Michael T. Maroney
Partner
Overview
Michael T. Maroney is an attorney in Holland & Knight's Boston office, and he is a member of the Massachusetts and New York State bars. Mr. Maroney has more than 20 years of experience litigating complex, high-exposure cases throughout the U.S., including mass tort and class action lawsuits. He represents national and international companies in a wide variety of matters, including unfair and deceptive trade practices under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 93A, independent contractor misclassification, breach of contract, fraud, tortious interference, product liability, data privacy, real estate and environmental litigation, with a particular focus on the food and beverage, healthcare, transportation, retail and consumer products industries. Mr. Maroney is a trial lawyer with a diverse practice and extensive experience in all phases of the litigation process, and he has successfully represented clients in the prosecution and defense of claims in federal and state trial courts and courts of appeals. He also has successfully represented clients in the negotiated resolution, mediation and arbitration of major commercial disputes.
In addition to managing active litigation matters, Mr. Maroney is a trusted adviser to internal and external partners and management teams, and he frequently provides counseling to clients on the legal implications of proposed transactions and restructuring of their business models. His big picture, business-oriented approach helps clients minimize litigation risk, find practical, cost-effective solutions to complex legal problems and grow their business.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Maroney was an associate in the litigation department of a law firm in New York City and a law clerk to the Honorable George A. O'Toole Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Maroney worked as a Grants Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and he was a four-year letterman on the University of Notre Dame men's lacrosse team.
Representative Experience
- Represented a college in defense of a putative class action seeking refunds of tuition and fees as a result of the college's decision to transition from in-person to remote instruction during the Spring 2020 semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Represented a healthcare system and three world-renowned hospitals in defense of a putative class action alleging violations of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 93A, the Massachusetts Wiretap Act and invasion of privacy related to the use of third-party analytics tools, cookies and pixels on publicly accessible websites
- Represented an intermodal terminal operator, ride-sharing company and furniture retailer in defense of putative class actions alleging that drivers were misclassified as independent contractors, and seeking overtime and other payments under state and federal wage laws
- Defended a commercial airline in putative class action alleging airline's $2 per bag charge for skycaps' curbside check-in service violated the Massachusetts Tips Law, and obtained order dismissing plaintiffs' state law claims as preempted by the Airline Deregulation Act
- Representing an investor in a Louisiana limited liability company in a suit to recover millions of dollars owed to the investor under a series of agreements; the case is currently pending before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
- Represented a Class 1 railroad and related entities in disputes involving a commercial lease for an automotive rail distribution facility, property encroachment claims, railroad crossing access, expansion and modernization of an intermodal terminal, and petitions to acquire property by eminent domain
- Defended owners and lessees of a major automotive rail distribution facility in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit against nuisance claims brought by abutters to the rail line serving the facility; defeated motion for preliminary injunction based on federal preemption under the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act (ICCTA)
- Defended a multifamily housing investment company in a lawsuit in Illinois brought by a developer alleging breach of a letter of intent to provide equity financing to redevelop a low-income senior living facility
- Represented investment manager and limited partners in New York Supreme Court and Appellate Division (First Department) and obtained summary judgment against general partner and related entities based on breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud related to general partner's self-dealing and mismanagement of multifamily apartment complexes owned by the partnership
- Represented an investor in New York hotel in suit to recover millions of dollars owed to it under a series of purchase and guaranty agreements; soon after the lawsuit was filed, the litigation was settled by agreement among the parties consistent with the terms of their preexisting agreements
- Prevailed in an appeal before the Rhode Island Supreme Court, affirming dismissal of wrongful death claims against a global tire and rubber company based on lack of personal jurisdiction
- Defended a commercial airline in wrongful death and personal injury actions arising out of accidents at airport terminals
- Defended a global logistics and express delivery company in a personal injury action related to the movement of cargo containers at Boston Logan International Airport, and obtained a complete defense verdict at trial
- Advised a leading food and beverage manufacturer with regard to its industrial wastewater discharge permit
- Represented a large international oil and gas company in numerous environmental matters, including claims by property owners seeking damages under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 21E, as well as claims by various states and municipalities for alleged contamination of groundwater caused by gasoline containing methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)
- Represented a Massachusetts city in various court and administrative proceedings related to construction of a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal
- Represented a leading foreign manufacturer of specialized duct products for cleanrooms in action against a certification agency for alleged breaches of contract, tortious interference, and unfair and deceptive business practices under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 93A
- Obtained dismissal on behalf of a major oil and gas company of claim alleging unfair and deceptive business practices under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 93A, related to a distributor agreement
- Defended a leading foreign provider of satellite systems against alleged breaches of contract stemming from a proposed joint venture to commercialize satellite capacity
- Represented a major insurance company in an insurance coverage dispute related to cleanup costs at a Superfund site
- Represented a major insurance brokerage and consulting firm in multiple insurance coverage disputes
- Obtained dismissal on behalf of a large mutual life insurance company in a dispute regarding an expired whole life insurance policy, in which plaintiff alleged claims for violation of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 93A
Credentials
- Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
- Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, MPA
- University of Notre Dame, B.A., Government
- Massachusetts
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
- All State Courts in Massachusetts
- All State Courts in New York
- Association of Transportation Law Professionals
- Transportation Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
- Boston Bar Association
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- New England Legal Foundation
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Commercial Litigation, 2023-2025
- Holland & Knight Community Service All Star, 2019
- Massachusetts Super Lawyers magazine, 2013-2016
- Rising Star, Massachusetts Super Lawyers magazine, 2007-2009
- Syracuse Law Review, Managing Editor
