Mark A. Strauss

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.