Theodore J. Leopold has devoted his legal career solely to trial work, leveling the playing field for individuals and communities harmed by negligence and misconduct. Ted has tried landmark cases throughout the country and recovered multi-million-dollar verdicts, including jury verdicts of eight- and nine-figures in the areas of complex product liability, environmental toxic torts, managed care abuse, consumer class actions, and catastrophic injury and wrongful death.
Ted is the co-chair of the firm’s Complex Tort, Environmental Litigation, and Consumer Protection practices, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He has garnered an impressive track record in his more than 35 years of practice. He obtained a $131 million jury verdict against the Ford Motor Company, one of the largest verdicts against an automobile company in U.S. history. He won the largest managed care abuse verdict on behalf of an individual claimant in Florida and second largest individual managed care verdict in U.S. history, which included more than $78.5 million in punitive damages.
Ted has been the court-appointed Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel in two high-profile putative environmental toxic tort class actions, including In re Flint Water Cases, which resulted in over a $655 million settlement and the ongoing Cape Fear River Contaminated Water Class Action Litigation. He also serves as lead counsel in the Cape Fear/Dupont, LensCrafters and General Motors Litigation class actions.
Ted lectures frequently on personal injury, product liability, class action litigation, trial tactics, and consumer justice. He has earned the Florida Bar Civil Trial Certification, the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar for competency and experience within civil trial law.
- Florida Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Florida Justice Association
- Palm Beach County Bar Association
- Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Craig S. Barnard American Inn of Court LIV
- Board of Directors, Public Justice Foundation
- Board of Directors, Attorneys Information Exchange Group
- Past President, Public Justice Foundation
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Past President, Palm Beach County Bar Association
- Member of the Professionalism Committee, Florida Bar Association
- Member of the Long-Range Planning Committee, Florida Bar Association
- Past Member of Professional Ethics Committee, Florida Bar Association
- Past Member 2004 Advertising Task Force, Florida Bar Association
- Past Board Member of Board of Directors, Florida Justice Association
- Past Member of the Board of Directors, Palm Beach County Justice Associatio
- Past Board of Directors, American Board of Trial Advocates
- Past Co-Chair, Police Misconduct Litigation Group, American Association for Justice
- Past Chair, Product Liability Section, American Association for Justice
- Advisory Board Member, Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law
- Founding Partner, Leopold Law P.A., Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- Past Board of Directors, Jewish Family & Children’s Services
- Past Member of the National Center for Victims of Crime
- Past Board Member, Hospice of Palm Beach County
- Past Board Member, MorseLife
- Past President, Palm Beach Justice Unit of B’nai B’rith
- Past President and Board of Directors, Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Academy
- Past President, Rebekah’s House
- Past President and Board of Directors, Safety Council for Palm Beach County
- Past Member of Executive Board and Board of Directors, The Jewish Community Center for Palm Beach County
- Past Member, Cabinet of the Business and Professions Division of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County
- Past Member of the Social Action and Intergroup Relations Task Force, Jewish Federation for Palm Beach County
- Past Co-Chair Super Sunday, Jewish Federation for Palm Beach County
- Past Co-Chair, Judicial Reception, Jewish Federation for Palm Beach County
- Florida
- Cumberland School of Law, J.D., 1987
- University of Miami, B.A., 1980
Current Cases
Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Cohen Milstein is litigating personal injury claims on behalf of Camp Lejeune Military service members, their families, and civilian workers who were stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, who may have consumed or bathed in the affected water.
Cape Fear River PFAS Litigation: Nix, et al. v. The Chemours Company FC, LLC et al.
Cape Fear River Contaminated Water Litigation (E.D.N.C.): Cohen Milstein is representing North Carolina residents and homeowners along the Cape Fear River in this certified toxic tort class action against DuPont and Chemours for allegedly dumping toxic GenX chemicals, a form of PFAS aka “forever chemicals,” into the Cape Fear River, impacting the drinking water and homes of more than 770,000 residents throughout the region.
General Motors Litigation
General Motors Litigation (E.D. Mich.): Cohen Milstein, as court-appointed Lead Counsel and Plaintiff Steering Committee Chair, represents a certified class of consumers in more than 25 states who purchased or leased new and used vehicles manufactured by GM in a consolidated breach of warranty and deceptive and fraudulent business practices class action against GM. Plaintiffs bring their claims under state consumer protection statutes and express and implied warranty law of their respective states, related to GM's manufacture and sale of defective eight-speed automatic transmissions (GM 8L90 or the 8L45), manufactured by between 2015 and 2019.
Reed, et al. v. USA – Chimney Tops 2 Fire
Reed, et al. v U.S.A (E.D. Tenn.): Cohen Milstein represents plaintiffs in a wrongful death and property damage mass action against the United States Department of Interior and National Park Service for the negligence of its employees to perform their duties during The Chimney Tops 2 Fire in Tennessee, which originated in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and ultimately damaged or destroyed 2,500 homes, buildings and other structures, and killed more than a dozen people.
In re Chiquita Brands International Inc. Litigation
In re Chiquita Brands International Inc. Litigation (S.D. Fla.): Cohen Milstein represents hundreds of Colombian citizens who allege that they or their family members were victims of torture or extrajudicial killing committed by the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), a paramilitary group designated by the United States government as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” during armed conflict in Colombia in the 1990s and early 2000s. Plaintiffs allege that the deaths of their relatives were a direct and foreseeable result of Chiquita’s financial support of the AUC. The case is proceeding under Colombian law against Chiquita and under the U.S. Torture Victim Protection Act against individual Chiquita executives and board members. On June 10, 2024, after a six-week bellwether jury trial, the jury found Chiquita responsible for the wrongful deaths of eight men who were murdered by AUC and awarded the surviving family members $38.3 million in damages for their deaths.
Miramar Water Litigation
Miramar Water Litigation (Cir. Crt. Broward Cnty.): Cohen Milstein represents residents of the City of Miramar, Florida in an environmental toxic tort and property damage class action suit against the City of Miramar and its consultant, Kimley-Horn, Inc. The plaintiffs claim that, due to the negligence of the City and the malpractice of its consultant, their water supply has not been properly treated and has caused irreversible and costly damage to the copper piping in their homes.
Edenville and Sanford Dam Failure Litigation
Edenville and Sanford Dam Failure Litigation (Mich. Crt. of Claims; Cir. Crt., Cty. Saginaw, Mich.): Cohen Milstein represents residents and businesses in two separate property damage lawsuits against Michigan State Government agencies, including the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy and Michigan Department of Natural Resources for blatantly mismanaging and failing to properly maintain the Edenville and Sandford dams, which catastrophically failed on May 19, 2020.
Edwards, et al. v. CSX Transportation, et al.
Edwards, et al. v. CSX Transportation, et al. (E.D.N.C.): Cohen Milstein was appointed Interim Co-Lead Counsel in this putative class action against CSX Corporation. We represent a class of businesses and residents in the southern and western portions of Lumberton, NC who have twice suffered catastrophic flooding and damage in connection with a train underpass floodgate.
Flint Water Crisis Litigation
Flint Water Crisis Class Action Litigation (E.D. Mich.): Since 2021, Cohen Milstein has helped more than 90,000 Flint residents and businesses achieve $659.25 million in settlements from those responsible for the Flint Water Crisis. This includes a landmark $626.25 million settlement against the State of Michigan, the former Governor Rick Snyder, and other defendants for their roles in re-directing toxic levels of lead-contaminated water from the Flint River into the City of Flint’s drinking water system to save money. Litigation against the EPA continues.
