Motley Rice experience in MDL practice, consolidated trials, complex litigation and class actions

Motley Rice attorneys are honored to hold leadership positions in numerous and diverse multidistrict litigations, including those that address consumer fraud, toxic exposure, dangerous medical drugs and devices, and other issues impacting men, women and children.

While studies show that women account for 16 percent or less of multidistrict litigation leadership appointments, Motley Rice considers diversity in litigation leadership among its highest principled ideals. A quarter of the firm’s member attorneys are women, many of whom have held leadership roles in complex and noteworthy litigation. From advocating for women in their battle against ovarian cancer and dangerous talcum powder, to representing vehicle owners who were defrauded by automakers and emissions cheating software, our diverse body of attorneys have the knowledge and experience to fight for you.

MDL Leadership Experience

Highlights include:

In re: ARC Airbag Inflators Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:22-md-03051-ELR (Plaintiffs Leadership Committee)

In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices And Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3060, No. 1:23-cv-00818 (Co-Lead Counsel)

In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, No. 4:22-md-03047 (Co-Lead Counsel)

In re: Elmiron (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium) Products Liability Litigation, No. 2:20-md-02973 (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)

In Re: Paraquat Products Liability Litigation, May Term 2022, No. 559 (Pa. C.P. Phila. County). (Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, Co-Lead Counsel and Liaison Counsel) 

In re McKinsey & Co., Inc. National Prescription Opiate Consultant Litigation, No. 21-md-02996-CRB, U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)

In re Allergan Biocell Textured Breast Implant Products Liability Litigation, No. 2:19-md-02921, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)

In re Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2974, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division, No. 1:20-MD-02974-LMM (Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee)

In re Blackbaud, Inc., Customer Data Breach Litigation, MDL No. 2972, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina Columbia Division, No. 3:20-mn-02972-JCM (Co-Lead Counsel)

In re Zantac (Ranitidine) Products Liability Litigation, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, No. 9:20-md-02924 (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and Co-Chair of Leadership Development Committee)

County of Delaware v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al. (Co-Lead Counsel on the Coordinating Committee for the Pennsylvania Coordinated Cases)

In re Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation (D.S.C Charleston Division) MDL 2873 (Liaison Counsel)

In re Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index Manipulation Antitrust Litigation (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division) No. 18 CV 4171 MDL No. 2842 (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)

In re Zetia (Ezetimibe) Antitrust Litigation (U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia Norfolk Division) MDL No. 2:18md2836 (Co-Lead Counsel)

In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, No. 17-md-02804 (Co-Lead Counsel)

In re Davol/ C.R. Bard Hernia Mesh (PC-2017-1929) (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, Co-lead Counsel and Liaison Counsel)

In re Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2782 (Plaintiffs' Steering Committee and Co-lead Counsel)

In re Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep Ecodiesel Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation (Plaintiffs' Steering Committee)

In re Atrium Medical Corp. C-QUR Mesh Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2753 (Lead Counsel; Plaintiffs' Executive Committee)

In re Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation (Plaintiffs' Steering Committee)

Essure Permanent Sterilization Device California State Court Consolidation (Lead Counsel; Plaintiffs' Executive Committee)

In re KBR, Inc., Burn Pit Litigation (Co-lead and Liaison Counsel)

In re 21st Century Oncology Data Breach, MDL 2737 (Co-liaison Counsel, Plaintiffs' Steering Committee)

In re Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) and Cialis (Tadalafil) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2691 (Plaintiffs' Executive Committee)

In re Volkswagen "Clean Diesel" Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2672 CRB (JSC) (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)

In re Power Morcellator Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2652 (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)

In re Zofran (Ondansetron) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2657 (Co-lead Counsel; Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)

In re Bard IVC Filters Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2641 (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)

In re American Medical Systems, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2325 (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia) (Co-lead Counsel)

In re Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2327 (Co-Lead Coordinating Counsel)

In re C.R. Bard, Inc., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2187 (Co-Liaison Counsel)

