Napoli Shkolnik Media Kit 2023

LEGAL REPORT 2023 OFFI CESNATI ONWI DE

NAPOLI LAW. COM

NAPOLI SHKOLNIK ATTORNEYS AT LAW

(866) 268-0317 I NAPOLI LAW.COM 360 LEXINGTON AVENUE, 11TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017

STAY UPDATED

O rmi a m m

Copyright© 2023 Napoli Shkolnik PLLC Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Last updated Februay 2023.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. This publication is for informational purposed only, does not constitute legal advice and may not reflect the most current legal developments. This publication does not create an attorney-client relationship, only a written contract between the parties can establish and attorney-client relationship. Napoli Shkolnik and all contributing authors expressly disclaim all liability to any person with respect to the contents of this publication. Imagery used in this publication utilized fictionalized events or scenes with participation of models. For complete details, read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy at napolilaw.com.

NAPOLI SHKOLNIK

2023 LEGAL REPORT

CONTENTS 04WhoWeAr e 05Pr i nci pal s 09Ver di ct s& Set t l ement s 11I nt heNews 14RecentPubl i cat i ons 47Gi vi ngBack 51Tr i alLawyer sof Puer t oRi co

WHO WEARE|4

WESEEKTHEJ USTI CE AND COMPENSATI ON THATYOU DESERVE Napol iShkol ni ki sahi ghpr ofil efir mt hathasobt ai nedover $6Bi l l i oni nver di ct sandset t l ement sf orourcl i ent s.Wewor k al ongsi del ocalcocounselal lovert hecount r y.

I nt erest edpart i escal l( 866)2680317

WE EVALUATE CASES DAI LY and we encour age you t o cont actNapol iShkol ni kt o di scussst epsf orcompensat i on f orcl i ent saswel last o speak aboutany new l i t i gat i ons.Ourat t or neyshol d a var i et yofl eader shi pposi t i ons ( l eadorl i ai soncounsel ,member s of l i t i gat i on st eer i ng commi t t ees) i n numer ous mul t i di st r i ct l i t i gat i ons f or phar maceut i cal cases andcl assact i ons.Ourpr i nci palofficesar el ocat ed i nNew Yor kal ongwi t hnumer ousofficesacr osst he count r yandanaffil i at eofficei nPuer t oRi co.

OURPRACTI CEAREAS Asbest osRel at edI l l nesses Avi at i onAcci dent s Ci vi lRi ght s Cl assAct i ons Compl exCommer ci alLi t i gat i on Def ect i veMedi calDevi ces

ACCOLADES

HI GH PROFI LECASES

SuperLawyer s®

Fi r ear mI ndust r yLi t i gat i on

For t uneMagazi neAmer i ca’ s

CampLeJ eune

Pr emi erLawyer s AV® Pr eemi nent ™ Rat ed Lawyer sbyMar t i nHubbel l Nat i onalTr i alLawyer s, Top100Tr i alLawyer s Li t i gat i onCounselof Amer i ca™ Pr oven Tr i alLawyer s Mi l l i onDol l arAdvocat es

PFASWat erCont ami nat i on Nat i onalOpi oi dLi t i gat i on

Def ect i vePr escr i pt i onDr ugs Emer gi ngCont ami nant sLi t i gat i on Gover nment alAffai r s Medi calMal pr act i ce

Gener i cDr ugAnt i t r ustCases

Opi oi dCostRecover yPr ogr am

9/ 11Wor l dTr adeCent er

Per sonalI nj ur y

Li t i gat i on/ Vi ct i m

Wor l dTr adeCent er

For um

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

PRI NCI PALS Wel ookf or war dt o bui l di ngamut ual l y benefici alr el at i onshi p t oget her .

PRI NCI PALS|6

PARTNER

Mar i eNapol i Mr s.Napol ihasover25year sofexper i ence handl i ngper sonali nj ur y,medi calmal pr act i ce, masst or t ,andcompl exl i t i gat i onmat t er s.

MARI E NAPOLI pl ays an i nt egr al r ol ei n achi evi ng t he mul t i mi l l i ondol l ar ver di ct s and set t l ement si nt he fir m’ s many pr act i ce ar eas,i ncl udi ng t he $1.

3+ bi l l i on set t l ement i nt heNew Yor kOpi oi dJ ur yTr i al ,t hej ur yver di ctf orpl ai nt i ffsi nt heOhi oOpi oi dTr i al( t he f eder albel l wet hert r i alagai nstnat i onalphar macy chai ns) ,t he $640 mi l l i on Fl i nt Wat er Cr i si s agr eement ,and t he $1 bi l l i on set t l ementi nt heWor l dTr adeCent erl i t i gat i on.The fir m cont i nuest o be att he f or ef r ontofnat i onaland not ewor t hy l egalcases,i ncl udi ng t hosei nvol vi ngant i t r ustgener i cdr ugl i t i gat i on, Aqueous Fi l mFor mi ng Foam ( AFFF) wat er cont ami nat i on cases wher e $1.