Baxter, et. al. v. Church of Scientology International
Baxter, et. al. v. Church of Scientology International (M.D. Fla.): Cohen Milstein represents plaintiffs in a human trafficking and forced labor lawsuit against David Miscavige; Church of Scientology International; Religious Technology Center, Inc.; International Association of Scientologists Administrations, Inc.; Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc.; and Church of Scientology Flag Ship Service Organization, Inc., for violations of the United States Code Chapter 77 of Title 18 and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
Ratha, et al v. Phatthana Seafood Co
Ratha, et al v. Phatthana Seafood Co. (C.D. Cal.): Cohen Milstein is representing seven Cambodian plaintiffs in a cross-border human rights lawsuit involving human trafficking, forced labor, involuntary servitude, and peonage by factories in Thailand that produce shrimp and seafood for export to the United States.
U.S.A. v. Janssen Biotech, Inc.
U.S.A. v. Janssen Biotech, Inc. (D. Mass.): Cohen Milstein represents the plaintiff-relator in a whistleblower/qui tam lawsuit against Janssen Biotech (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson), alleging that the manufacturer of the rheumatoid arthritis drugs Remicade and Simponi ARIA violated federal law by engaging in a scheme through which it provided physicians free practice management and infusion business consulting services over an extended period to induce the physicians to purchase Remicade and Simponi ARIA and administer these drugs to patients, including Medicare beneficiaries, via infusions performed in their offices.
Past Cases
Ariza v. Luxottica Retail North America (LensCrafters)
Ariza v. Luxottica Retail North America (LensCrafters) (E.D.N.Y.): On September 27, 2024, the court granted final approval of a $39 million settlement in this certified class action. Purchasers of LensCrafters’ Accufit Digital Measurement System (Accufit) services alleged that LensCrafters used false, misleading advertising, and deceptive sales practices about Accufit being “five times more accurate” in measuring pupillary distance than traditional methods to induce customers to purchase LensCrafter’s higher-priced prescription lens products. Cohen Milstein was Lead Counsel.
BK Trucking Co., et al. v. PACCAR, Inc. et al.
BK Tucking Co., et al. v. Paccar, Inc., et al. (D.N.J.): Cohen Milstein represented current and former truck owners and lessees in New Jersey, Ohio and Texas in a putative class action against PACCAR, the third-largest manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the world, and its subsidiaries, Kenworth Truck Company and Peterbilt Motors for breach of warranty, unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices related to the manufacture and sale of defective products.
Caterpillar, Inc. Engine Products Liability Litigation
Caterpillar Product Liability Litigation (D.N.J.): Cohen Milstein was co-lead counsel in a nationwide product liability class action lawsuit alleging Caterpillar sold diesel engines with defective exhaust emissions system that resulted in power losses and shutdowns. The case was settled in September 2016 for $60 million.
Chipps v. Humana Health Insurance Co. of Florida
Chipps v. Humana Health Insurance Co. of Florida (Cir. Crt., Palm Beach Cnty., Fla.): Cohen Milstein represented a family in this managed care abuse case after Humana wrongfully denied physical and occupational therapy for a 6-year-old child with cerebral palsy. After six years of litigation and a four-week jury trial, the jury awarded the Chipps family more than $1.03 million in compensatory and $78.5 million in punitive damages. This landmark lawsuit uncovered widespread fraud at Humana, including the payment of bonuses to physicians and nurses based on the number of medical claims they denied each month.
Edwards v. Tesla, Inc.
Edwards v. Tesla (Sup. Crt. Cal., Alameda Cnty.): Cohen Milstein represented the Edwards family in a first-of-its-kind crashworthiness product liability lawsuit against Tesla. Plaintiffs alleged that Ms. Edwards sustained catastrophic injuries because the airbags failed to deploy in her Tesla Model 3 during an accident. On January 24, 2024, a confidential settlement was reached.
Gillig v. United Healthcare
Gillig v. United Healthcare (Cir. Crt., Palm Beach Cnty., Fla.): Cohen Milstein represented Philip Gillig in this Managed Care Abuse lawsuit against United Healthcare for failing to provide Mr. Gillig with timely access to medical care and treatment, thereby failing to administer medically necessary benefits, despite Mr. Gillig’s declining condition. As a result, Mr. Gillig fell into septic shock and suffered significantly.
Hand et al., v. Scott et al.
Hand et al., v. Scott et.al (N.D. Fla.): Cohen Milstein and Fair Elections Legal Network, a national voting rights organization, achieved a major victory in 2018 on behalf of former felons in Florida, who claimed their constitutional rights had been infringed by Florida’s Clemency Board. The court ruled that the Clemency Board’s process to grant or deny former felons’ restoration of voting rights applications was unconstitutionally arbitrary and violated the U.S. Constitution’s First and Fourteenth Amendments.
Herrera et al v. JFK Medical Center Limited Partnership and HCA, Inc.
Herrera v. JFK Medical Center and HCA, Inc. (M.D. Fla.): Cohen Milstein was lead counsel in a class action lawsuit alleging that four Florida plaintiffs and others like them were billed inflated and exorbitant fees for emergency radiology services, in excess of the amount allowed by law, covered in part by their mandatory Florida Personal Injury Protection insurance. When the district court struck plaintiffs’ class claims, Ms. Martin successfully petitioned the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to accept immediate appellate review and obtained a reversal of the district court’s order. Cohen Milstein resolved the case and secured final approval of a $220 million injunctive relief settlement.
Iran Beirut Bombing Litigation
Iran Beirut Bombing Litigation (D.D.C.) Cohen Milstein is litigating three Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act lawsuits against the Islamic Republic of Iran for its alleged involvement in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, which was carried out by Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, allegedly at the direction and with the support of Iran. The Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing, which killed 241 American servicemembers and injured numerous others, was the deadliest state-sponsored terrorist attack against United States citizens before September 11, 2001. To date, the court has awarded plaintiffs more than $1.5 billion in total default judgments.
Lindsay X-LITE Guardrail End Terminal Litigation
Lindsay X-LITE Guardrail End Terminal Litigation: Cohen Milstein represented a number of families of decedents and victims of catastrophic injuries in a series of individual products liability, wrongful death and catastrophic injury lawsuits in Tennessee and South Carolina state courts against the Lindsay Corporation and several related entities for designing, manufacturing, selling, and installing defective, X-Lite guardrails on state roadways.
Mincey v. Takata
Mincey v. Takata (Cir. Crt., Duval Cnty., Fla.): Cohen Milstein was lead counsel in a lawsuit brought on behalf of Patricia Mincey and her family, a Florida woman who sustained catastrophic injuries that rendered her a quadriplegic in 2014 when the driver’s side airbag in her Honda Civic deployed too aggressively during a collision due to a product defect. Patricia Mincey passed away in early 2016 due to complications from her quadriplegia. The suit charged that Takata, the manufacturer of the airbag system, knew of the airbag defect and hid the problem from consumers. When the defendants removed Ms. Mincey’s case to federal court in an attempt to have it bogged down in multi-district litigation, Cohen Milstein successfully had the case remanded to Florida state court, where it is was resolved in July 2016.
Paz-Orjales v. Ford Motor Company
Paz-Orjales v. Ford Motor Company (Cir. Crt. Osceola Cnty., Fla.): Cohen Milstein successfully settled a catastrophic injury lawsuit against Ford Motor Company. Our client, Mr. Paz-Orjales, asserted that due to a defective design, the roof of the Ford truck, in which he was a passenger, collapsed and crushed him during a roll over accident, resulting in his quadriplegia.
Quinteros, et al. v. DynCorp, et al.
Quinteros, et al. v. DynCorp, et al. (D.D.C.): Cohen Milstein represented over 2,000 Ecuadorian farmers and their families who suffered physical injuries and property damage as a result of aerial spraying of toxic herbicides on or near their land by DynCorp, a U.S. government contractor. A bellwether trial on behalf of the first six Ecuadorian clients came to a conclusion in April 2017, when the ten-person jury unanimously determined that DynCorp was responsible for the conduct of the pilots with whom it had subcontracted to conduct the chemical spraying after April 2003. This resolution allowed for a successful case settlement.
