Law firm Manatt, Phelps, and Philips’ has forged a claim to notoriety by representing Centene Corp., doing the latter’s dirty works. Lawyers of the firm have been regarded as mercenaries, and their motivation for faithful service was anchored on money alone. It turned out, Manatt’s greed knows no boundaries.
A dissatisfied former client is seeking to teach the controversial law firm a lesson about loyalty. According to the lawsuit filed by Multiple Energy Technologies (MET), Manatt turned their back on the original contract approved by both parties. The breach of agreement delayed the company’s cases previously held by Manatt lawyers, thus leading to additional legal expenses.
Manatt had agreed to take up MET’s legal battles but had a change of heart midway. The lawyers had demanded a renegotiation on the original terms of agreement but MET was having none of it. The company knew what the lawyers want – more money – and they will not be getting any.
Facts Of The Case
Per the legal filing by MET, the company hired Manatt to handle their legal proceedings against Hologenix and Under Armour. MET had filed injunctions against the two firms and tapped Manatt to handle the litigations. The two parties signed a formal agreement, and after which MET paid the retainer’s fee stipulated on the contract.
A lawsuit was then filed against Hologenix but over the course of time, MET felt that the case was not progressing as they envisioned. For the company, it came as a surprise too that Manatt stopped lawyering on the case against Under Armour. When MET asked for clarifications, Manatt explained that representing the company for the Under Armour case was not part of the original deal.
Further talks between the two parties revealed that Manatt wanted to modify the first term of agreement. The lawyers would surely take up both cases but for additional cost. Naturally, MET officials balked at the fresh demands laid out by the cunning lawyers, and their negotiations dragged on.
The ensuing deadlock saw Manatt refusing to represent MET, and eventually, the law firm withdrew from the Hologenix lawsuit. Left out in the cold, MET had no recourse but to hire a replacement. And that meant for the company additional legal costs because Manatt lawyers failed to deliver on their end of the bargain.
The Color Of Money
Had MET executives took the time to review first Manatt’s track record, they would better understand how the law firm operates. For instance, Manatt’s legal relationship with Centene Corp. would show that the law firm was ready to go all-out if the price is right. The translation: the one thing that keeps Manatt lawyers going is the sight of money. They would go where the top dollar points them. The color of money is their foremost compass.
As its colorful history would indicate, Manatt’s work ethic is fueled by one thing only – the desire to scoop up every dollar that a client would on the table. More zeros would mean a higher level of quality, and that is the Manatt way.