185B and $12.

5B agr eement s ar e pendi ng cour t appr oval ,andci vi lr i ght smat t er s.

Forherl egalachi evement s,Mar i e hasbeen r ecogni zed byherpeer sand t hel egali ndust r y,consi st ent l y bei ng named t o New Yor k SuperLawyer s®,BestAt t or neys ofAmer i ca and t o The Nat i onalTr i alLawyer sf or Wo-

BARADMI SSI ONS

PROFESSI ONAL AFFI LI ATI ONS

NewYor k NewYor kSupr emeCour t

Amer i canAs s oci at i on f orJ us t i ce

Uni t edSt at esDi s t r i ctCour t , Eas t er nDi s t r i ctofNewYor k

Br ookl ynWomen’ sBar As s oci at i on( BWBA)

Uni t edSt at esDi s t r i ctCour t , her nDi s t r i ctofNewYor k Sout

Nas s auCount yBar As s oci at i on

Uni t edSt at esDi s t r i ctCour t , Eas t er nDi s t r i ctofMi chi gan

NewYor kSt at eAcademy ofTr i alLawyer s

Uni t edSt at esSupr emeCour t

NewYor kSt at eBar As s oci at i on( NYBA)

AWARDS& HONORS Amer i canAcademyof At t or neys , T op100At t or neys i nPer s onalI nj ur yLaw

NewYor kSt at eTr i al Lawyer sAs s oci at i on, Boar dofDi r ect or s

Bes tAt t or neysofAmer i ca

NewYor kWomen’ sBar As s oci at i on( NYWBA)

Bes tLawyer sBus i nes s Edi t i on,Womeni nLaw,2019

Suffol kCount yBar As s oci at i on

Nat i onalAcademyof Per s onalI nj ur yAt t or neys ( NAOPI A) , “ T op10At t or ney Awar d–NewYor k”

Tr i alLawyer sof Puer t oRi co, Pas tPr es i dent

men’ sRi ght s–Top10l i stt onameonl yaf ew.

Shei saBoar dMemberoft heNew Yor kSt at e Tr i alLawyer sAssoci at i onandi sal soaf oundi ng Boar d Memberand f or merPr esi dentof t he Tr i alLawyer s of Puer t o Ri co ( TLPR) ,a t r ade associ at i on br i ngi ng t oget hert op t r i al l awyer st o shar e exper t i se,bui l d par t ner shi ps,and t o add val ue t ot he l ocalPuer t o Ri cocommuni t y.

Mar i ei sal soal egalcomment at oronavar i et y

TheNat i onalTr i alLawyer s f orWomen’ sRi ght s–T op10 TheNat i onalTr i alLawyer s : T op100

Law360’ sPer s onal I nj ur yandMedMal Edi t or i alAdvi s or yBoar d TheBoneMar r ow Foundat i on, As s oci at eBoar dMember

NewYor kSuperLawyer s ® , 20182022

ofl egali ssuesandhasappear edonsuchnet wor ksasFoxBusi nessNews,CNN,CBS New Yor k,andABCNews.

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

Readf ul lbi oatht t ps: / / bi t . l y/ 45oBBJ y

2023LEGALREPORT

PRI NCI PALS|7

PARTNER

Hunt erJ .Shkol ni k Mr .Shkol ni kl eadst hedi scover yandt r i alt eams ofvar i ousmasst or tphar maceut i calandmedi cal devi cel i t i gat i onsf ort hefir m.

HUNTER J .SHKOLNI Ki s an est eemed and dedi cat ed at t or ney who l eads t he di scover y andt r i alt eamsofvar i ousmasst or tphar maceut i caland medi caldevi ce l i t i gat i ons. Mr .

Shkol ni ki scur r ent l y ser vi ng asa chai r man, l eader ,orcour t appoi nt ed r epr esent at i veon Pl ai nt i ff St eer i ngCommi t t eesi n var i ousdr ug andot hermasst or t s.

Addi t i onal l y,hehasal sohel dofficerposi t i ons i nt he New Yor kSt at e Tr i alLawyer s,Nassau Count yBarAssoci at i on and Commi t t eeChai r posi t i onsi n ATLA Heal t h Car eFi nanceLi t i gat i on Gr oup, Or t hopedi cI mpl ant Li t i gat i on Gr oup,AAJBr east Cancer Li t i gat i on Gr oup and t he CoChai rAAJHear tDevi ce Li t i gat i on Gr oup.

Hunt eri saf oundi ngboar dmemberandVi ce Pr esi dentoft heTr i alLawyer sofPuer t o Ri co ( TLPR) .He r ecent l yr et ur ned as a f eat ur ed speakeratt he2ndannualMassTor t sPuer t o Ri co( MTPR)Conf er ence.