Saori Yamauchi, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al.
Saori Yamauchi, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al. (Cir. Crt., Dutchess Cty., N.Y.): Cohen Milstein and local New York co-counsel resolved a product liability and personal injury lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corporation, Autoliv, and related entities on behalf of Saori Yamauchi. Mrs. Yamauchi sustained a catastrophic injury during an accident in her Toyota Sienna as a result of the vehicle’s airbag system deploying in a dangerous manner.
- Law360 Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar (2022)
- Chambers USA Product Liability: Plaintiffs Nationwide (2024)
- Legal 500 Leading Lawyers – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions (2018-2024)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2020-2024)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America (2019-2023)
- Law360 MVP: Environmental (2018, 2021)
- Law360 Class Actions Group of the Year (2020-2021)
- The National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers Environmental Protection (2019, 2021)
- The National Law Journal Energy and Environmental Trailblazer (2018)
- Cumberland School of Law Distinguished Alumnus (2020)
- Public Justice Foundation Finalist for Trial Lawyer of the Year (2001, 2022)
- Best Lawyers in America (2005-2025)
- Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs, West Palm Beach, FL (2019, 2025)
- Super Lawyers (2013-2024)
- Daily Business Review Distinguished Leader (2019, 2021)
- Daily Business Review Most Effective Lawyer of Class Action (2017)
- Palm Beach Illustrated Top Lawyers (2018-2023)
- The South Florida Legal Guide Top Florida Lawyer (2013-2021)
- Coral Gables High School Hall of Fame (2023)
November 1, 2024
Office of the Attorney General Provides Update on Washington Bridge Litigation Team
Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll will work with Savage Law Partners under the direction of the Attorney General’s Office, to represent the State in the Washington Bridge lawsuit.
In the News | State of Rhode Island, Attorney General Peter F. Neronha
October 3, 2024
Flint Water Judge Wishes Public Knew Case Complexity
A Michigan federal judge on Thursday gave the final approval to a $25 million settlement to end claims from a class of Flint adults and businesses accusing a firm of failing to properly alert officials about the dangers of the city’s water, noting that the case took years to resolve because it involved complicated legal […]
In the News | Law360
August 30, 2024
GM Must Face Big Class Action Over Faulty Transmissions
General Motors was ordered by a federal appeals court to face a class action claiming it violated laws of 26 U.S. states by knowingly selling several hundred thousand cars, trucks and SUVs with faulty transmissions.
In the News | Reuters
August 28, 2024
Sixth Circuit Affirms Class Certification in Massive Defective Transmission Lawsuit Against GM
Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a class certification granted on March 20, 2023 in a massive class action lawsuit across 26 states against General Motors that alleges the car manufacturer violated state consumer protection statutes by knowingly putting cars with faulty transmissions on the road, endangering drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
August 21, 2024
Car Buyers Say Claims Are Tolled Because GM Hid Defects
A proposed class of car buyers is urging a Michigan federal court not to dismiss their suit claiming General Motors sold vehicles with defective transmissions, saying the automaker hid the defect, so they couldn't have discovered it until recently.
In the News | Law360
June 12, 2024
Iran Ordered to Pay $239 Million to Victims and Families of the 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing
Third judgment against Iran brings total damages to more than $1.5 billion for its alleged involvement in the 1983 bombing. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Honorable Carl J. Nichols of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia entered a final judgment, requiring the Islamic Republic of Iran to pay $239 million to 25 […]
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
June 6, 2024
$25 Million Flint Water Class Deal Gets Early OK
A Michigan federal judge on Thursday gave initial approval for a $25 million settlement between a class of Flint adults and businesses and a water engineering company accused of prolonging the town’s water crisis, calling the deal fair and an opportunity to avoid years of “exhausting” litigation. U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levy said Veolia […]
In the News | Law360
May 22, 2024
Mich. Judge Gives Final OK To Engineering Co. $8M Flint Deal
A Michigan federal judge has granted final approval of an $8 million settlement between a civil engineering company and Flint, Michigan, residents, putting to rest claims the company failed to warn them of likely lead contamination that triggered a drinking water crisis in the city. U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levy granted the parties’ motion […]
In the News | Law360
April 18, 2024
GM Again Accused of Hiding Transmission Defects Since 2014
General Motors LLC was hit with a new proposed class action alleging it concealed two transmission defects that caused shuddering and poor shift quality in 18 Chevrolet and GMC models. The complaint filed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan alleges GM knew about the defects in 2014, but actively […]
In the News | Bloomberg Law
April 20, 2024
Flint Class Urges Approval of $25M Water Firm Settlement
A proposed class of 45,000 Flint, Michigan, property owners, businesses and adult residents on Friday urged a Michigan federal court to give the go-ahead to a $25 million settlement with Veolia North America, the last remaining engineering defendant in sprawling litigation over the city’s water crisis. In a memorandum filed in support of the motion […]
In the News | Law360
April 19, 2024
GM Hit with New Suit Over Transmission Defects
A proposed class of car buyers has filed a new lawsuit alleging that General Motors LLC knowingly sold vehicles with defective transmissions, this one involving state law claims not included in a separate action that achieved class certification last year.
In the News | Law360
April 17, 2024
Product Liability – Frequently Asked Questions
As consumers, we use products with the understanding that they will make our lives easier or more pleasant. We trust them to be safe. Yet, thousands of people are injured or killed every year because of defective or dangerous products ranging from motor vehicles and children’s toys to building materials and medical equipment. What is […]
Resources | Cohen Milstein
April 17, 2024
Second Class Action Filed Against General Motors for Defective Transmissions
Purchasers of new and used GM vehicles manufactured between 2015 – 2019 equipped with GM’s 8-speed transmission filed a product defect and consumer protection class action against GM for an alleged defective transmission design of GM’s Hydra-Matic 8L90 transmission or Hydra-Matic 8L45 transmission, which causes vehicles to suddenly lurch forward, shudder, and experience significant delays in acceleration. The plaintiffs in ten states claim GM was aware of the transmission defects that pose safety risks to drivers and passengers.
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
April 13, 2024
Ted Leopold to Speak on Nuclear Verdicts
Ted Leopold, co-chair of the Complex Tort Litigation and Consumer Protection practices, has been invited to speak on a panel during the American Bar Association’s 32nd Annual Toxic Torts & Environmental Law Spring Seminar in Scottsdale, AZ on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The members of the panel, Nuclear Verdicts, will focus on the psychology of […]
Events | American Bar Association
August 1, 2023
LensCrafters Reaches $39M Deal To End AccuFit False Ad Suit
A proposed class of eyeglass wearers is asking a New York federal court to grant preliminary approval of a $39 million settlement to end a suit alleging LensCrafters misled consumers by advertising that its AccuFit Digital Measurement System was five times more accurate than competitors, having reached the agreement less than two weeks before trial. […]
In the News | Law360
February 1, 2024
Flint Residents Reach $25M Settlement with Engineering Firm in Water Crisis Lawsuit
A group of Flint residents, businesses and property owners have reached a settlement agreement worth $25 million with an engineering firm that consulted city officials after the 2014 Flint Water Crisis, according to a Thursday court filing. Veolia North America, a Boston-based engineering firm, reached a $25 million settlement with a group of class action claimants in […]
In the News | Detroit Free Press
February 1, 2024
Flint Property Owners Reach Class Action Settlement with Water Engineering Firm Veolia North America
On February 1, 2024, Flint Michigan property owners, businesses, and adults, reached a $25 million settlement with Veolia North America (VNA), the last private engineering firm Flint residents were seeking to hold accountable for its role in the devastating Flint water crisis. This settlement brings the total amount of the settlements reached on behalf of plaintiffs in the Flint Water Crisis cases to over $655 million. The case, a certified environmental water contamination class action, was scheduled to go to jury trial on February 13, 2024.