In re Boston Scientific Corp., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2326 (Co-Lead Counsel)

In re Mirena Product Liability state court consolidation in New Jersey (Co-Lead Counsel)

In re General Motors LLC Ignition Switch Litigation, MDL 2543 (Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee)

In re Lipitor® (Atorvastatin Calcium) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2502 (PSC)

In re Oil Spill by the Oil Rig "Deepwater Horizon" in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010. MDL 2179 (PSC and lead settlement negotiators)

In re Asbestos Products Liability Litigation, MDL 875 (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania) (Chair, PSC and Liaison Counsel)

In re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, MDL 1570 (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York) (PSC and Co-lead Counsel)

In re Welding Fume Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1535 (PSC)

In re Human Tissue Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1763 (PSC and Co-lead Counsel)

In re National Security Agency Telecommunications Records Litigation, MDL 1791 (PSC and Lead Counsel for Verizon Plaintiffs)

In re Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch Litigation, MDL 1842 (PSC and Lead Counsel)

In re DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. ASR Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2197 (PSC)

In re DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. Pinnacle Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2244 (PSC)

In re Avandia Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1871 (PSC)

In re Medtronic, inc., Sprint Fidelis Leads Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1905 (PSC)

In re Trasylol Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1928 (PSC)

In re Levaquin Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1943 (PSC)

In re NuvaRing Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1964 (PSC)

In re Digitek Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1968 (Co-lead Counsel and PSC)

In re Hydroxycut Marketing and Sales Practice Litigation, MDL 2087 (PSC)

In re Zicam Cold Remedy Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2096 (PSC)

In re Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2342 (PSC)

In re A.H. Robins Co., Inc., "Dalkon Shield" IUD Products Liability Litigation (No. II), MDL 631

In re Asbestos School Products Liability Litigation, MDL 624

In re San Juan DuPont Plaza Hotel Fire Litigation, MDL 721 (U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico) (PSC and Multiple Plaintiffs' Counsel)

In re Showa Denko K.K. L-tryptophan Products Liability Action, MDL No. 865 (PSC and Liaison Counsel)

In re Xarelto Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2592 (Bellwether Committee Co-Chair)

In re Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Implants Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1001

In re Abbott Laboratories Omniflox Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1004

In re Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. Tires Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1373 (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana) (PSC and Discovery Committee)

In re Ford Motor Co. E-350 Van Products Liability Litigation (No. II), MDL 1687

Rule 42 Consolidations/Trials of Common Issues

Highlights include:

In re Juul Labs, Inc. Antitrust Litigation, case no. 20-cv-02345-WHO, in the in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee)

Hendrix, et al. v. Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., et al., 776 F.2d 1492 (11th Cir. 1985) (the first Rule 42 multi-plaintiff in the 11th Circuit)

Cimino, et al. v. Raymark Industries, Inc., et al., 151 F.3d 297 (5th Cir. 1998) (affirming consolidation pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P 42 of 3,031 plaintiffs)

In re Asbestos Cases I-IV, Civ. Act. No. 92-C-8888 et. al. (Cir. Ct., Kanawha Co., W. Va.) (four different Rule 42 consolidated trials of more than 10,000 individual asbestos cases in Kanawha County, West Virginia)

In re Mon-Mass I-II, Civ. Act. No. 93-C-362 et. al. (Cir. Ct., Monongalia Co., W. Va.) (two different Rule 42 consolidated trials of more than 8,000 individual asbestos cases in Monongalia County, West Virginia)

Abate, et al. v. Eagle Picher Industries, Inc., et al., aff'd except as to punitive damages, 667 A.2d 116 (lead plaintiffs' trial counsel in a Rule 42 consolidated trial of more than 8,500 individual cases in the City of Baltimore, Maryland)

Chatham v. AC&S, et al., a consolidated asbestos personal injury action involving 300 plaintiffs in the Circuit Court of Harris County, Texas. (co-lead plaintiffs' counsel)

Mary Abrahms, et al., v. GAF Corp., et al., a consolidated asbestos personal action involving in excess of 6,000 plaintiffs pending in the Mississippi State Circuit Court at Jackson County. (co-lead plaintiffs' counsel)