Hei sal egalcomment at orandpol i t i calnews

BARADMI SSI ONS

PROFESSI ONAL AFFI LI ATI ONS

NewYor k Uni t edSt at esDi s t r i ctCour t , Eas t er nandSout her n Di s t r i ct sofNewYor k

Amer i canAs s oci at i onf or J us t i ce( AAJ ) ,Mul t i pl eGr oups LongI s l andAffil i at eoft he NYSTLA,Pas tPr es i dent

Uni t edSt at esSupr emeCour t Nas s auCount yBar As s oci at i on, Pas tVi ceChai r man

New J er s ey Uni t edSt at esDi s t r i ctCour t , Di s t r i ctofNew J er s ey AWARDS& HONORS Li t i gat i onCouns elof Amer i ca,Fel l ow Mar qui sWho’ sWho® ,2018 i onalTr i alLawyer s , TheNat Avi at i onTr i alLawyer s– T op10

LegalCommi t t ee NewYor kSt at eTr i al Lawyer s( NYSTLA) , Boar dofDi r ect or s Tr i alLawyer sof Puer t oRi co Law360' sEdi t or i al Advi s or yBoar ds

NewYor kSuperLawyer s ® : 2006–2019

anal yst wi t h ext ensi ve exper i ence i n ar eas such asci vi land cr i mi nall aw aswel lasel ec t i onr el at edi ssues.

Readf ul lbi oatht t ps: / / bi t . l y/ 3DW1B3u

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

PRI NCI PALS|8

PARTNER

PaulJ .Napol i Mr .Napol ihasachi evedhundr edsof mi l l i ondol l arver di ct sandset t l ement sf or hi scl i ent sandhasal sor ecei vedmany awar dsf r om hi speer s.

BARADMI SSI ONS PAUL NAPOLIbr i ngsmor et han 31 year sof l egalexper i encet ohi spr i mar yar easofpr act i ce,i ncl udi nggover nment alaffai r s,envi r onment all aw,and mass t or tl i t i gat i on.He i s wi del yr ecogni zedasoneoft hecount r y’ st op l i t i gat or s,havi ng successf ul l yl ed numer ous hi ghpr ofil e cases such as t he Wor l d Tr ade Cent erl i t i gat i on,t he Fl i ntWat erCr i si s and cl ai msbr oughton behal fofl ocalci t i esand st at esi nvol vi ngt heOpi oi dEpi demi c.

Wel l known f or hi s abi l i t y t o over see l ar gescal e compl ex cases i nvol vi ng l ar ge mul t i bi l l i oncor por at i ons,Paul ’ swi nsr unt he gamutofi ssuesf r om def ect i vephar maceut i caldr ugs,such ast hedi etdr ugPhenf en,t o envi r onment alcont ami nat i on caused byExxonMobi lpet r ol eum addi t i vel eaks.

Hei sannual l ysel ect ed t ot hei nvi t at i ononl y SuperLawyer s® l i standi sr ecommendedasa l eadi ng l awyerby BestLawyer si n Amer i ca, Lawyer sofDi st i nct i onandLegal500US.

NewYor k I l l i noi s Uni t edSt at esDi s t r i ctCour t , Eas t er n,Sout her n,Nor t her n Wes t er nDi s t r i ct sof NewYor k

TheAmer i canTr i alLawyer s As s oci at i onT op100 At t or neysi nt heNewYor k Met r oAr ea TheAmer i canTr i alLawyer s As s oci at i onT op100 Tr i alLawyer s Lawyer sofDi s t i nct i on

Uni t edSt at esDi s t r i ctCour t , Eas t er nDi s t r i ctofMi chi gan Uni t edSt at esDi s t r i ctCour t , Eas t er nDi s t r i ctofMi s s our i Uni t edSt at esDi s t r i ctCour t , Nor t her nandSout her n Di s t r i ct sofI l l i noi s Uni t edSt at esDi s t r i ctCour t f ort heDi s t r i ctofCol or ado Uni t edSt at esCour tof Appeal sf ort heSecondand Thi r dCi r cui t s

TheLegal500Uni t edSt at es , T opTi er Li t i gat i onCouns elofAmer i ca, TheTr i alLawyerHonor ar y Soci et y ,Seni orFel l ow t i ndal eHubbel lT op Mar Rat edLawyer s Mi l l i onDol l arAdvocat es For um TheNat i onalAs s oci at i on ofDi s t i ngui s hedCouns el

Uni t edSt at esSupr emeCour t Mr iser vesont heBoar doft heNat i on.Napol alSept ember11 Memor i al& Museum,was named t o Law360’ s2020 Edi t or i alBoar dsi n t he Envi r onment alCat egor yand waschosen asar eci pi entofLaw360’ s2020MVPAwar ds: Envi r onment al .