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
July 5, 2023
Flint Class Says Engineers Owed Duty To Them, Not Just City
A class of Flint, Michigan, residents says engineering firms the city consulted to evaluate water quality and treatment should not be able to get out of professional negligence claims, arguing that the firms’ relationship with the city extended to its residents and created a duty to warn them that the water was unsafe. Veolia North […]
In the News | Law360
November 1, 2023
Flint Engineering Co. Offers $8M To End Water Crisis Suits
A civil engineering company will pay $8 million to resolve claims it failed to warn Flint, Michigan, residents of likely lead contamination that triggered a drinking water crisis in the city, according to a proposed settlement filed in federal court. Class members and individuals suing Lockwood Andrews & Newnam PC for professional negligence urged a […]
In the News | Law360
October 31, 2023
Chemours’ PFAS Waste Imports Scrutinized Despite EPA’s Approval
Community and environmental groups are exploring legal responses after the EPA approved shipments of up to 4.4 million of pounds of PFAS wastes to a Chemours plant in North Carolina that has been the source of previous pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency’s approval (Notice ID: 035594/07I/23, Notice ID: 035605/07I/23) of up to 100 shipments of […]
In the News | Bloomberg Law
October 5, 2023
Cohen Milstein and Susman Godfrey Help Cape Fear River Residents Win Class Certification in PFAS Toxic Tort Class Action Against Chemours and DuPont
COHEN MILSTEIN AND SUSMAN GODFREY HELP CAPE FEAR RIVER RESIDENTS WIN CLASS CERTIFICATION IN PFAS TOXIC TORT CLASS ACTION AGAINST CHEMOURS AND DUPONT More than 770,000 North Carolinians were exposed to toxic “forever chemicals” in their drinking water while Chemours and DuPont misled officials about toxic material disposal Cape Fear, N.C. – A federal judge […]
Press Releases
October 5, 2023
Judge Greenlights North Carolina PFAS Class Action Against DuPont, Chemours
A federal judge has allowed more than 100,000 North Carolina residents and property owners to bring claims over toxic water pollution against E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co and The Chemours Co (CC.N) as a class action. U.S. District Judge James Dever in Raleigh on Wednesday certified two classes of plaintiffs that include water […]
In the News | Reuters
September 21, 2023
What is Managed Care Abuse?
Has your doctor recommended care that was denied by your insurance company, such as surgery or specialist treatment? Have you tried to fill a prescription, only to have your insurance company refuse coverage or raise your co-pay? You may have experienced managed care abuse. Denial of Care Managed care abuse occurs when an HMO or […]
Resources | Explainer Video by Cohen Milstein
August 18, 2023
6th Circ. Revives Deadly $82M Wildfire Damage Suit
A Sixth Circuit panel on Thursday revived Tennessee property owners’ suit seeking to recover from the federal government $82 million in damages they suffered from the 2016 Chimney Tops 2 Fire, finding in a published opinion that the plaintiffs gave the appropriate agency notice of their claims that they weren’t warned of the fire dangers. […]
In the News | Law360
August 17, 2023
Gatlinburg Wildfire Survivors’ Lawsuit Back On After Judges Overturn Dismissal
A federal lawsuit filed by survivors of the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires can now continue after a federal appellate panel reversed a lower court’s decision to dismiss the claims against the National Park Service. All three judges on the federal panel ruled in favor of overturning U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit […]
In the News | ABC 6
August 17, 2023
Wildfire Lawsuits Against US Over 2016 Tennessee Blaze Revived
A U.S. appeals court on Thursday revived lawsuits against the federal government by victims of the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires, which killed 14 people and caused over $1 billion in damage. A three-judge panel of Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a lower-court judge’s dismissal of lawsuits alleging that park officials failed […]
In the News | Reuters
June 15, 2023
What Does a Recent PFAS Settlement Mean for the Cape Fear Area?
Three PFAS manufacturers will pay $1.185 billion to water utilities around the country — but the Cape Fear region is excluded. . . . While the settlement covers a lot of municipal and county utilities, it specifically excludes the Cape Fear River Basin because of ongoing local litigation. Ted Leopold is a senior partner at […]
In the News | WHQR
June 9, 2023
Woolite Buyers Ink $3.3M False Ad Deal Over Color Claims
Reckitt Benckiser customers who accused the company of falsely marketing and labeling its Woolite brand laundry detergent with the phrases “color renew” or “revives colors” have asked a California federal judge to give her preliminary blessing to a $3.27 million nonreversionary settlement reached to resolve claims in the class action. In a motion filed Thursday, […]
In the News | Law360
June 6, 2023
Three Companies Agree to Pay More Than $1 Billion to Settle ‘Forever Chemical’ Claims
The companies Chemours, DuPont and Corteva announced on Friday they have agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle claims that “forever chemicals” contaminated public US water systems. The companies Chemours, DuPont and Corteva announced on Friday they have agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle claims that “forever chemicals” contaminated public […]
In the News | WRAL News
June 5, 2023
Directors Should Be Discussing Chemicals After EPA’s PFAS Proposal
Companies should be bracing for the potential of increased litigation as the Environmental Protection Agency mulls regulations that would limit the amount of chemicals in drinking water, sources tell Agenda. The EPA proposal comes as directors are eagerly awaiting the adoption of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s climate disclosure rule, which has put greenhouse gas […]
In the News | Financial Times
April 28, 2023
North Carolina Residents Urge UN to Investigate Toxic PFAS Pollution
Chemical manufacturer Chemours accused of violating human rights by releasing ‘forever chemicals’ into Cape Fear River basin A citizens group in North Carolina has formally requested the United Nations to investigate multiple alleged human rights violations stemming from chemical manufacturer Chemours’ toxic PFAS pollution in the region. About a half million residents live in the […]
In the News | The Guardian
April 25, 2023
As Attorneys Predict New Wave of Litigation Involving PFAS, Some Wonder if it’s Time For a Bailout
State attorneys general and plaintiffs firms join forces in fight against environmental pollution caused by “forever chemicals,” ushering in a new era of litigation which could cost billions. Defense and plaintiff attorneys rarely agree on matters of a billion-dollar scale. When it comes to “forever chemicals,” however, both sides concede that the human and environmental […]
In the News | The National Law Journal
April 14, 2023
Michigan Says It Had No Control Over Failed Dam
The state of Michigan told an appeals panel Wednesday that it can’t be on the hook for property damage caused by the 2020 Edenville Dam failure, arguing that property owners are using a ploy to try to get around government immunity because the dam’s private owner went bankrupt. Nathan Gambill, an assistant attorney general representing […]
In the News | Law360
April 5, 2023
Cohen Milstein Brings Class Action Suit Against City of Miramar and Private Engineering Firms for Failure to Properly Treat Water Resulting in Massive Property Damages
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: cohenmilstein@berlinrosen.com Class Action Suit Brought Against City of Miramar and Private Engineering Firms for Failure to Properly Treat Water Resulting in Massive Property Damages Residents of Miramar, Florida claim that the City neglected to correctly treat their water, ultimately corroding their pipes, leading to devastating financial consequences for homeowners. MIRAMAR, FLORIDA […]
Press Releases
March 23, 2023
Drivers Get Cert. in GM Defective Transmission Suit
A Michigan federal judge on Monday certified 26 statewide classes of drivers who claim General Motors sold vehicles with faulty transmissions that caused shudders and hard shifts that made the vehicles difficult to stop and sometimes made it feel as if they had been rear-ended. U.S. District Court Judge David M. Lawson also appointed Theodore […]
In the News | Law360
March 23, 2023
Mich. Judge Sends GM Transmission Dispute To Arbitration
