Martin C. Geagan, Of Counsel

Martin Geagan is a litigation of counsel in the firm’s New York office. Mr. Geagan specializes in complex commercial litigation and has litigated a broad array of class actions and other matters for clients in the healthcare, insurance, pharmaceutical, sports, arts, airline, and private equity industries. Over the past 12 years, he has participated in the representation of UnitedHealth Group, Inc., Ingenix, Inc., American Airlines, Inc., Sotheby's Inc., and PAI partners SAS, among other corporate clients. One of his most significant matters involved the defense of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. in a consolidated, multi-billion dollar, multi-district nationwide class action brought by plaintiffs lawyers on behalf of nearly all practicing physicians in the United States.

Mr. Geagan helped lead a team representing UnitedHealth Group, Inc. and American Airlines, Inc. in a putative class action lawsuit brought by various health care subscribers, providers, and state medical associations. He helped obtain dismissal of multiple claims asserted under ERISA and state law, including on grounds of associational standing, non-assignment clauses, failure to exhaust administrative remedies, and preemption.

Additionally, he's been involved in a number of jury and bench trials in federal court. He participated in the representation of a white-collar criminal defendant in a highly-publicized three-month bribery and fraud jury trial in the Eastern District of New York.

Mr. Geagan also has been involved in a number of arbitrations, including the defense of the largest arbitration ever instituted before the International Chamber of Commerce. He also helped obtain a complete defense victory on behalf of PAI partners SAS, a leading French private equity firm, in a multi-million dollar arbitration.

Mr. Geagan currently represents the largest provider of pharmacy services to long-term care facilities in an Anti-Kickback Statute government investigation and related False Claims Act qui tam litigations.  In addition, he currently represents the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in a complex commercial litigation relating to the deconstruction of the former Deutsche Bank Building in lower Manhattan.

Representative Matters

• In re International Air Transportation Surcharge Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 1793, Civ. No. 06-1793 (N.D. Cal.) (CRB) – Participated in team that successfully defended American Airlines, Inc. in class action, multi-district litigation charging the fixing of fuel surcharges in the airline passenger industry.
• LaFlamme, et al. v. American Airlines, Inc., et al., Civ. No. 08-1079 (E.D.N.Y.) (KAM) (JO) – Participated in team that successfully negotiated voluntary dismissal of American Airlines, Inc. in putative class action charging the fixing of fuel surcharges in the airline passenger industry.
• Wagman v. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, et al., Civ. No. 98-107856 (N.Y. Sup. Ct.) – Obtained dismissal at oral argument of all malpractice claims asserted against law firm and former law firm attorney.
• Joe Torre – Member of the team that represented Joe Torre in negotiation of 2008 employment agreement as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Jeff Kent – Member of the team that represented Jeff Kent in 2006 negotiation of two-year, $18 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Gridiron.com, Inc. v. National Football League Players Association, Inc., et al., Civ. No. 99-6837 (S.D. Fla.) (WPD) – Participated in team that successfully represented the union for NFL players and its licensing affiliate in enforcing their exclusive licensing rights over use of player images in groups of six or more against an Internet Web site making unauthorized use of player images. Helped obtain summary judgment for the NFLPA on all counts.
• Goldsmith v. Sotheby’s, Inc., Civ. No. 04603504 (N.Y. Sup. Ct.) (CRE) – Participated in team that successfully represented Sotheby’s in litigation arising out of sale at auction of 17th-century Italian baroque marble inlaid tabletop. Helped obtain summary judgment dismissing all claims under U.K. law.
• BellSouth Products v. US Electronics, Civ. No. 99-Civ – Represented US Electronics, a distributor of BellSouth telephones in the United States and abroad, in a half-billion dollar breach of contract and antitrust dispute. After the denial of BellSouth’s motion to dismiss the case and the conclusion of preliminary injunction hearings, US Electronics entered into a highly favorable settlement with BellSouth.
• In re: Adelphia Communication Corp., Case No. 02-41729 (REG), (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.), Civ. No. 07-1172 (S.D.N.Y.) (SAS) – Helped represent committee of bondholders in highly-expedited bankruptcy confirmation hearings.

Mr. Geagan has represented several pro bono clients. He was the primary drafter of the first nationwide class action compliant file on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States against a Florida seller of sick dogs obtained from “puppy mills.” Following a Florida court’s denial of the defendant sellers’ motion to dismiss the case, the seller immediately filed for bankruptcy, resulting in the shuttering of the store and the sale of its assets.

Education