Readf ul lbi oatht t ps: / / bi t . l y/ 3qvhYRi

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

AWARDS& HONORS Amer i ca’ sEl i t eTr i alLawyer s Amer i ca’ sT op100Hi gh St akesLi t i gat or s ®

Nat i onalLaw J our nalT op50 El i t eTr i alLawyer NewYor kSuperLawyer s ® 2007–2019 Tr i alLawyer sBoar dof Regent sLi t i gat orAwar ds

Amer i canI ns t i t ut eof Per s onalI nj ur yAt t or neys ( AI OPI A) ,Member

2023LEGALREPORT

VERDI CTS& SETTLEMENTS|9

RESULTS ON RECORD Bui l di ngont hefir m’ songoi ngsuccess,wer epr esentcl i ent s i ncompl exl i t i gat i on,ar bi t r at i onpr oceedi ngsandmedi at i ons. “ MANYOFOURCLI ENTSCOMETO USATTHEI R MOSTVULNERABLE.OURREPRESENTATI ON I SA COMBI NATI ON OFCOMPASSI ON AND UNDERSTANDI NG I N ADDI TI ON TO THEBEST LEGALREPRESENTATI ON WECAN PROVI DE. ”

-Mar i eNapol i ,PARTNER

$320MI LLI ON OPI OI D SETTLEMENT Thi sl andmar kset t l ementwasr eachedonbehal f ofCuyahogaCount y( Ohi o) ,oneoft hebel l wet her pl ai nt i ffsi nt heNat i onalOpi oi dLi t i gat i on, agai nstf ouroft hekeypl ayer sr esponsi bl ef or t heopi oi depi demi c. $2.

5MI LLI ON LABORLAW SETTLEMENT Ourcl i entwasempl oyedasawel derataj obsi t e whenhef el lappr oxi mat el yfivef eetf r om an i mpr oper l ysecur edscaffol d.Duet ot hef al l ,our cl i entsust ai nedser i ousandper manenti nj ur i es t ohi sr i ghtankl eandspi ne. $2.

5MI LLI ON SECURI TI ESSETTLEMENT Agai nstani nvest mentadvi sorfir mf orbr each oft hei rfiduci ar ydut i est ot hei rcl i ent s. $2.

5+MI LLI ON OPI OI D VERDI CT Thi spl ai nt i ff opi oi dver di ctwasagai nsta physi ci anf orpr escr i bi ngl et halcombi nat i ons ofopi oi dsandbenzodi azepi ne.

$1.

185BI LLI ON SETTLEMENT* Undert het er msoft heagr eement ,DuPont ,Chemour s,andCor t evaacknowl edget hei rr ol ei nt he PFAScont ami nat i oncr i si sandmustpr ovi definanci alcompensat i onf ort hecostoft r eat mentnecessar yt oaddr esst hecont ami nat i ont hei r‘ f or ever chemi cal s’caused. $12.

5BI LLI ON SETTLEMENT* Thi shi st or i ccl assact i onset t l ementagr eement wi t h3M Companyr esol vest hecl ai msofPubl i c Wat erSyst emsacr osst hecount r yt hathavebeen i mpact edbyact ualort hr eat enedcont ami nat i on oft hei rwat ersyst emswi t hPFAS. $650MI LLI ON PHARMACEUTI CALSETTLEMENT Thefir m negot i at edt hi sset t l ementt or esol vet he cl ai msofappr oxi mat el y4, 000Pr adaxa® user s whocl ai medt ohavebeeni nj ur edbyt hedr ug.

NEW YORKCOORDI NATED OPI OI D TRI AL Thefir stopi oi dj ur yt r i alhel dphar maceut i cal compani esr esponsi bl ef orcausi ngapubl i c nui sance.Thefir mr epr esent edNassauCount y. $3.

1BI LLI ON MULTI STATESETTLEMENT Secur edbyt heLeader shi pi nt heNat i onal Pr escr i pt i onOpi at eLi t i gat i on,t hi sagr eement addr essesWal mar t ' scont r i but i ngr ol et ot he opi oi depi demi cbyf ai l i ngt or egul at eopi oi d pr escr i pt i onsati t sst or es.

*-Subj ect ot ocour tappr oval

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

$18MI LLI ON ENVI RONMENTEALCONTAMI NATI ONALSETTLEMENT Thi sset t l ementwasobt ai nedf oraFl or i da communi t ywhohadbeenexposedt ohar mf ul l evel soft oxi cashf r om af or meri nci ner at orsi t e. $24.