A Michigan federal judge has sent a proposed class’s claims that they purchased General Motor vehicles with a defective transmission to arbitration, agreeing with the auto giant that the buyers signed paperwork that included an arbitration clause. U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson said Tuesday that the plaintiffs in the proposed class action signed agreements, […]
In the News | Law360
March 23, 2023
$626M Flint Deal Gets Final OK From Michigan State Judge
A Michigan state judge has signed off on the historic $626 million settlement between Flint residents and government officials, marking the latest step in resolving sprawling litigation over lead contamination in the city’s drinking water. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the Monday approval from Genesee County Judge David J. Newblatt, nearly three years after […]
In the News | Law360
March 21, 2023
GM Drivers Win Class Status in Suits Over Bucking Transmission
Common Issues Dominate; Classwide Damages Method Shown Affected models include Camaro, Escalade, Silverado, Yukon General Motors LLC must faces class actions by drivers in 26 states who allege flawed transmissions made their vehicles “slip, buck, kick, jerk and harshly engage.” At issue are certain 2015-2019 GM cars and trucks equipped with Hydra-Matic 8L90 and 8L45 […]
In the News | Bloomberg Law
March 20, 2023
Federal Judge Certifies Massive Class Action Lawsuit Against General Motors in Transmission Defect Case
Plaintiffs in 26 States Claim General Motors Was Aware of Transmission Defect That Poses Safety Risk to Drivers and Passengers More than 800,000 Owners of 8-Speed Automatic Transmission Cars Manufactured Between 2015 and March 1, 2019 Are Covered by Certified Classes DETROIT, Mich. – United States District Judge, for the Eastern District of Michigan, David […]
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
March 20, 2023
Judge Grants Class Action Status in GM Faulty Transmission Lawsuit
A judge has granted class action certification to a lawsuit involving 39 plaintiffs across 26 states — including Michigan — that accuses General Motors of knowingly selling cars with faulty transmissions. On Monday, David Lawson, U.S. District judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, granted class certification in the case of Speerly vs. GM, which […]
In the News | Detroit Free Press
March 10, 2023
Janssen Must Hand Over Records In Kickback Case
Janssen Biotech Inc. must hand over its communications with federal agencies regarding a former employee’s claims filed on behalf of the government that the company paid doctors kickbacks to boost its drug sales, a Boston federal judge ordered. Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley settled a crossfire of discovery motions in an order Thursday […]
In the News | Law360
February 15, 2023
Scientology Leader David Miscavige Concealed Whereabouts, Federal Judge Says
A U.S. magistrate judge has ruled that Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige was “actively concealing his whereabouts or evading service” in a federal trafficking lawsuit and declared him officially served in the case. Judge Julie S. Sneed noted that opposing attorneys had gone to significant lengths to serve Miscavige with the lawsuit filed in Tampa federal […]
Articles | Tampa Bay Times
January 25, 2023
What do Researchers Know About the Health Impacts of GenX?
Theodore Leopold spoke to Roxy Todd of Radio IQ, Virginia Public Radio about the occurrence of a chemical compound, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid, better known by its trade name of GenX, in the Roanoke River. Listen to or read the full story from NPR Radio IQ.
In the News | NPR Radio IQ
January 20, 2023
Attorneys Ask Federal Judge to End Scientology Leader’s ‘Cat and Mouse Game’
In a lawsuit against the church, Judge Julie S. Sneed will consider arguments on whether David Miscavige can be served with papers. For months, Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige has played “a cat and mouse game” by evading formal notices in a human trafficking lawsuit, according to Manuel Dominguez, an attorney representing three former […]
In the News | Tampa Bay Times
September 16, 2022
Reaction to Chemours’ Scheduled Public Information Sessions on Facility Expansion
Chemours wants to expand its manufacturing facility in Bladen County. The company is scheduled to hold two public information meetings to give people an opportunity to learn more about the planned expansion, but some local environment protection organizations are not pleased with the company’s plans. Ahead of the planned sessions, WWAY spoke with Cape Fear […]
In the News | WWAY3
September 7, 2022
Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ the Next Opioids?
Plaintiffs and defense firms alike are bracing for a new wave of environmental litigation centering on “forever chemicals,” after the EPA has signaled to set new regulatory standards classifying these substances as “Superfunds.” The defense and plaintiffs bars rarely agree—but they both see the writing on the wall this time: PFAS and PFOA litigation—environmental claims […]
In the News | The National Law Journal
August 1, 2022
Reckitt Must Face Class Action Over Woolite ‘Color Renew’ Claims
Consumers accusing Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc of falsely claiming that its Woolite laundry detergent can “renew” or “revive” colors can bring their claims as a class action, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Jose, California ruled Friday that the thousands of consumers’ claims involved the same legal issues, rejecting the […]
In the News | Reuters
June 15, 2022
EPA Announces PFAS Drinking Water Health Advisories and $1 Billion in Funding to Strengthen Health Protections
On June 15, 2022, The Washington Post reported that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced four drinking water health advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the latest action under President Biden’s action plan to deliver clean water and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap. The EPA also announced that it is inviting states […]
In the News
May 31, 2022
In re Flint Water Cases Named a Public Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist
Public Justice’s 2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of an attorney or team of attorneys working on behalf of individuals and groups that have suffered grave injustice or abuse. Cohen Milstein had the honor of being named a “finalist” for this prestigious plaintiffs bar award for the firm’s work […]
In the News
April 29, 2022
Scientology Faces Abuse Claims
A trio of Australian residents have launched legal action against organizations connected to the Church of Scientology over allegations of child trafficking, covering up multiple sexual assaults, and forced labor. Read the complete article at The Saturday Paper. Cohen Milstein’s Theodore J. Leopold, Manuel J. Dominguez, and Brendan Schneiderman are representing three individuals in a human trafficking and forced labor […]
In the News | The Saturday Paper
April 29, 2022
Inside ‘Freewinds’, the Church of Scientology’s Ship of Fear
When Laura Baxter was accused of monopolising the attention of actor Tom Cruise aboard Scientology’s Caribbean cruise ship in 2004, she says her punishment was to be locked in an “extremely hot” engine room of the Freewinds ship. She was shouted at by church officials and then for three days she says she was only […]
In the News | The Sydney Morning Herald
April 28, 2022
Church of Scientology Accused of Human Trafficking, Forced Labor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Children as Young as 10 Years Old Forced to do Labor in Service of Scientology Instead of Receiving Basic Schooling; Isolated from Parents and Endured Verbal Abuse for Minor or Fabricated Transgressions Plaintiffs Were Compelled to Join the Crew on Scientology’s “Freewinds” Ship, Forced to Work Under Extreme Conditions With No Way […]
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
April 28, 2022
3 Former Scientology Workers Sue, Saying They Were Trafficked as Children”
A federal lawsuit in Tampa accuses Scientology leader David Miscavige and the church of forcing child staffers to work in Clearwater. Gawain Baxter was 6 years old when he signed a contract agreeing to work for the Church of Scientology for 1 billion years. He said he spent his childhood doing manual labor at Scientology’s […]
In the News | Tampa Bay Times
April 28, 2022
Ex-Scientologists’ Lawsuit Details Slave-Like Life on Shady Cruise Ship
Three former workers for the Church of Scientology have accused the organization of indoctrinating them as kids, making it physically and psychologically impossible for them to leave what they described as a human trafficking situation. In a lawsuit filed in Florida, the plaintiffs say they were raised within the organization and worked on its Freewinds […]