Dennis Bates, et al. v. Tenco Services, Inc., a jet fuel pollution case involving the consolidated property damage and personal injury claims of multiple plaintiffs in the Gold Cup Springs subdivision, filed in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division. (plaintiffs' lead counsel)

Numerous consolidated asbestos trials including serving as co-lead counsel in a consolidated asbestos personal injury action involving 540 plaintiffs pending in the Superior Court of Alameda County, California; 300 consolidated cases in the United States District Court, Western District of New York, Rochester, New York; 87 consolidated cases in Danville, Illinois; and 42 consolidated cases in State Court in Mississippi

Lead Trial Counsel in Complex Environmental Cases

Highlights include:

State of Rhode Island v. Lead Industries Association, Inc., et al., lead counsel for the State of Rhode Island in a trial that spanned four months and became the longest civil jury trial in that state's history, in which a verdict was returned that imposed liability on lead pigment manufacturers for creating a public nuisance

State of Oklahoma v. Tyson Foods, Inc., et al., lead counsel for the State of Oklahoma in a trial that spanned five months concerning waste-polluted natural resources in Eastern Oklahoma

Complex Personal Injury Cases

Highlights include:

In re Asbestos Personal Injury Litigation, plaintiffs' liaison counsel for trial groups of twenty asbestos malignancy plaintiffs that is scheduled for every four months in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, WV

Charleston Firefighter Litigation v. Sofa Super Store, Inc., et.al., No. 07-CP-10-3186 (Ct. of Common Pleas, Ninth Jud. Cir.), lead plaintiffs' counsel in this consolidated complex litigation against more than 40 defendants that was filed by the estates of nine City of Charleston firefighters who died in a furniture store disaster that claimed the most firefighters' lives in a single event since the 9/11 attacks.

Personal Injury and Property Damage Class Actions

Highlights include:

Olvera v. Norfolk Southern Ry. et al, a personal injury class action concerning a train derailment and subsequent chlorine exposure in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Aiken Division (co-lead counsel)

Curtis v. Norfolk Southern Ry. et al, a property damage and economic loss class action concerning a train derailment and subsequent chlorine exposure in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Aiken Division (co-lead counsel)

Central Wesleyan College v. W.R. Grace Co., et al., a national asbestos property damage class action in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division. (Lead Plaintiffs' Counsel)

Carl Wells v. Raymark Industries, a national asbestos personal injury class action filed in United States District Court of Kansas, Wichita Division, in which 19,684 claims were resolved. (lead plaintiffs' counsel)

Raytech v. Earl White, an asbestos bankruptcy related class action pending in the United States District Court of Connecticut. (counsel for class representative)

Carol Lee Whitfield, et al., v. Sangamo Weston, et al., a PCB personal injury and property damage class action settled while pending before the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Greenville Division. (class counsel)

Harold Meninger, et al. v. The Travelers Insurance Company, et al., Circuit Court of Kanawha County, WV, C.A. No. 02-C-1057; Charles L. Wise, et al. v. The Travelers Indemnity Company, et al., C.A. No. 01-C-599, Circuit Court of Berkeley County, WV; and In re Asbestos-Unfair Trade Practices Insurance Cases, Circuit Court of Kanawha County, WV, C.A. No. 02-C-7000, —a series of asbestos unfair trade practices complex actions arising out of an insurance dispute from the "Manville Plan" Trust for payment by its insurer that refused to honor an agreed settlement of thousands of asbestos client settlements (lead trial and appellate counsel as well as co-lead counsel)

Securities Fraud / Shareholder Derivative

Highlights include:

Berry v. Wells Fargo & Co., No. 3:17-cv-00304 (D.S.C.) (co-lead counsel)

In re Intel Corp. Securities Litigation, No. 5:20-cv-05194-EJD (U.S. District Court Northern District of California) (co-lead counsel)

In re 3M Co. Securities Litigation, No. 2:19-cv-15982 (U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey) (co-lead counsel)