1MI LLI ON AVI ATI ON J URYVERDI CT AUH1" Huey"hel i copt ercr ashednearVal l e,Ar i zonashor t l yaf t ert akeoff.Thehel i copt erpi l otobser vedapar t i all ossoft r ansmi ssi onoi lpr essur e andbegant ol and.Suddenl y,t hemai nr ot or s f r ozei nfli ghtcausi ngt hehel i copt ert ocr ash.The pi l otwast r appedi nt hewr eckage f or45mi nut esbef or ehewasr escuedbyt her espondi ngpar amedi cs.

3

I N THENEWS

ON CAMERA AND I N PRI NT Napol iShkol ni kpar t ner s andat t or neysr emai natt he f or ef r ontofnumer ousl i t i gat i ons.

Theycont i nuet obesought af t erl egalcomment at or s, speaker sandcont r i but or sf ornat i onalnewsout l et s onavar i et yofl egali ssues.

I N THEPRESS|12

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ O2GPesMF6d8

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ f 9b6FS_ dvY

Or egonTopgol fsuedf or$15M af t erchi l d’ sskul lf r act ur edbygol fcl ub

Root edi nJ ust i ce:Hai rRel axer MDLI nsi ght swi t hMar i aFl emi ng

August2023

J ul y2023

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ 99Y0mLONi uM

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ KqYCo0UYbSk

Ti t ani cTr agedy:TheCat ast r ophi cLossof t heTi t anSubmer si bl ewi t hHunt erShkol ni k

TheWHYf orPl ai nt i ff Lawyer s| Hunt erShkol ni kLegal CastLeader shi p

J une2023

Apr i l2023

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ o5j voNl VI Fw

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ KFu2vLcr ay8

Hunt eronNewsmaxNat i onalRepor tCour t : Mai neLobst er" DoNotEat "Li st

Hunt erShkol ni konNewsmax: Uni ver si t yDr opsSl avehol derName f r om Law SchoolName

Mar ch2023

NAPOLI LAW. COM

Febr uar y2023

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|13

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ dP9TVk0x4dI

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ GL3kb20eTzc

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ Vuyot YCGt FA

FAASyst em Out age FoxLi veNow

Cl assAct i onAgai nstTr ader J oe' sNewsmaxTVNat i onal Repor t ' scour t

Ti kTok' Bl ackoutChal l enge' Lawsui t sFoxLi veNow

J anuar y25,2023

J anuar y11,2023

August5,2022

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ zbP9cXGpVOs

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ BN3p3t G1Nxg ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ Ghl l S56Lc08

CancerConcer nsi nSuffol k Count ySchoolDi st r i ct ABCOnYourSi de

J ur yVer di ctf orOpi oi d Over doseVi ct i m KWCH12

7NewsMi ami Cl i entl ef tpar al yzedaf t er pol i ceencount er .

J ul y11,2022

May3,2022

Febr uar y10,2022

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ BzSur Har HvQ

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ i i zcUy4i J ZU

ht t ps: / / yout u. be/ mQN03UOSJ o

Newsmax Ghi sl ai neMaxwel lTr i al

Pr essConf er ence NYOpi oi dTr i alVer di ct

J anuar y6,2022

J anuar y4,2022

NAPOLI LAW. COM

NYOpi oi dTr i alJ ur yVer di ct WCBSTVNews December30,2021

2023LEGALREPORT

RECENTPUBLI CATI ONS|14

RECENTPUBLI CATI ONS Thefir mr egul ar l ycont r i but essubst ant i alt hought l eader shi p ar t i cl eswr i t t enbyNapol iShkol ni kat t or neysundert hegui dance oft hefir m’ sPar t ner s,i ncl udi ng: Di agnos t i cEr r or sCl ai m Near l y800, 000 Amer i c anLi vesPerYear ,St udyFi nds Medi um ( Augus t9,2023) What ’ snexti nt heAFFFMDL? Li nkedi n( J ul y12,2023) Over vi ew andPr ogr es sRepor tonEPA’ sPFAS St r at egi cRoadmap–Whatwat ers uppl i er sneed t oknow,NRWARur alWat erMagaz i ne ( Mar c h13,2022) Medi c alMoni t or i ngasanI ndependentCaus e ofAc t i onorasaRemedyf orPFASExpos ur e Medi um ( J anuar y3,2023) Whati st hepr oc es sf orUni l ever ’ spr oduc tr ec al l ? ( Dec ember27,2022) TheHeavyPr i c eofGor geousHai rCanc er Caus i ng Par abensSt i l lFoundi nManyPr oduc t sf orBl ac kWomen Medi um ( Dec ember13,2022) Fi r efight i ngFoam Li t i gat i onWi l lPr oc eed Fol l owi ngFai l edCont r ac t orDef ens e Medi um ( November16,2022) TheUni queMent alHeal t hNeedsofSexualAs s aul tSur vi vor s Medi um ( Oc t ober17,2022) I l l egalDumpi ngandEnvi r onment alRac i s mi nHous t on,Texas Medi um ( Oc t ober12,2022) Hos pi t al Shoppi ng:ABandAi df oraBr okenSys t em Medi um ( Sept ember29,2022) 3M Fac esOver230, 000Laws ui t sf r om Vet er ansOver Def ec t i veEar pl ugs :CompanyCoul dLos eOver$100Bi l l i on Li nnkedI nPul s e( Sept ember19,2022)