In the News | The Daily Beast
April 25, 2022
Eight Years After Flint Water Tragedy, EPA & Michigan Corporations Yet to Be Held Accountable
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Engineering Firms Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam and Veolia Allegedly Failed to Identify Corroding Pipes as Thousands of Children and Families Grew Sicker Environmental Protection Agency Failed to Notify Residents of Significant Lead Poisoning Risk FLINT, MI – On the eighth anniversary of the water supply tragedy that resulted in the deadly Flint […]
Press Releases
April 5, 2022
DAQ Settlement Requires Chemours to Further Limit GenX Emissions and Conduct Additional Testing
As part of a settlement signed today with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ), Chemours has agreed to further limit GenX emissions, conduct additional testing and pay the penalty assessed last year by DAQ. The agreement will require Chemours to reduce GenX emissions from the Carbon Adsorber Unit in […]
In the News | NC DEQ
February 1, 2022
NC Environmental Groups Resume Lawsuit Against U.S. EPA Over Ongoing GenX Crisis
Six North Carolina environmental and social justice organizations are resuming a previously filed lawsuit over the ongoing GenX crisis in the Cape Fear River. But the defendants in this lawsuit aren’t Chemours or DuPont — it’s the federal government, specifically the Environmental Protection Agency. These six groups (Center for Environmental Health, Cape Fear River Watch, […]
In the News | Star News Online
January 25, 2022
Chemours Claims to Be ‘Good Neighbor’ in Recent Ad Campaign, Angers North Carolinians
For several weeks now Chemours, a chemical maker that owns a manufacturing plant outside Fayetteville, has been running a 30-second commercial throughout Southeastern North Carolina touting itself as a good neighbor. The ad, titled “Good Neighbors Care,” exudes the idea of being neighborly and caring for one another. The commercial starts by stating “good neighbors […]
In the News | USA Today Network
December 13, 2021
Court Certifies Class Action Lawsuit Against Lenscrafters for False Advertising, Overcharging Customers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lawsuit Alleges LensCrafters Misrepresented to Customers the Superiority of Its AccuFit System NEW YORK, NY – The Eastern District of New York District Court today certified a class action lawsuit against Luxottica Retail North America, also known as LensCrafters, that alleges the company misrepresented to customers the supposed superiority of its AccuFit […]
In the News
November 15, 2021
Meet the South Florida Litigator Who Co-Led the $626M Partial Settlement in the Flint Water Crisis
A South Florida lawyer is part of the team of litigators asking for more than $169 million in attorney fees. The move comes after a federal district judge in Michigan gave the nod to a more than $600 million settlement in a years-long battle over contaminated water in Flint. Theodore J. Leopold, a partner at […]
In the News | Daily Business Review
November 11, 2021
Judge Approves Over $600 Million Settlement in Flint Water Crisis, With Children Set to Benefit
A court has approved a settlement of more than $600 million — the majority of which will be paid by the state of Michigan — in a milestone in the years-long battle over contaminated water in Flint, one of the nation’s worst public health disasters. The $626 million deal to settle most lawsuits filed by […]
In the News | The Washington Post
November 10, 2021
‘We’ve Made History’: Flint Water Crisis Victims to Receive $626m Settlement
Judge announces compensation plans for tens of thousands of residents affected by one of America’s worst public health cases. A federal judge has approved a $626m settlement for victims of the lead water crisis in Flint, Michigan, in a case brought by tens of thousands of residents affected by the contaminated water. Announcing the settlement […]
In the News | The Guardian
November 10, 2021
Court Grants Final Approval for Landmark Flint Water Crisis Settlement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Flint Residents Will Start to Receive Financial Relief from the $626 Million Settlement FLINT, MI. – Interim Co-lead Class Counsel in the Flint water crisis litigation announced today that the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan has granted final approval for the landmark $626 million partial settlement resulting from the class action and individual […]
Press Releases
November 10, 2021
Judge Approves $626 Million Settlement for Victims of the Flint Water Crisis
NPR’s Ailsa Chang talks with Ted Leopold, co-lead counsel for the people of Flint, Mich., after a judge approved a settlement for victims of the city’s water crisis. AILSA CHANG, HOST: A federal judge has approved a $626 million settlement for victims of the Flint water crisis. Residents there were exposed to contaminated drinking water […]
In the News | NPR
November 1, 2021
New Study Shows Genx Compound Found in Cape Fear River May Have Even Worse Effects
It’s been four years since a chemical compound called GenX was discovered in the Cape Fear River and area drinking wells. GenX has been used by Fayetteville company Chemours to make non-stick cookware. According to a recently released report from the EPA, the effect on humans is potentially worse than first thought. “Animal studies following […]
In the News | CBS17 News
October 26, 2021
EPA to Designate PFAS as Hazardous in New Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced it is taking steps toward regulating toxic so-called forever chemicals as hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a move the agency said will help strengthen accountability for polluters. The agency said it is initiating the process of adding four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or […]
In the News | Law360
October 1, 2021
New PFAS Reporting Rule Could Be Tough for Businesses
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s pending requirement that companies report their use of so-called forever chemicals could impose a tough burden on businesses across many industry sectors, and environmental attorneys say it’s crucial that companies act now to prepare. The proposed new rule, currently being finalized by the Biden administration, would require businesses that have […]
In the News | Law360
August 11, 2021
Flint Federal Judge Certifies Issues Classes Against Remaining Flint Water Crisis Defendants
FLINT, MI – Interim Co-lead Class Counsel in the Flint water crisis litigation announced that Federal Judge Judith Levy of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan entered an order granting Class Certification on liability claims in the ongoing litigation against private engineering firms Lockwood, Andrews & Newman (LAN) and Veolia, […]
In the News
July 28, 2021
House Oversight Committee Investigating New Allegations in Flint Water Crisis Cover-Up by Metro Times
The chairwoman of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform has responded to last week’s Metro Times cover story that included new, previously unreported revelations of a cover-up in the Flint water crisis. “It would be deeply troubling if any of the officials involved in the poisoning of Flint’s children destroyed evidence of their […]
In the News | Detroit Metro Times
July 2, 2021
Champlain Towers South Condominium Building Collapse, Surfside, FL – FAQs
To the individuals and families affected by the devastating Champlain Towers South condominium building collapse in Surfside, Florida, we send our deepest condolences. While first responders and city, county, and federal authorities work to understand how a building failure of this magnitude occurred, we have prepared a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about personal […]
Articles
December 16, 2020
Michigan House, Senate Sign Off on Flint Water Settlement Plan
Bills that allow Michigan to issue bonds to cover the state’s $600 million share of the Flint water crisis settlement have gained the approval of the state House and Senate. The House approved the proposals Wednesday, one of the final scheduled session days of the year. They passed the Senate last week. The Legislature plans […]
In the News | The Detroit News
November 14, 2020
Current Employee Joins Discrimination Suit Against Bloomberg LP
Bloomberg L.P. is again being accused of discriminatory workplace practices, this time by a current employee who is joining the lawsuit of a former reporter. Naula Ndugga, currently a news producer for Bloomberg’s Quicktake vertical, is now part of the discrimination lawsuit filed in August by Nafeesa Syeed. She joins Syaeed’s allegations of pay and […]
