Mariann Meier Wang

Representative Cases

Sued Donald J. Trump for nearly three years on behalf of Summer Zervos in her defamation lawsuit, from filing the complaint just before he took office to defeating multiple efforts by Trump in three different courts to have the case dismissed or stayed. Ms. Zervos bravely came forward as one of a number of women who reported being forcibly groped by Trump, who then falsely branded her as a liar. We sued him for defamation, building on case law we had made in a prior action in New York’s highest court.  Read extensive news coverage by The Washington Post, CNN, and PBS.

J.S. v. Dalton School, et al.

Representing J.S. under New York’s Child Victims Act in a suit against the Dalton School and its former Head of School. At age 14, J.S. was offered free tuition and board, living with the Head of School and attending the Dalton School for 9th grade. The unusual arrangement ultimately allowed for multiple opportunities of sexual abuse, which has had profoundly negative consequences on our client’s life. Read extensive news coverage by the New York Law Journal, the New York Daily News, and the New York Post.

NYPD Systemic Discrimination/Sex Assault Case

Our firm is spearheading a systemic case in an effort to remedy the NYPD’s discriminatory failure of those brave sexual assault survivors who report their crimes to the police. Read the complaint and extensive press coverage.

A.P. v. United States of America

Representing woman who was repeatedly raped and sexually abused by federal corrections officers who were ultimately convicted on federal criminal charges. Suing government and federal officials for their negligence and deliberate indifference to the widespread abuse of power that led to the assaults.  Read the complaint and news coverage of our case.

Sexual Assaults, Sexual Abuse, Sex Harassment and Racial Abuse/Harassment

Represented hundreds of individuals who have suffered severe sexual harassment, assaults, or other forms of abuse in a variety of contexts, including employment, housing, education, in prisons, and other circumstances through both confidential mediations and litigation. For example:

• Successfully represented numerous students who suffered a rape or sexual assault, and then retaliation for reporting the incident, in Title IX proceedings and lawsuits;
• Obtained more than $150 million and other forms of relief, including requiring investigations, for survivors of childhood sexual abuse at different institutions who were abused by doctors, teachers, administrators, and/or coaches;
• Successfully litigated and mediated multiple actions in federal court on behalf of women who suffered sexual assaults at work and outside of work, by both supervisors and co-workers, and were then retaliated against when it was reported;
• Obtained settlements from security company and landlord after woman was raped in her own home;
• Forced major financial services company to pay over $1 million for violations of discrimination law based on sexual overtures of one of its supervisors, as well as racial attacks by the same individual;
• Counseled and represented numerous rape survivors in the aftermath of their attack;
• Represented group of male fire safety officers who were discriminated against on the basis of their Caribbean descent/national origin and race. Successfully settled.

Housing and Lending Discrimination

Represented, and currently representing, dozens of individuals denied the opportunity to rent or buy real estate in the New York region because of discriminatory practices and policies by landlords, managing agents, and real estate agents. Building on a two-year investigation by the Fair Housing Justice Center, successfully litigated one of the first cases against a bank for providing different lending information to potential applicants based on their race.  Currently litigating injunctive case against New York City for its residential preference rule that furthers racial segregation and discrimination, alongside the Anti-Discrimination Center. Also litigated multiple federal and state court actions based on discrimination relating to race, national origin, gender, family status, and source of income.

T.H. v. City of New York

Alongside Legal Services NYC, successfully litigated injunctive and damages case against the City of New York for the Department of Education’s improper/overbroad use of emergency services to deal with special needs children in schools.

Strip Search Class Action

Litigated a class action that resulted in extensive injunctive relief, including a special monitor for two years, and a $33 million settlement for 100,000 persons who were illegally strip searched upon admission to Rikers after being arraigned solely on misdemeanor or lesser offenses.

Vilkhu v. City of New York

Obtained a jury verdict for Mr. Vilkhu, who was beaten by two NYPD officers, despite the fact that there were no eyewitnesses and the officers denied that the incident occurred. Collected over half a million dollars in damages and fees.

Cruz v. Nieves

Obtained jury verdict for a gay man who was subjected to vicious homophobic harassment while he lived in a Bronx apartment building based on New York State and City laws prohibiting housing discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Trademark Infringement

Successfully represented several companies in prosecuting and defending against trademark infringement actions, including a large luxury-clothing retailer, an urban music company, and a radio show.

Contract Disputes and Business Torts

Successfully represented numerous small businesses and publicly held corporations in a wide range of commercial cases alleging business torts and contract disputes.