How Nur s i ngHomesFai l edLongI s l andVet er ans Medi um ( Sept ember8,2022) Wor ker sCompens at i on:WhatI tI s ,WhyI tMat t er s andWhent oTakeAc t i on,Di s r uptMagaz i ne Di s r upt( J une17,2022) WhyGener i cDr ugPr i c eFi xi ngI sHol di ng YourHeal t hPl anHos t age LawyerMont hl y( November2021) Def ec t i vePr oduc t sI nt endedf orWomen: ASagaofSuffer i ng LawyerMont hl y( Sept ember2021) J ohns on&J ohns onandHow Compani es At t emptt oEs c apePr oduc tLi abi l i t y Medi um ( Augus t23,2021) LegalMani f es t at i onsofRac i alDi s c r i mi nat i on LawyerMont hl y( J ul y2021) How Tec hnol ogyCanLendaHel pi ngHand I nPer s onalI nj ur yLi t i gat i on I BM. c om ( J une21,2021) Pr oduc tLi abi l i t yLaw:Anot herWeaponi n TheAr s enalAgai ns tEnvi r onment alCont ami nat i on Medi um ( J une16,2021) LawyerLi mel i ght :Hunt erShkol ni k Lawdr agon( May17,2021) ThePr i c eofPr ofil i ng ( May6,2021) Phar maLi abi l i t y,Cons umerRi ght sAnd t heCOVI D19Vac c i ne LawyerMont hl y( Apr i l2021) Cons umerBr i ef :Pr ot ec t i ngYour s el ff r om Def ec t i veDr ugRi s ksDur i ngt heAgeofCOVI D19 ASpec i alRepor t( J anuar y2021)

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|15

YAHOO!|THEWRAP

}

Sar ahSi l ver man' sOpenAILawsui t MayNotBeSt r ong-butt heI mpl i cat i ons Ar eHugeIAnal ysi s J ULY14,2023

Whatar et he odds comedi an and aut hor Sar ah

Si l ver man and hert wo f el l ow pl ai nt i ffs wi nt hei r copyr i ght i nf r i ngement l awsui t agai nst OpenAI ?

Notgr eat ,accor di ngt o exper t s.Butr egar dl essof how t hesui tpansout ,i tcoul d ei t herhel p bol st er AIcompani es’l egalposi t i on orsaddl et hem wi t h new r egul at or yboundar i es.

“

It hi nkt hesui tusweak,but t hedevi li si nt hedet ai l s.The chi l l i ngeffectt hi smayhaveon t he useofpubl i cl yavai l abl emat eri al andknowl edgei sst aggeri ngi fshe wi nson al lt hebroadcl ai msshe i smaki ng.

Si l ver man and t wo novel i st s,Chr i st opherGol den

" I fOpenAIi sabl et opr ovet hatt heout putoft he

and Ri char d Kadr ey,ar e sui ng OpenAIf orcopy-

chat bot sar et r ansf or mat i ve,andar enotasubst i -

r i ght i nf r i ngement ,asser t i ng t hat t he t ech com

t ut eorr epl acementofSi l ver man' swor k,i tmay

panyusedt hei rcopyr i ght edbooks’cont ent sf orAI

bedi fficul tf orSi l ver mant opr evai li nt hi scase, "

t r ai ni ng wi t houtget t i ng t hei rconsentorcompen

Cal dwel lsai d.

sat i ngt hem.

Gi venhow var i ousj ur i sdi ct i onsar el i kel yt odefine Thi si soneoft hefir stmaj orhi ghpr ofil ecasest o

copyr i ght ' sf ai ruseexcept i ondi ffer ent l yf r om each

di r ect l yaddr esst hequest i onofwhet herAIcompa-

ot her ,Cal dwel lexpect edacasecoul dwel lmakei t

ni esar ef r ee t ot r ai nt hei rsyst emsand l anguage

t ot heSupr emeCour ti nt hef ut ur e.

model swi t hwhat everdat at heywantori fst r i ct er pol i ci est hatf avorcopyr i ghthol der sshoul d be i n

" It hi nkt hesui ti sweak,butt hedevi li si nt hede-

pl ace.

t ai l s, "sai dHunt erShkol ni k,f oundi ngpar t nerat Napol iShkol ni kPLLC.