In the News | WWD
November 11, 2020
Theodore J. Leopold Profiled in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight”
Flint, Michigan. Synonymous with toxic water. Sickened children. And astounding failures by public and private entities all the way up to the Governor’s office. The city’s water crisis is also an apt illustration of the level of resources and dedication to achieving restitution and accountability that has become a hallmark of Cohen Milstein. “I think […]
In the News | Lawdragon
September 11, 2020
Judge Refuses to Extinguish Wildfire Lawsuits Against US Government
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park cases, filed in 2018, allege that National Park Service failed to warn local officials and the area community about a fire that broke out Nov. 23, 2016, eventually charring more than 10,000 acres. As wildfires ravage the West Coast, victims of a 2016 wildfire in Great Smoky Mountains National […]
In the News | Law.com
September 9, 2020
Judge: US Park Hasn’t Shown Enough Done to Inform of Fire
U.S. park officials have failed to show enough was done to keep the public updated as a deadly wildfire spread from Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2016, a judge ruled. The decision Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer in Knoxville keeps lawsuits by survivors of the blaze on track for a potential trial, […]
In the News | Associated Press
August 20, 2020
Most of $600 Million Settlement in Flint Water Crisis Will Go to Children
The settlement still needs federal court approval, but Flint residents were being cautiously optimistic after the drawn-out crisis: “I just want it to be over.” Since contaminated water began running from taps in Flint six years ago, perhaps the biggest worry was the lasting effect on the Michigan city’s 25,000 children. Along with skin rashes […]
In the News | New York Times
August 20, 2020
Here’s How Flint Families Will Get Paid in Water Crisis Settlement
The process of distributing $600 million to more than 33,000 Flint water victims will likely take months to complete, and it’s unlikely the money for the settlement will be available until the beginning of 2021. The settlement will encompass all Flint children who were younger than the age of 18 at the time of the […]
In the News | The Detroit News
August 20, 2020
Landmark $600 Millon Preliminary Agreement Reached in Flint Water Litigation Provides Relief to Residents, Property Owners and Businesses
For Information About the Proposed Settlement If you are a Flint resident or business owner and you’d like information about the proposed settlement, please go to www.FlintWaterJustice.com. If you would like to speak to someone directly about the settlement or if you need assistance with the form, please call: 1-866-536-0717 or text: “Flint” to 47177 […]
In the News
August 20, 2020
Flint Residents to Get $600 Million From Michigan Over Lead-Tainted Water
Settlement helps resolve five-year legal fight over one of nation’s worst public-health emergencies Five years after the lead-tainted drinking water crisis in Flint, one of the nation’s worst public health emergencies, the state of Michigan has reached a settlement to compensate residents. On Thursday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the state would pay $600 […]
In the News | The Wall Street Journal
August 2, 2020
Preliminary Study: State’s Highest Levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Cape Fear’s Raw Water Supply
Preliminary data released last month by scientists at seven North Carolina universities showed the highest levels of ‘forever chemicals’, known as PFAS, were observed at the Cape Fear region’s main raw water supply at the Kings Bluff pump station on the Cape Fear River. The high level was attributed to PFAS chemicals coming from discharges […]
In the News | Port City Daily
July 23, 2020
CFPUA Starts Daily PFAS Monitoring After Chemours Admits Sediment Washing into Cape Fear River
CFPUA has begun more frequent sampling of raw water from the Cape Fear River and sought guidance from state regulators after being informed Wednesday evening by Chemours that PFAS remediation work at its Fayetteville Works plant apparently had sent an increased volume of sediment into the river. In an email sent at 7:32 p.m. Wednesday, […]
In the News | Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
July 13, 2020
Research Suggests Link Between PFAS Contamination and the Coronavirus
Studies say people with high levels of PFAS in their systems could be more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. John Wolfe doesn’t know what else he can do to protect himself against the coronavirus. The Wilmington boat captain follows all of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. He wears a mask and requires tourists […]
In the News | North Carolina Health News
July 1, 2020
New Research Confirms Presence of Toxic “Forever Chemicals” in Scores of NC Water Supplies
GenX study shows contamination in 80% of wells tested; mice studies show liver damage from Nafion Byproduct 2 Raw water supplies for at least 150 public utilities in North Carolina contained some level of toxic PFAS, underscoring the call of many scientists this week to regulate the thousands of perfluorinated compounds as a class. Some […]
In the News | NC Policy Watch
June 30, 2020
Lawsuit Blames State Agencies for Dam Failures
A new lawsuit in the Michigan Court of Claims places the blame for damages done to homes and businesses during the May 19 flooding on state agencies. The lawsuit, filed on June 25, alleges the state agencies Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) “caused the […]
In the News | Midland Daily News
June 29, 2020
Cohen Milstein Joins Pitt Legal Team to Enhance Edenville Dam Legal Team
For Immediate Release Partnership from Flint Water Crisis Legal Team Extended to Help More Michiganders The Pitt Legal Team announces the addition of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, to the Edenville Dam legal team. The newly expanded team seeks to represent neighbors who suffered catastrophic damage to their lives and property after avoidable dam […]
In the News
June 26, 2020
Tesla Sued for Airbag Malfunction in Model 3 Highway Crash
Washington college professor blames automaker for brain injury. Company faces regulatory scrutiny over other safety issues. Tesla Inc. was sued over a Maryland highway crash last year in which a Model 3’s airbags failed to deploy, leaving a college professor with brain damage. Elon Musk, the company’s co-founder, has touted the Model 3 as the […]
In the News | Bloomberg
June 25, 2020
Tesla Airbags, Seat Belts Faulted in Woman’s Brain Injury Suit
A Maryland woman who suffered traumatic brain injuries in a 2019 accident sued Tesla Inc. in California state court Wednesday alleging it manufactured an unsafe Model 3 vehicle with airbags that didn’t properly deploy. Kristian Edwards and her husband, Jason Edwards, allege Tesla designed and manufactured an “unreasonably dangerous” Model 3 vehicle with defective airbag […]
In the News | Law360
May 26, 2020
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Ruling That Snyder & Other Officials to Remain in Flint Water Lawsuit
A federal appeals court upheld a ruling that reinstated former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and other state officials in the class action lawsuit over the Flint Water Crisis. The judges of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the 2019 ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Judith Levy that reinstated Snyder and nearly all […]
In the News | ABC
April 16, 2020
Michigan’s Ex-Gov. Rick Snyder Knew About Flint’s Toxic Water—and Lied About It
During the inauguration of his successor, outgoing Michigan Governor Rick Snyder needed a favor. At the January 2019 event, Snyder approached Karen Weaver, who was then the mayor of Flint, a city of nearly 100,000 people that was still reeling from financial decay and a toxic-water crisis. He asked whether she could meet with Congressman […]
In the News | VICE
February 3, 2020
New DEQ Data Show ‘Staggering’ Levels of PFAS in Cape Fear River Basin
The DEQ required 25 utilities in the basin to test for “forever chemicals” at their sewer treatment plants for three months. One scientist called the results of those tests “incredibly high.” A water sample taken in September from the Sanford sewage treatment plant that discharges into Deep River uncovered “staggering” concentrations of forever chemicals, newly […]
In the News | North Carolina Health News
February 3, 2020
Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ the Next Big Toxic Tort?
