This fall, Weitz & Luxenberg attorneys are busier than ever. Several of our skilled attorneys are presenting at these fall conferences: Perrin Conferences National Asbestos Litigation Conference 2023, Shades of Mass 2023, 2023 New Jersey Asbestos Litigation Conference, Mass Torts Made Perfect 2023, and NJAJ Meadowlands Seminar 2023: Mass Tort.
W&L is proud of our involvement at these important legal conferences. Every year, it seems our list of them grows.
We look forward to presenting at these conferences but also sharing and learning from our distinguished colleagues. Ultimately, we are all in this together, and excited to provide the best representation for our clients across the country.
Perrin Conferences National Asbestos Litigation Conference
W&L founding partner Perry Weitz presented at this conference held September 12-13 in Charleston, South Carolina. He served as moderator for “The Judicial Roundtable” session.
In the mid-1980s, Mr. Weitz made the pivotal decision to help clients harmed by asbestos exposure. In 1987, New York recognized mesothelioma’s long latency period. He and W&L co-founder Arthur Luxenberg were inundated with cases. They found it incredibly rewarding to go up against the powerful corporations that had put so many people’s lives at risk.
Mr. Weitz believes in participating in important legal conferences, “I am strongly committed to aiding everyday Americans who have been harmed by the negligent practices and policies of corporate giants who believe they cannot be touched. I am proud to have represented thousands of construction trade unions for decades, who have gotten sick from asbestos exposure, and I’m eager to share my knowledge in the field. I want others to learn how to best help victims of asbestos exposure.”
Shades of Mass
W&L attorney EricaRae Garcia presented at the Second Annual Shades of Mass conference held in September. She participated on the “Ethical Challenges in Mass Torts” panel. The panelists discussed promoting ethical behavior within the legal community.
“It was a privilege to serve on this panel,” Ms. Garcia says. “The ethical challenges we face as attorneys play a critical role as we navigate the complexities of our judicial system. We need to consider the all-too-real challenges of our clients’ particular situations, share our experiences, and learn from others. I am grateful for these opportunities.”
Since joining W&L, she has represented clients harmed by defective drugs and devices. Currently, she focuses on hair relaxers causing ovarian and uterine cancer and was appointed to serve on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in the multidistrict litigation (MDL).
New Jersey Asbestos Litigation Conference
During the New Jersey Asbestos Litigation Conference held on September 29 , at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey, W&L attorney Eduardo Sotomayor presented during the Case Law Update.
Mr. Sotomayor expressed his thoughts, saying, “Participating in this conference is an honor, and I found great satisfaction in engaging with fellow attendees, exchanging knowledge, and working towards our shared goal of achieving the optimal results for our clients.”
Mr. Sotomayor joined Weitz & Luxenberg in 2022, dedicating his practice exclusively to asbestos cases, with a special focus on clients based in New Jersey.
Mass Torts Made Perfect
W&L partner Robin Greenwald and attorney Danielle Gold are presenting at Mass Torts Made Perfect being held October 10-12, 2023. It is being held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ms. Greenwald is speaking on Tuesday, October 10, at 11:00 a.m. on “Why Science Really Matters – Roundup: A Case Study.” Ms. Greenwald filed the first Roundup case and was instrumental in helping to secure the first round of settlements with Monsanto. She represented people who developed cancer after being exposed to the world’s leading weed killer. Ms. Greenwald is also speaking on Tuesday, October 11 at 2:30 p.m. on the Camp Lejeune litigation. Ms. Greenwald was appointed by the Eastern District of North Carolina court as a co-lead counsel of the litigation.
“Representing people who are injured by the wrongful conduct of others has been my lifelong work,” explains Ms. Greenwald. “All too often people are misled, or worse, about the activities of everyday life. Such as drinking water from their taps that turns out to have dangerous levels of chemicals. Or purchasing products from their local hardware store that they believe to be safe because the manufacturer tells them so, but end up being carcinogens.”
Ms. Greenwald is practice group co-chair of the firm’s environmental pollution and consumer protection litigation team. She has been handling complex environmental pollution cases nationwide for decades. You typically find her leading litigation efforts, such as with the lawsuits against British Petroleum for the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 and against multiple petroleum companies for contaminating the nation’s groundwater with the hazardous gasoline additive MTBE.
Ms. Gold is speaking on Thursday, October 12, at 11:45 a.m. on an “Exactech Hip, Knee, and Ankle Recall Litigation Update” session. Ms. Gold was appointed to the Science Committee in the Exactech Polyethylene Orthopedic Products MDL. W&L is currently representing clients harmed by defective Exactech hip and knee implants.
“Our clients received implants that failed prematurely, due to issues with the liners,” points out Ms. Gold. “Now, they must undergo revision surgeries, which are much more complex and costly. Exactech has recalled its defective models, and we intend to hold them accountable for the pain, suffering, and disabilities our clients have experienced as a result.”
Ms. Gold serves in our firm’s Drug and Medical Device Litigation practice group. She has worked on other implant litigations, including Stryker LFIT V40 and Rejuvenate hip implants, which resulted in a significant financial settlement for clients.
NJAJ Meadowlands Seminar 2023: Mass Tort
Ms. Gold and fellow attorney Brendan McDonough are participating at the Meadowlands Seminar 2023: Mass Tort. Ms. Gold is co-chairing the event on Wednesday, November 15, from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Mr. McDonough is presenting at the Litigation Updates session from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. He is providing an update on the CPAP litigation. W&L initiated litigation against Philips Respironics due to its defective CPAP breathing devices. The device’s sound abatement foam can degrade and enter the product’s air pathway. Complications for patients using it can be severe.
Mr. McDonough brings added expertise to our CPAP litigation since he holds a degree in biomedical engineering. He brings his technical skills to his understanding of the dangers of CPAP and other mechanical ventilator devices. As a result, he was asked to serve on the Science Committee where he plays a key role in navigating the factual and scientific evidence to prove a medical link between our client’s use of the recalled CPAP machines and their respiratory and other injuries.
“The chemical dangers of foam degradation and off-gassing from CPAP devices cannot be underestimated,” Mr. McDonough explains. “The polyester polyurethane foam is toxic and can lead to serious medical complications. I welcome the opportunity to share the latest on this litigation with conference participants.”
