McKee Names Savage and Wistow to Recover Washington Bridge Damages
Friday, April 05, 2024
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is engaging Providence-based Savage Law Partners and attorney Max Wistow to lead the state’s effort to investigate and potentially recover damages from those involved in the failed Washington Bridge.
McKee made the announcement nearly four months after the bridge was closed due to a structural failure.
GoLocal has learned that combined the Savage/Wistow effort will be paid on a contingency of 16.66% of what is recovered -- the same amount Wistow was paid on 38 Studios litigation.
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Wistow Led Efforts on 38 Studios and St. Joseph Pension Fund
Wistow led the state’s effort to recover damages from the 38 Studios debacle. In that case, Wistow pursued action not only against a range of companies but also against individuals involved in the failure of the gaming company created by former Boston Red Sox great Curt Schilling.
After legal fees — a total of $11.34 million to Wistow -- Rhode Island recovered $49.66 million in settlements in the 38 Studios litigation.
One of the companies that settled with the state was Hilltop Securities, which paid $16 million. The firm was formerly First Southwest Company.
In 2023, Hilltop raised red flags about financing the Pawtucket soccer stadium project.
Wistow also secured payments from Antonio Afonso, Jr. and Moses Afonso Ryan Ltd. for $4.4 million in addition, in June 2014, Antonio Afonso, Jr. and his then-law firm Moses Afonso Ryan Ltd. settled for $4.4 million
Today, Afonso is Governor Dan McKee’s chief of staff.
Wistow also settled claims against Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Barclays Capital Inc. for $25.625 million in August 2016, and Adler, Pollock & Sheehan P.C., Robert I. Stolzman, J. Michael Saul, and Keith W. Stokes for $12.5 million in August 2015.
Saul and Stokes were high-ranking staff members of Commerce Corporation. One question is will Savage and Wistow review the actions of high-level Rhode Island Department of Transportation officials. RIDOT director Peter Alviti has led the agency for the past 9 years.
More than 2,000 retirees of St. Joseph Hospital faced a fund that could have collapsed PHOTO: GoLocal
Wistow served as special prosecutor and helped to recover approximately $50 million for the depleted pension fund.
In January 2021, GoLocal was the first to report that St. Joseph’s failed pension fund had reached an agreement with a number of litigants, including the St. Joseph Hospital's former owner, CharterCARE/Prospect Medical Holdings.
That agreement did not include the Diocese of Providence, which, at the time, refused to participate in negotiations.
The settlement announced in 2021 for $30 million did not include legal fees and bolstered the total amount recovered for the past three-plus years to $47 million.
Then in August of 2023, the Diocese agreed to settle for just $2.5 million.
Savage Hired Wistow for 38 Studios and Was the Receiver for Landmark
Jonathan Savage also brings deep experience. He recruited Wistow to handle the 38 Studios litigation.
Savage Law Partners has eight attorneys in the construction practice group. The firm is run by Jeremy Savage, the managing partner. He is Jonathan's son.
He also served as the receiver for Landmark. That effort led to the stabilization of the northern Rhode Island hospital and is credited with saving 1,300 healthcare jobs.
Savage serves as the chair of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.
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