Wesley A. Morrissette

Cases Tried or Otherwise Taken to Judgment

State of New Mexico v. Walgreens (First Judicial District Court, Santa Fe, NM, 2022)
Trial counsel for Walgreens in case brought by the New Mexico Attorney General alleging claims for public nuisance and unfair trade practices relating to Walgreens’ dispensing of prescription opioid medications. Trial lasted seven weeks in September and October 2022.

Rose et al. v. Raffensperger (N.D. Ga., 2020-22)
Trial counsel for plaintiffs in a voting rights lawsuit that successfully challenged the at-large, statewide method of electing members of Georgia's Public Service Commission, the entity that regulates utility services in the State. Following a week-long bench trial, in which Wesley delivered the opening statement and put on the plaintiffs’ key fact witness and pivotal expert, a federal judge ruled that the State’s method violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. When a federal appeals court stayed that ruling, the team convinced a unanimous Supreme Court to overturn the stay, ensuring that the November 2022 Public Service Commission elections would not take place using an at-large method that unlawfully dilutes the votes of millions of Black citizens in Georgia.

See coverage of the trial victory in the Associated Press, The Hill, Law360, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. See Wesley’s comments on the victory on 11Alive Atlanta. The victory earned Wesley and his teammates runner-up Litigator of the Week honors.

See coverage of the Supreme Court victory in the New York Times and on CNN.

State of Florida v. Walgreens (Fla. Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pasco County, 2022)
Trial counsel for Walgreens in headline-grabbing trial in which the State of Florida sought damages for the opioid epidemic. The case settled favorably after three weeks of trial. 

General Electric Company v. APR Energy PLC (S.D.N.Y., 2020-22)
Counsel for defendant and counterclaim plaintiffs in breach of contract action arising from sale of mobile power turbines rental business and subsequent turbines-supplier relationship between the parties. The case settled favorably before trial.

APR Energy Holdings Ltd. v. General Electric International Operations Company, Inc. (M.D. Fla., 2020-21)
Counsel for plaintiff in breach of contract action arising from power generation services provided by APR.

BankDirect Capital Finance, LLC v. Capital Premium Financing, Inc. (N.D. Ill., 2017-18)
Counsel for plaintiff in breach of contract case.  Successfully argued Seventh Circuit Appeal of preliminary injunction, which directly led to settlement in client’s favor.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Texas Roadhouse (D. Mass., 2016-17)
Trial counsel for landmark pattern or practice age discrimination claim brought by EEOC against national restaurant chain. After three-week jury trial in January 2017, case ended in a mistrial because jury was deadlocked after deliberating for one week. Law360 coverage here. Case settled very favorably before retrial.

Confidential AAA Arbitration (Phoenix, AZ, 2015-16)
Represented a Fortune 100 company in confidential, multi-billion dollar dispute. The two-week arbitration hearing included testimony from numerous senior executives and expert witnesses. Obtained complete victory for client.

Mybrary LLC d/b/a Trunq v. Lifetime Memori Inc. d/b/a Trunx (N.D. Ill., 2015-16)
Counsel for plaintiff in trademark infringement case. Parties reached agreement on a joint stipulated permanent injunction shortly after filing. Secured an award of attorney fees for client.

Current Representations

Elliott Associates, L.P., et al. v. AbbVie Inc. (Illinois 2017-Present)
Representing various investment funds in fraud actions arising from AbbVie’s aborted $50 billion acquisition of Shire in 2014.

Professional Activities and Community Service

Associate Board Member and Treasurer, Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization, 2019-Present

Founding Donor, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's African American History and Culture Endowed Scholarship

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Mentor, 2018-Present

Alumni Ambassador, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Alumni Ambassador, 2018-Present

2018 Pathfinder, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity

Board Co-Chair, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Black Law Alumni Association, Board Co-Chair, 2016-2018