(April 9, 2013, Boston, MA) – On April 5, 2013, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green PA shareholder Charles Waters received a final judgment in the amount of $1.9 million on behalf of the firm’s clients after a 2½-week jury trial in the Business Litigation Session of the Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston. The jury found that Nationwide Securities, LLC (a broker-dealer) and Nationwide Life Insurance Company of America and their employee (Frederick V. McMenimen, III) each committed unfair and deceptive business practices in violation of Massachusetts Consumer Protection Statute (G.L. c. 93A). The jury further determined that the Defendants’ unfair and deceptive acts were committed “willfully” and “knowingly”, and multiplied punitive damages against each of them in the amount of 240%. In issuing an award of attorney’s fees and costs of $770,000 to Sheehan Phinney’s clients, the Court (Billings, J.) found that the “experience, reputation, and ability of the [Sheehan Phinney attorneys] who tried the case…are top-drawer.”
Waters has a significant litigation practice, including life insurance and securities fraud cases, shareholder disputes, and disputes involving breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, business torts, unfair and deceptive trade practices, trade secrets, non-competition agreements, partnerships and closed corporations, and other commercial disputes. Since 2005, Law and Politics Magazine has named Waters a New England Super Lawyer in the area of business litigation. He has won multiple million dollar trial awards, including one of the largest trial awards ($2.43 million) in Massachusetts in 2006. His trial successes have garnered attention by both local and national media. Waters serves as a panelist for the Massachusetts Bar Association pertaining to litigation and trial issues, and has published article on various litigation topics. Waters is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and is a member of the Boston and Massachusetts Bar Associations.