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10 ■ JUNE 28, 2021 NEWS

■ From McCARTER on PAGE 9 Sheehan didn’t respond to a request for comment
prepared to assert a false claim that McHugh stole Monday.
$691,000 from MCV,” the complaint alleges. With regard to Mike Kelly, the lawsuit states:
Today, Woods is a partner with Chapman at “Rather than do what any reasonable coun-
Vargas Chapman. sel would do, defendant McCarter, along with
“David Chapman and Meghan Woods are aware Meghan Woods, an associate at MCV, helped
of the lawsuit filed against McCarter & English. Chapman devise and execute an unlawful plan
The new lawsuit does not involve David Chap- to steal MCV from McHugh and pay him noth-
man, Meghan Woods, or their current law firm, ing for it.”
Vargas Chapman Woods LLC, as parties. They The lawsuit states that James Regan, a Hart-
do not wish to comment on the allegations in- ford based partner of McCarter & English,
cluded in the lawsuit, except to say that they are “publicly and sensationally alleged that McHugh
satisfied with the settlement agreement that they stole $2,047,457 in profit from MCV, and then
reached in their litigation with maintained this false allegation
Sean McHugh, which resolved while charging exorbitant and
all litigation between them,” improper fees to MCV.”
Woods said in a statement issued The complaint also alleges Mc-
Monday. “Chapman and Woods Carter & English was negligent
have always wanted to put this and that it made many missteps.
matter behind them and move It was ”negligent of McCarter
on, and they have. They con- The former principal owner to act in a manner that was not
tinue to practice law as part of a of McHugh, Chapman &
successful law partnership with Vargas has sued New in the best interests of MCV,
including its majority owner
Attorney Amado Vargas, and Jersey-based McCarter McHugh,” the pleading alleges.
will continue to focus on their
thriving practice serving clients & English, claiming the It was “negligent of McCarter to
in personal injury and worker’s ALM Law 200 firm was repeatedly publicize defamatory
compensation matters through- negligent in handling a comments (against McHugh)
out Connecticut.” dispute between attorneys. that were contrary to their own
McCarter & English’s Kelly alleged client MCV.”
and Regan didn’t respond to a In addition, the lawsuit says it
request for comment Monday. was “negligent” for McCarter &
Representing McCarter & Eng- English “to take substantial fees
lish is Louis Pepe, a partner with of $552,670 from MCV bank ac-
McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & counts and invoice MCV for total
Carpenter in Hartford. fees well in excess of $1,095,000
In a statement, Pepe said McCarter & English to address a claim that an interest owner in MCV
will work to dismiss the lawsuit. [Chapman] was underpaid.”
“This is the second time Mr. McHugh and his at- The plaintiff seeks an award of money damag-
torney have attacked the McCarter & English law es, consequential damages and punitive damages,
firm with the same baseless and scurrilous accu- among other compensation. ■
sations,” Pepe said. “The first suit was dismissed,
and we will be working very hard to ensure this Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
latest complaint meets the same fate.” analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
Representing plaintiff Sean McHugh is Steven him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
Sheehan of Sheehan & Sheehan in Old Saybrook. 203-437-5950.
CONNECTICUT
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