A Track Record of Success
Seeger Weiss attorneys have received leadership appointments to represent plaintiffs in state and federal courts throughout the U.S. in many noteworthy multi-district litigations. Founding partner Chris Seeger is one of the nation’s leading attorneys in the areas of complex and mass tort actions and is widely recognized for his extensive leadership experience in those same cases. The Seeger Weiss team of attorneys have held leading roles in some of the highest-profile cases in the last two decades.
“Seeger Weiss played a key role in evaluating the complex legal issues of this case and defending the case on appeal… was a great legal challenge that was remarkably well-orchestrated both in the design of the Settlement and in the outstanding appellate advocacy that supported it.”–US Federal Judge
*This comment, made by a judge in a particular case, is not an endorsement of my legal skill or ability
Unlike many plaintiffs’ firms, Seeger Weiss takes cases ready to go to court and get results. For example, Seeger Weiss serves as co-lead counsel in In Re: 3m Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation, the largest consolidated litigation in U.S. history. In this case, the Seeger Weiss team secured a $110 million verdict in a bellwether trial on behalf of two veterans permanently harmed by 3M’s misconduct.
*An endorsement of the firm or report of prior results does not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
“Highly regarded for its representation of plaintiffs in mass tort litigation, particularly related to opioids, emissions, and data security matters. Has significant experience in pharmaceutical and agricultural cases. Well known for expertise in settling complex multidistrict litigation mandates in both federal and state courts.” –Chambers
*Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
The firm’s caseload includes one unusual specialty: representing government entities in litigation that is so complex that public officials find it necessary to hire outside lawyers. These cases require lawyers capable of bringing big cases against major multi-national corporations, all while working closely with sophisticated and demanding in-house government attorneys. The firm’s cases in this category include lawsuits over opioids, PFAS (aka “forever chemicals”), and PCBs, as well as whistleblower litigation.
Opioid Litigation
Seeger Weiss has represented government entities in the federal multi-district litigation over the opioid epidemic. As part of the plaintiffs’ committee, the firm’s attorneys have negotiated billions of dollars in settlements with major corporations. These settlements include nearly $13 billion from major retail pharmacies such as Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS, as well as the $26 billion settlement with distributors and J&J.
*An endorsement of the firm or report of prior results does not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter
Seeger Weiss attorneys helped formulate a groundbreaking system to distribute these funds to state and local government agencies. The settlements will work to fund community programs and other support to help abate the opioid epidemic. The firm also fought for and achieved historic injunctions to force policy changes that prevent the industry from perpetrating further harm to communities around the country. These injunctions were crucial to create real, enforceable, and lasting changes.
PFAS Litigation
Chemical giants 3M and DuPont are facing many lawsuits filed by states, municipalities, and other governmental agencies for contamination caused by the “forever chemicals” known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These toxic chemicals are ingredients in fire-fighting foam (known as aqueous film-forming foam or AFFF) as well as in consumer products and industrial applications.
For example, partner Matthew Pawa leads the Seeger Weiss team representing the State of Vermont in litigation to recover for PFAS contamination across Vermont. These toxic chemicals have contaminated drinking water, groundwater, soil, and other natural resources. This litigation requires collecting evidence of contamination in thousands of drinking water wells, contaminated sites, surface water bodies and other natural resources all over Vermont; putting a dollar value on these injuries; and linking these injuries to a long and complex history of scientific misconduct and corporate legerdemain by DuPont and 3M. The Seeger Weiss team developed a strategy to keep part of Vermont’s case in state court, where the team is expected to start a pathbreaking trial in 2025 that will set a precedent for many similar claims across the country.
PCBs
Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are a family of man-made, highly toxic chemicals that were largely banned in 1979. Monsanto Co. was practically the sole manufacturer of these chemicals and deceived the public for years about their propensity to cause massive and nearly permanent toxic contamination. To this day, states and municipalities are still footing the bill to clean up Monsanto’s toxic legacy.
Seeger Weiss has led many lawsuits by states and municipalities to hold Monsanto accountable. For example, Seeger Weiss represented New Hampshire against Monsanto for PCB contamination in natural resources across New Hampshire, resulting in a $25 million settlement in 2022. Seeger Weiss also currently represents the State of New Jersey, the City of Los Angeles, and many municipalities in Illinois in PCB litigation; it expects to file suit on behalf of other states and another large city in the near future. Seeger Weiss also filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Burlington (Vermont) School District, which demolished its high school due to recently discovered PCB contamination. The District’s new high school is estimated to cost at least $190 million—funds that the lawsuit seeks to require Monsanto to pay. Finally, Seeger Weiss represents five Massachusetts municipalities in connection with one of the largest and most complex PCB cleanup sites in the country, and recently negotiated a settlement with General Electric that requires the company to pay more than $50 million to these municipalities for socioeconomic impacts associated with the cleanup.
*An endorsement of the firm or report of prior results does not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Whistleblower Claims
Seeger Weiss has worked to obtain compensation in cases of fraud committed against the government by representing qui-tam whistleblowers. Seeger Weiss has significant experience in whistleblower and qui tam litigation, including former federal and state prosecutors able to make sure claims receive serious consideration and, when needed, navigate overlapping criminal law issues.
Working closely with government legal teams, Seeger Weiss attorneys have worked on numerous successful cases that have resulted in multi-million-dollar recoveries for government fraud, including the single largest healthcare fraud case ever settled for $3 billion paid by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline and the first-ever tax settlement under the New York State False Claims Act against famous New York City custom tailor Mohan for $5.5 million.
*An endorsement of the firm or report of prior results does not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Contact Seeger Weiss
Our team has decades of experience representing state and municipal governments; we have extensive experience working with governmental clients, knowledge about how government attorneys and agency personnel work, and about the unique authorities and challenges that these governments bring to complex litigation against major corporations. Contact Seeger Weiss for more information.