“ Legal l y,nomat t erwhopr evai l s,t he‘ f ai ruse’doct r i neanddefini t i onofader i vat i vewor kwi l lal most

' Thechi l l i ngeffectt hi smayhaveont heuseof

cer t ai nl y be modi fied, ” sai d Ni chol as Hol mes,a

publ i cl yavai l abl emat er i alandknowl edgei sst ag-

t r ademar k associ at e at Cal dwel l I nt el l ect ual

ger i ngi fshewi nsonal lt hebr oadcl ai msshei s

Pr oper t yLaw.

maki ng. "

Si ncegener at i veAI ’ sout puti st her esul tofal lt he wor ksi thasbeent r ai nedon,onecoul dar gue t hatever yt hi ngAIpr oducesi si nsomedegr eea der i vat i vewor k.Whet heri t ’ sf ai rusef oracommer ci alpr oductt oanal yzeandl ear nf r om copyr i ght eddat ai sagr ayar ea.Resol vi ngt hatwi l lr equi r edet er mi ni nghow t r ansf or mat i veAI ’ sout put i sandwhet heri taffect st hecommer ci almar ket

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3XT8qvN

f orcopyr i ghthol der s’wor ks.

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|16

THEWALLSTREETJ OURNAL

}

3M Set t l es‘ For everChemi cal s’ Li t i gat i onf orUpt o$12.

5Bi l l i on J UNE222023

3M agr eedt opayupt o$12.

5bi l l i ont oset t l ehundr edsofl awsui t sbr oughtbyci t i est hatsai dt hei r dr i nki ng wat er was cont ami nat ed wi t h“ f or ever

chemi cal s” t he company made f or decades.

Thet ent at i venat i onalcl assact i on set t l ementi na

“

Wat eri saf undament al necessi t y,andbyhol di ng3M account abl ef ort hePFOS cont ami nat i on,wearef ort i f yi ng t heri ghtofeveryAmeri can t o cl ean andsaf edri nki ngwat er,

l andmar k envi r onment al fight i nvol vi ng PFAS

chemi cal si n fir efight i ngf oam wasr eached Thur sday.3M wi l lpaybet ween $10.

5 bi l l i on and $12.

5

3M Chi efExecut i veMi keRomancal l edt hepr o-

bi l l i on,and t heset t l ementwi l lcoverpubl i cwat er

posedset t l ement“ ani mpor t antst epf or war df or

syst emsacr osst he U. S. ,pl ai nt i ffs’at t or neyssai d.

3M, ”andhesai di tbui l dsont hecompany’ sot her act i ons,i ncl udi ngi nvest ment si nwat er fil t r at i on

I fcompl et ed,i twoul d beamongot hermaj orset -

t echnol ogyandapr i orannouncementt ost opal l

t l ement si nvol vi ngl i t i gat i onoverpr oduct sdeemed

PFASmanuf act ur i ngbyt heendof2025.

t o be heal t hr i sks,i ncl udi ng t he massi ve agr eement s r eached i n l awsui t s i nvol vi ng t obacco,

3M sai dt heagr eementi sn’ tanadmi ssi onofl i a-

opi oi dsandasbest os.

bi l i t yandt hati fi ti sn’ tappr ovedbyt hecour tor cer t ai ncondi t i onsar en’ tmet ,t hecompanyi spr e-

I nt hecur r entcase,t her i skofexposur ecamef r om

par edt odef endi t sel fi nt hel i t i gat i on.Thecompa-

chemi cal si nfir efight i ngf oam t hatseepedi nt ot he

nysai di twoul dt akea$10.

3bi l l i onchar gei nt he

gr oundi ncommuni t i esar oundt hecount r y.

secondquar t ert or eflectt heset t l ementt hatwi l l bepai dover13year s.

Themovet or esol vet hecur r entl i t i gat i oncomesas compani esi n numer ousi ndust r i essear ch f oral -

3M announcedt heagr eementnear l yt hr eeweeks

t er nat i vest o PFAS—onceused i n ever yt hi ngf r om

af t eraj udgepost ponedabel l wet hert r i ali n

pi zza boxes t o cosmet i cs and semi conduc-

whi ch3M hadbeenschedul edt of aceoff agai nst

t or s—and at t empt t o cont ai n l i abi l i t i es f r om

aFl or i daci t yt hatal l egedt hecompanywasr e-

decadesofuse.

sponsi bl ef ordr i nki ngwat ercont ami nat i on.

3M,whi ch manuf act ur ed and used t he chemi cal s si ncet he1940s,i satt hecent erofawaveofl i t i gat i onal l egi ngt hatt heyhavecont ami nat eddr i nki ng wat erandcausedheal t hpr obl ems.PFASar ecal l ed f or everchemi cal sbecauset heydon’ tbr eakdown i nt heenvi r onment .

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3r LaGs W

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|17

LAW. COM

}

3M t oPay$12.

