Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro refuted claims that it breached a lawyer's employment contract, and instead accused the lawyer of misleading the firm about his ability to find plaintiffs for a potential class action over the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant meltdown in Japan.

Hagens Berman and firm leader Steve Berman lodged an answer and counterclaims on June 23 in Washington federal court responding to a contract lawsuit filed by Van Carter. A former Kelley Drye & Warren lawyer, Carter claims that he signed an agreement in late 2012 to join Hagens Berman, only to see the firm back out a few weeks later.

The employment pact called for Carter to take an of counsel role at Hagens Berman and receive a $225,000 base salary for the first year, according to Carter's suit. His primary responsibility would be to work with clients on developing claims for a case against General Electric Co., which had designed reactors involved in the Fukushima meltdown.