Takata v. Riot Blockchain, Inc., et al., No. 3:18-cv-02293 (U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey) (lead counsel)

Parchmann v. MetLife, Inc. et al, No. 1:18-cv-00780-SJ-RLM (U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York) (co-lead counsel)

In re Twitter, Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 4:16-cv-05314-JST (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California) (lead counsel)

City of Warwick Municipal Employees Pension Fund v. Rackspace Hosting, Inc. et al, No. 1:17-cv-03501 (S.D.N.Y) (lead counsel)

In re Barrick Gold Securities Litigation, No. 1:13-cv-03851 (RPP) (S.D.N.Y.) (lead counsel)

Bennett v. Sprint Nextel Corp. et al., No. 2:09-cv-02122-EFM-KMH (D. Kan.) (co-lead counsel)

Hatamian v. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., No. 14-cv-00226-JD (N.D. Cal.) (co-lead counsel)

City of Brockton Retirement System v. Avon Products, Inc., No. 11 Civ. 4665 (PGG) (S.D.N.Y.) (lead counsel)

Bernacchi v. Investment Technology Group, Inc., No. 1:15-cv-06369-JFK (S.D.N.Y.) (lead counsel)

Freedman v. St. Jude Medical, Inc., No. 12-3070 (RHK/JJG) (D. Minn.) (co-lead counsel)

In re Hewlett-Packard Co. Securities Litigation, No. SACV 11-1404 AG (RNBx) (C.D. Cal.) (co-lead counsel)

Alaska Electrical Pension Fund v. Pharmacia Corp. Consol., No.03-1519 (AET) (D.N.J.) (co-class counsel)

Minneapolis Firefighters' Relief Association v. Medtronic, Inc., No. 08-6324 (D. Minn.) (co-lead counsel)

Hill v. State Street Corporation, No. 1:09-cv-12146-NG (D. Mass.) (co-lead counsel)

City of Sterling Heights General Employees' Retirement System v. Hospira, Inc. et al., No. 1:11-cv-08332 (N.D. Ill., Eastern Div.) (co-lead counsel)

In re Dell, Inc., Securities Litigation, No. A-06-cv-726-SS (W.D. Tex.) (lead counsel for lead plaintiff)

South Ferry LP #2 v. Killinger, et al., No. C04-1599-JCC (W.D. Wash.) (regarding Washington Mutual, Inc.) (co-lead counsel)

Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust v. Gemunder, No. 10-CI-01212 (Ky. Cir. Ct.) (regarding Omnicare, Inc.)

In re Walgreen Co. Derivative Litigation, No. 1:13-cv-05471 (N.D. Ill.) 

Service Employees International Union v. Hills, No. A0711383 (Ohio) (regarding Chiquita Brands International, Inc.)

Mercier v. Whittle C.A., No. 2008-CP-23-8395 (regarding the South Financial Group)

Manville Pers. Injury Settlement Trust v. Farmer, No. A0806822 (Ohio Ct. Com. Pl.) (regarding Cintas Corp.) (shareholder derivative action)

California State Teachers’ Retirement System, et al. v. Blankenship, et al., No. 10-C-715 (W. Va. Cir. Ct.) (regarding Massey Energy Co.)

National Bankruptcies

Motley Rice attorneys serve on several committees in national bankruptcies including:

Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice in the Boy Scouts of America and Delaware BSA, LLC Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings (Case No. 20-10343), on behalf of  a group of firms representing thousands of survivors

Claimants' committee in In re A.H. Robins, a Chapter 11 Reorgani­zation involving Dalkon Shield victims nationwide

Claimants Committee in the Camall Chapter 11, the first bankruptcy associated with the Fen-Phen litigation

Motley Rice attorneys have served on The Asbestos Claims Committee involved in the formation and confirmation of various asbestos bankruptcy trusts.

Durabla Corp. Bankr., No. 09-14415 (D. Del)

AC&S Bankr., No. 02-12687 (D. Del)

Congoleum Corp. Bankr., No.03-51524 (D.N.J.)