Plaintiffs lawyer Scott Summy, of Baron & Budd, said “forever chemicals,” discovered in the drinking water of several communities, “are probably the largest environmental hazard in the country right now.” In southwestern Vermont, residents of the town of Bennington sued in 2016 after state officials determined that a local company, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp., discharged […]
In the News | Law.com
September 30, 2019
Cohen Milstein Atty to Lead GM Defective Transmission Suits
An attorney at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC has been named lead counsel in a group of suits in Michigan federal court accusing General Motors LLC of selling cars with defective transmissions. U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson appointed Theodore J. Leopold to coordinate and oversee the five cases and the plaintiffs’ steering committee […]
In the News | Law360
August 15, 2019
Misleading Statements: NHTSA’s Concerns with Tesla’s Model 3 Safety Claims
Cohen Milstein’s Complex Tort Litigation practice group publishes the bi-weekly Complex Tort Eblast addressing a number of consumer safety and product liability issues. The Tesla Model 3 may not be as safe as Tesla claims it to be. As reported in the Observer and CNBC last week, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sent Tesla a cease-and-desist […]
Articles | Cohen Milstein
November 16, 2018
Juvenile Incarceration Changes: Solitary Confinement and Education
The first of its kind settlement in Palm Beach County is ending the practice of holding juveniles charged as adults in solitary confinement. Reported by Terri Parker: Police of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office agreed to end the practice of putting juveniles in solitary. And Palm Beach County School Board will make sure that all jailed juveniles get the […]
In the News | WPBF 25 ABC
November 9, 2018
Sheriff to End Solitary Confinement for Teens at Palm Beach County Jail Under Settlement
Young offenders called it “the box.” It’s where their world at the Palm Beach County jail shrank to a 6-by-12 foot cell — for months. In solitary confinement, no music was allowed. No television. No human contact. If they complained, they were subject to verbal and sometimes physical abuse by sheriff’s deputies. Some of these […]
In the News | The Palm Beach Post
October 4, 2018
Flood-Ravaged Faith Leaders, Property Owners and Small Businesses Accuse Transportation Company of Ignoring Risks for Second Consecutive Hurricane
New Federal Class Action Details CSX Transportation’s Decision to Ignore Major Vulnerability in Lumberton Levee System, Obstruct Efforts To Fix Problem Residents Ask Court to Require CSX to Construct Floodgate to Prevent Damage from Future Storms LUMBERTON, NC – A group of North Carolina faith leaders, entrepreneurs and residents, who suffered from widespread flooding in the […]
In the News
June 21, 2018
Florida Sheriff Sued for Jailing Teen Suspects in Solitary
A civil rights group filed suit Thursday against a Florida sheriff and school district, claiming that juvenile suspects are unjustly kept in solitary confinement without cause and denied a proper education as they await trial as adults. The Human Rights Defense Center filed suit in federal court against Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and […]
In the News | Associated Press
June 21, 2018
Practice of Holding Juvenile Offenders in Solitary Confinement Challenged in Palm Beach County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Palm Beach, FL – Today, the Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC), the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County and the law firm of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, filed suit in federal court challenging the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s practice of placing juvenile offenders in solitary confinement. The complaint, which […]
Press Releases
March 27, 2018
For Those Exposed to GenX, an Agonizing Wait For Answers
Fran Minshew’s home on a dirt road near the Cape Fear River has become a focal point for North Carolina’s environmental regulators dealing with the GenX crisis. Minshew lives in the cutout of a forest, less than a mile north of the Chemours plant, along the Cumberland-Bladen county line. Her well was among the first […]
In the News | The Fayetteville Observer
March 2, 2018
Iranian Government Ordered to Pay $920 Million to 1983 Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing Victims and Their Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE “Judgment is among the largest ever issued against a foreign state under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act” WASHINGTON, D.C. – Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, a leading national plaintiffs’ law firm, has obtained a judgment of $920 million against the Iranian government on behalf of more than 80 family members of […]
In the News
March 1, 2018
Iran Ordered to Pay $920M for Beirut Marine Base Bombing
A Washington, D.C., federal judge granted 80 victims of the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut a $920 million judgment against Iran on Wednesday for its role in supporting the attack. Having previously entered a default judgment against Iran in July 2016 after it failed to respond to the lawsuit, which […]
In the News | Law360
February 1, 2018
DuPont Accused of Disregarding Test Results Before Illegally Dumping Hazardous Chemicals into Water Supply
New research suggests Cape Fear pollutants are more toxic than originally thought and may be airborne WILMINGTON, N.C. –DuPont (NYSE: DD) and its former wholly-owned subsidiary, the Chemours Company (NYSE: CC), disregarded internal test results before illegally dumping hazardous chemicals into North Carolina’s Cape Fear River and then mislead the government regulators about its conduct, […]
Press Releases
January 19, 2018
Ted Leopold Takes on Corporate America
The Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll attorney is usually out-resourced and out-manned, but that hasn’t stopped him from using the law to win high-stakes, multi-million dollar cases brought against some of the world’s largest companies. When Ted Leopold started his career after college as a high school teacher at Coral Gables High in Miami, he […]
In the News | Daily Business Review
October 25, 2017
Class Actions Over GenX Pile Up
Concern over GenX and its presence in Wilmington’s main drinking water source, the Cape Fear River, has given way to another pair of class actions. Earlier this month, The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, based in Durham, along with The Hannon Law Firm of Denver, filed a first class action against DuPont and its […]
In the News | Triangle Business Journal
October 24, 2017
Leland Woman Files Lawsuit After High GenX Levels Found in Water Heater
A Leland woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Chemours and its subsidiary Chemours after elevated levels of GenX was found in her home’s water heater. According to the complaint, a June 2017 sampling of bottom sludge collected from a water heater from the residence of plaintiff Victoria Carey detected GenX levels at 857 parts […]
Articles | WECT 6
October 24, 2017
Chemical Companies Accused of Poisoning Drinking Water with Known Toxins
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE North Carolina Resident Alleges DuPont & Chemours Endangered Her Family’s Health, Safety and Property by Dumping Toxic Chemicals into State Water Supply Plaintiff Represented by Same Court-Appointed Lead Attorney in Lawsuits Over Water Contamination in Flint, Michigan WILMINGTON, N.C. – Multinational chemical corporation DuPont (NYSE: DD) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Chemours Company […]
Press Releases
January 13, 2017
Former Takata Executives Indicted for Fraud and Conspiracy
A federal grand jury in Detroit has indicted three former employees of Takata, charging them with concealing deadly defects in the Japanese company’s automotive air bag inflators. The indictments on six counts of conspiracy and wire fraud were returned Dec. 7 and unsealed Friday, January 13 just hours ahead of a Justice Department news conference […]
In the News | CBS Evening News
July 15, 2016
Takata Settles Airbag Suit, Averting Testimony by Its Chief
The airbag maker Takata settled a closely watched lawsuit involving the injury and eventual death of a woman whose car crashed in 2014. The settlement was announced moments before a critical hearing in which a judge in Jacksonville, Fla., could have ordered the company’s chief executive, Shigehisa Takada, to testify in the case. Even the […]
In the News | The New York Times
November 1, 2014
Hernia Mesh: Litigating a New Mass Product Defect
The day time and late night television commercials are still soliciting individuals who have been implanted with the now infamous transvaginal mesh. Just type the word “transvaginal” in Google and a majority of the search results will include information on either pending or resolved lawsuits involving transvaginal mesh products. A less publicized, but equally dangerous […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
July 1, 2014
GM’S Ignition Switch Recalls: The List Keeps Growing
General Motors has recalled over 20 million vehicles in 2014 – more vehicles than it sold last year. Astounding. Even more astounding is that many of these recalls should have occurred long ago, but GM failed to act on information that it was using a defective ignition switch component in many of its vehicles. According to […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
April 1, 2014
Supreme Court Passes Up Opportunity to Further Chip Away at Class Relief
In what was a surprise to many who have come to believe the agenda of the Roberts Court is to completely eviscerate the class action as a vehicle for obtaining relief for consumers on a large scale, the United States Supreme Court has passed up the opportunity to further chip away at the viability of class […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
October 1, 2013
Deadly Roadways: Guideposts for Defective Guardrail Litigation
Guardrails are installed along America’s roadways for the protection of motorists. Guardrails, if properly designed, keep vehicles from straying off the roadway into dangerous places and, when impacted at the end points, should absorb or dissipate energy from the crash and give way, rather than remaining rigid and potentially intruding into the accident vehicle. But, […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
November 1, 2012
Avoiding Mandatory Arbitration in Products Liability Cases
As consumer class action attorneys are painfully aware, in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, 131 S.Ct. 1740 (2011), the United States Supreme Court determined that the federal government views arbitration with such favor that state courts are sometimes preempted from striking provisions of arbitration clauses that are unconscionable under state law. Since Concepcion, courts are […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
April 1, 2011
The Importance of D’Amario v. Ford and How it Protects Florida’s Consumers
Due to an aggressive campaign seeking to legislatively overrule the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in D’Amario v. Ford, 806 So. 2d 424 (Fla. 2001), the decision may no longer be good law by the time this article is published. The abolition of this decision, which held that the fault of an automobile manufacturer in a crashworthiness […]
Articles | Florida Bar Journal