mexico against Wells Fargo for fraudulently opening unauthorized bank accounts and credit cards in the names of New Mexico customers and enrolling them in unauthorized banking services. DiCello Levitt netted New Mexico the highest settlement premium of any state in the nation.

• State of Michigan

The State of Michigan retained DiCello Levitt in its multibillion-dollar fight against the manufacturers of “Forever Chemicals” (PFAS and AFFF) for contaminating the State’s air, water and soil. The amount of contamination by the State makes this case is one of the largest environmental pollution cases in U.S. history. DiCello Levitt was selected by the State of Michigan’s independent review team from fifteen competing proposals submitted by law firms across the country.