Represent bankruptcy trustee for two South Florida-based hedge funds that lost $651 million in a multi-billion Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Thomas J. Petters in Minneapolis, the third-largest financial fraud in American history. Successfully prosecuted over 100 actions and claims against banks, law firms, accounting firms and others, recovering in the aggregate well over $200 million, including $49 million from General Electric Capital Corporation and $16 million from BMO Harris Bank, N.A. Represent client as a member of the Petters Company, Inc., Liquidating Trust Committee. Served as special counsel to the PCI Liquidating Trust to manage and resolve hundreds of millions of dollars in litigation claims.

Meland Budwick serves as special litigation counsel to Christina Lovato, the Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee in Reno, Nevada for DC Solar Solutions, Inc. and certain affiliates (DC Solar). Jeffrey Carpoff and others pled guilty to perpetrating a $1 billion Ponzi scheme through DC Solar. The firm is prosecuting all litigation claims held by the trustee. To date, the firm has recovered over $100 million, including settlements with Nixon Peabody for $20 million, KeyBank for $11.6 million, DC Solar’s outside accountants for $11.25 million, Heritage Bank for $9 million, Alvarez & Marsal for $7.65 million, and a NASCAR subsidiary for $5.75 million. The firm is prosecuting other actions, including a $33 million avoidance action against a large privately held Nevada based company.

Served as Chapter 11 counsel to IT’SUGAR LLC, a specialty candy retailer with approximately 100 stores and over 700 employees across 28 states. Through extensive negotiations with dozens of landlords, IT’SUGAR was able to obtain millions of dollars in pre and post-petition rent relief, restructure vendor debt, and successfully confirm a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.

Confirmed Chapter 11 Plan for upscale South Beach restaurant.

Representation of affiliate of BBX Capital in connection with protecting its interests as a secured creditor Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Robovault high tech storage facility in Fort Lauderdale.

Represented the assignee, pursuant to Chapter 727 of the Florida Statutes, of a company in the business of distributing recording devices throughout Central and South America.

Represented the principal of a large South Florida based company accused of breach of fiduciary duty and negligence by the company’s creditors. Vision Development Group, LLC – represented the developer of a large condominium conversion project and its principal member in connection with litigation and a workout with the senior secured lender, Corus Bank, and various mezzanine lenders.

Represented a leading real estate brokerage firm in its claims for malpractice, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty against separate accounting firms and individual accountants. The matter resolved presuit for a confidential amount paid to our client.

Represented the successful purchaser of Pan American hospital, a landmark operating hospital, for $34 million through a Chapter 11 Section 363 sale.

Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Falcon Air bankruptcy.

Represented Creditors Committee in Cabi Downtown, LLC (Everglades by the Bay) twin 49 story downtown Miami condominium towers with over $200 million in debt.

Representation of the official committee of unsecured creditors in a Chapter 11 case of sugar processing and retail business.

Supra Telecommunications & Systems, Inc. – represented the largest CLEC in the Southeastern United States in its Chapter 11 Reorganization, litigating numerous contentious matters with Bellsouth and successfully reducing Bellsouth’s claim from approximately $170 million to approximately $37.5 million and ultimately confirming a plan.

New World Network International Ltd. – representation of a group of minority shareholders in a telecommunications Chapter 15 bankruptcy pending in the Southern District of New York and litigated whether a foreign proceeding in Bermuda should be recognized as a main proceeding as well as other venue issues.

Condominium Developer Workouts – during the downturn of the real estate and condominium market, represented numerous developers in workouts with senior secured and mezzanine lenders, including, Corus Bank, Fremont, Key Bank and Ocean Bank.

New Florida Properties, Inc. (Blue and Green Diamond) – representation of the equity holder and its affiliates in connection with the 630 unit landmark Blue and Green Diamond condominium projects on Miami Beach. Prosecuted tort claims against the senior secured participating lenders, including, Union Planters and Ocean Bank. MRB raised claims against the lenders for equitable subordination and lender liability resulting in the bank group waiving over $6 million in debt and agreeing to permit the equity holder to retain control over the disposition of the units.

Representation of the Chapter 7 Trustee and Michael Budwick served as the receiver appointed by the United States District Court in a $19 million Ponzi scheme case perpetrated by Thomas Abrams. Brought a variety of litigation claims and reached a multi-million dollar settlement of an aiding and abetting claim against Fidelity Federal Bank & Trust, N.A.

Represented a group of major clawback defendants in the Lancer Partners financial fraud case.

Represented largest creditor in Evergreen Securities bankruptcy in Orlando, Florida, involving a $214 million Ponzi scheme.

Represented the largest victim in the Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Scott Rothstein and Rothstein Rosenfeldt & Adler, P.A. law firm in Fort Lauderdale.

Puig, Inc. – representation of the Official Joint Committee of Unsecured Creditors and then the Plan Administrator in connection with 26 debtor affiliates in the business of condominium conversions. The asserted unsecured claims exceeded $100 million. Prosecuted claims against third parties include actions for avoidance of transfers, professional malpractice, usury, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.

Representation of shareholders of a close corporation in eight figure settlement of lender liability claims against a consortium of financial institutions.

Representation of minority shareholders in derivative action related to corporation holding real estate investments with tens of millions of dollars in equity.

Representation of the principal of a large South Florida based company accused of breach of fiduciary duty and negligence by the company’s creditors.

Represented multiple individual and corporate plaintiffs, including Berjaya Group (Cayman) Limited and Prime Gaming Philippines, Inc. in litigation against Duffy’s Holdings, Inc. involving allegations of breaches of a stock purchase agreement regarding the multi-national restaurant chain of Roadhouse Grill, Inc.

Represented a leading real estate brokerage firm in its claims for malpractice, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty against separate accounting firms and individual accountants. The matter resolved presuit for a confidential amount paid to our client.

Represented the owner of Grand Bay Hotel in Coconut Grove in a successful workout with the lender.

Representation of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee of an entity through which its principal operated a $40+ million Ponzi scheme. The principal has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.

Court appointed Mark Meland as Receiver for Innovida Companies run by Claudio Osorio. After discovering an approximately $50 million fraud, ceased operations and filed Chapter 11 for numerous entities. Mark S. Meland was appointed the Chapter 11 Trustee and liquidated tangible assets. The firm serves as litigation counsel to the Chapter 7 trustee in numerous avoidance and tort actions seeking to collect funds for defrauded investors.

A Florida State Court appointed Mark Meland as Receiver over entities controlled by Claudio Osorio, including Innovida Holdings, Inc. The firm represented Mr. Meland in his efforts as Receiver.