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MARK A. STRAUSS

Mark is a battle-hardened and tenacious anti-fraud attorney with more than twenty years of experience in complex civil litigation and representing qui tam whistleblowers under the False Claims Act. His efforts have resulted in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for clients.

Title: Founder & Managing Member

Phone: 212.729.9496

Email: [email protected]

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A former journalist, Mark is a battle-hardened and tenacious anti-fraud attorney with more than twenty years of experience in complex civil litigation. He has represented qui tam whistleblowers under the False Claims Act as well as victims of fraud under the federal securities laws and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). His efforts have resulted in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for clients.

Prior to founding Mark A. Strauss Law, PLLC, Mark was a partner at Kirby McInerney LLP, a respected plaintiffs’ class action firm that was named one of the “Most Feared Plaintiffs’ Firms” by Law360.com. There, he represented the qui tam relator in the United States ex rel. Kenneth Karlin v. Noble Jewelry case, winning a $3.8 million settlement. He also represented the whistleblower in the United States ex rel. Dickhdt v. Winds Enterprises case, obtaining a $1.5 million recovery. He was also a key member of teams that prosecuted major securities fraud class actions on behalf of investors including In re Citigroup Inc. Securities Litigation, which resulted in a settlement of $590 million, and In re Adelphia Commc’n Corp. Securities Litigation, which ended in $460 million in settlements. He also represented defrauded mortgagors in Rothstein v. GMAC Mortgage, obtaining a $13 million recovery. In addition, he represented victims of financial Ponzi schemes in Cromer Fin. v. Berger, recovering $65 million, and Serino v. Lipper, securing a recovery of $29.9 million.

Mark’s trial court and appellate advocacy has also resulted in numerous notable decisions, including Reading Health Sys. v. Bear Stearns & Co., in which Mark persuaded the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to split from the Second and Ninth Circuits to uphold the rights of defrauded customers of large financial institutions. In Chill v. Calamos Advisors, Mark also first-chaired a seven-day trial on behalf of injured investors in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Mark began his law career as an associate at Christy & Viener LLP and Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP where he defended corporate clients in complex litigation and class actions. He resides with his wife and three daughters in Manhattan.

Significant Cases

U.S. ex rel. v. Karadag v. Luchiano Visconti Loutie, LLC (S.D.N.Y.) – represented False Claims Act whistleblower in case against apparel importer for evasion of import duties. Client received whistleblower award of 20% of $3.64 million settlement.
U.S. ex rel. Dickhudt v. Winds Enters. (W.D. Wa.) – represented False Claims Act whistleblower in case against Chinese apparel manufacturer for evasion of import duties. Client received award of 20% of $1.5 million settlement.
U.S. ex rel. Karlin v. Noble Jewelry Co. (S.D.N.Y.) – represented False Claims Act whistleblower in case against Chinese manufacturer for misclassification of dutiable goods under US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSA). Client received award of 19% of $3.85 million settlement.
Rothstein v. GMAC Mortg. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y) – represented borrowers in RICO class action in connection with force-placed insurance kickback scheme. Resulted in $13 million settlement.
Parker v. AHMSI Ins. Agency (S.D. Fla.) – represent borrowers in RICO class action relating to overcharges for force-placed insurance.
In re Citigroup Inc. Securities Litig. (S.D.N.Y.) – represented investors in securities class action that resulted in $590 million settlement.
In re Adelphia Commc’n Corp. Securities Litig. (S.D.N.Y.) – represented investors in securities class action that resulted in $460 million in settlements.
Cromer Fin. v. Berger (S.D.N.Y.) – represented defrauded hedge fund investors. Resulted in $65 million settlement.

Notable Decisions

Reading Health Sys. v. Bear Stearns & Co., 900 F.3d 87 (3d Cir. 2018)
Chill v. Calamos Advisors LLC, No. 15 CIV. 1014 (ER), 2018 WL 4778912 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 3, 2018)
Chill v. Calamos Advisors LLC, 175 F. Supp. 3d 126 (S.D.N.Y. 2016)
Rothstein v. Balboa Ins. Co., 794 F.3d 256 (2d Cir. 2015)
Truk Int’l Fund LP v. Wehlmann, 389 F. App’x 354 (5th Cir. 2010)
Detroit Gen. Ret. Sys. v. Medtronic, Inc., 621 F.3d 800 (8th Cir. 2010)
Cement & Concrete Workers Dist. Council Pension Fund v. Hewlett Packard Co., 964 F. Supp. 2d 1128 (N.D. Cal. 2013)
Cram v. Pepsico Exec. Income Deferral Comp. Program, No. 08-CV-10627 (CS), 2010 WL 4877275 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 9, 2010)
In re Refco Capital Markets, Ltd. Brokerage Customer Sec. Litig., 586 F. Supp. 2d 172 (S.D.N.Y. 2008).
Cromer Fin. Ltd. v. Berger, No. 00 CIV.2284 DLC, 2003 WL 21436172 (S.D.N.Y. June 23, 2003)
Cromer Fin. Ltd. v. Berger, 245 F. Supp. 2d 552 (S.D.N.Y. 2003)

Education

Cornell University,
Bachelor of Arts,
1987

Fordham University School of Law,
Juris Doctor,
1993

Bar Membership

New York State Bar

California State Bar

United States District Court,
Eastern & Southern Districts of New York

United States District Court,
Northern, Southern & Central Districts of California

Organizations

Fordham University School of Law,
Associate Editor of the Law Review,
1993

Awards & Recognition

Hear From Other Whistleblowers

This is to thank you for the settlement and relator award .... Thank you for all you do to bring more justice in a world where it's needed so badly.

— David D., Hong Kong, client"Thank you for all you do."

"I was referred to Mark Strauss for my whistleblower case by another respected attorney. Mark's professionalism and expertise were apparent from our first meeting and throughout the handling of the case. It was a long process, but he was at my side the entire time, went above and beyond, and got a great result. I recommend him highly."

-- Ken K., Great Neck, N.Y., client"I recommend him highly."