Babcock & Wilcox Bankr., No. 00-10992 (E.D. La.)

Combustion Engineering Bankr., D. Del. No. 03-10495 (D. Del.)

Celotex Bankr., Nos. 90-10016-8B1, 90-10017-8B1 (M.D. Fla.)

Federal Mogul Bankr., No. 01-10578 (D. Del.)

G-I Holdings Bankr., Nos. 01-30135 and 01-38790 (D. N.J.)

Johns-Manville Corp., No.82-B11656 through 82 B 11676 (E.D.N.Y.)

Keene Bankr., No. 93B 46090,96 CV 3492 (S.D.N.Y.)

MH Detrick Bankr., No. 98 B 01004 (N.D. Ill.)

North American Refractories Corp. Bankr., No. 02-20198 (W.D. Pa.)

Owens Corning Corp. Bankr., No. 00-03837 (D. Del.)

Pittsburgh Corning Corp. Bankr., No. 00-22876 (W.D. Pa.)

Rock Wool Bankr., Nos. CV-99-J-I589-S.BK -96-08295-TBB-11 (N.D. Ala.)

Rutland Fire Clay Bankr., No. 99-11390 (D. Vt.)

Shook and Fletcher Bankr., No. 02-02771-BGc-11 (N.D. Ala.)

United States Gypsum Corp. Bankr., No. 01-2094 (D. Del.)

W.R. Grace Co. Bankr., No.s 01-1139, 01-1140 (D. Del.)

Motley Rice attorneys have also served as lead or co-lead trial counsel on behalf of The Asbestos Claims Committee:

Owens Corning Corp. Bankr., No. 00-03837 (D. Del.) (estimation trial and substantive consolidation trial)

Pittsburgh Corning Corp. Bankr., No. 00-22876 (W.D. Pa.) (plan confirmation trial)

Federal Mogul Bankr., No. 01-10578 (D. Del.) (estimation trial and plan confirmation trial)

Armstrong World Industries, Inc., Bankr. No. 00-4471 (D. Del.) (estimation trial and plan confirmation trial)

W.R. Grace Co. Bankr., Nos. 01-1139, 01-1140 (D. Del.) (estimation trial and plan confirmation trial) 

Motley Rice attorneys also currently serve as a member of the trust advisory committee for several of the asbestos bankruptcy trusts formed under 524(g) of the federal bankruptcy code:

AC&S, Inc. Bankr., No. 02-12687 (D. Del.)

Armstrong World Industries, Inc., Bankr. No. 00-4471 (D. Del.)

Babcock & Wilcox Co. Bankr., No. 00-10992 (E.D. La.)

Celotex Corp. Bankr., Nos. 90-10016-8B1, 90-10017-8B1 (M.D. Fla.)

Dresser II Bankr., No. 03-35592 (W.D. PA.)

Federal Mogul Bankr., No. 01-10578 (D. Del)

G-I Holdings Bankr., Nos. 01-30135 and 01-38790 (D.N.J.)

Kaiser Aluminum Corp. Bankr., No.02-10429 (D. Del.)

Keene Bankr., No. 93B 46090,96 CV 3492 (S.D.N.Y.)

Johns-Manville Corp., No. 82-B11656 through 82 B 11676 (S.D.N.Y., E.D.N.Y.)

MH Detrick Bankr., No. 98 B 01004 (N.D. Ill.)

Owens Corning Corp. Bankr., No. 00-03837 (D. Del.)

Rock Wool Bankr., Nos. CV-99-J-I589-S.BK -96-08295-TBB-11 (N.D. Ala.)

Rutland Fire Clay Bankr., No. 99-11390 (D. Vt.)

Shook & Fletcher Bankr., No. 02-02771-BGc-11 (N.D. Ala.)

United States Gypsum Corp. Bankr., No. 01-2094 (D. Del.)

W.R. Grace Co. Bankr., No.s 01-1139, 01-1140 (D. Del.)