5Bt oSet t l eLawsui t s Over' For everChemi cal s'i nWat erSuppl i es J UNE22,2023

3M hasagr eed t opay$12.

5bi l l i on t or esol vel awsui t s br oughtover “ f or ever chemi cal s”i n publ i c dr i nki ngsuppl i es.

Theset t l ement ,announced on Thur sday,r esol ved

agoodchunkoft hemul t i di st r i ctl i t i gat i onbr ought

by wat erpr ovi der sagai nst3M overper fluor al kyl and pol yfluor oal kylsubst ances,orPFAS,f ound i n

aqueous fil mf or mi ng f oam t hatfir efight er s have usedt ocombatl ar gefir es.

“

Thi shi st ori cset t l ementi st he l argestamounteverpai dbyasi ngl e companyt oresol vecl ai msi nvol vi ng cont ami nat eddri nki ngwat erand provi descompensat i on cri t i calt o prot ect i ngournat i on’ sdri nki ng wat ersuppl i esandupgradi ngour wat ert reat menti nf rast ruct uret o dealwi t ht hi snew t hreat ,

The set t l ement comes af t er anot her def endant ,

“ Thi shi st or i cset t l ementi st hel ar gestamountever

DuPont ,announced a $1.

185 bi l l i on cl ass act i on

pai dbyasi ngl ecompanyt or esol vecl ai msi nvol v-

set t l ementwi t h wat erpr ovi der sdaysbef or et hat

i ng

t r i al .

cont ami nat ed

dr i nki ng

wat er

and

pr ovi des compensat i on cr i t i calt o pr ot ect i ng our nat i on’ sdr i nki ngwat ersuppl i esandupgr adi ngour

U. S.Di st r i ctJ udge Ri char d Ger gel ,over seei ng t he

wat er t r eat menti nf r ast r uct ur et o dealwi t ht hi s

mul t i di st r i ctl i t i gat i on i n Sout h Car ol i na,mustap-

new t hr eat , ” PaulNapol iof New Yor k’ s Napol i

pr ove t he cl ass act i on set t l ement . Ger gel has

Shkol ni k,col eadcounself ort hepl ai nt i ffsandwho

pl anned addi t i onalbel l wet her t r i al s among t he

i s on t he nat i onalset t l ement negot i at i ng t eam,

t housands of cases, whi ch i nvol ves dozens of

sai d.“ Thi sset t l ementsendsacl earmessage t hat

manuf act ur er s of bot h aqueous fil mf or mi ng

cor por at i onsl i ke 3M mustbeart he r esponsi bi l i t y

f oams and t he chemi cal s used t o make t he

f ort heaf t er mat h oft hechemi cal st heypr oduce. ”

pr oduct .

3M wast heonl ycompanyt omanuf act ur eandsel l

Meanwhi l e,ot hert r i al sar el i kel yagai nstaddi t i on-

fir efight i ngf oamscont ai ni ngPFAS,whi chi sl i nked

aldef endant s,suchasTycoFi r ePr oduct sLP,some

t o cancerand ot herheal t h pr obl ems.Ear l i ert hi s

i nvol vi ngper sonali nj ur i est ofir efight er sandot her

mont h,3M fil edamot i ont ocont i nueaJ une5bel l -

i ndi vi dual s exposed t o aqueous fil mf or mi ng

wet her t r i alagai nst t he ci t y of St uar t ,Fl or i da,

f oams. The mul t i di st r i ct l i t i gat i on al so i nvol ves

ci t i ng “ mat er i aland si gni ficantpr ogr esst owar da

cases al l egi ng pr oper t y damages and medi cal

r esol ut i on” i n medi at i on bef or e r et i r ed U. S.

moni t or i ng,and st at e at t or neys gener all awsui t s

Di st r i ctJ udgeLaynPhi l l i ps.

f ordamagest onat ur alr esour ces.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3q93qqk

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|18

THEWALLSTREETJ OURNAL

}

Chemour s,DuPont ,Cor t evaSet t l e PFASLi t i gat i onf or$1.

185Bi l l i on J UNE2,2023

Thr ee compani es wi t ht i es t of or mer chemi cal makerDuPontsai d Fr i dayt heyhad agr eed t o pay $1.

185 bi l l i on i nt he fir stmaj or set t l ementi na

l andmar k envi r onment alfighti n whi ch hundr eds

of communi t i es al l ege t hat socal l ed “ f or ever chemi cal s” i n fir efight i ng f oam

cont ami nat ed

dr i nki ngwat er .

“

Thewakeoft hei ract i onshas l ef tan i ndel i bl emarkon count l ess Ameri cans,causi ngpersonali nj uri es andcancer,i ncl udi ngamongour bravest —firefight ersandmi l i t ary personnelwhohavedevel oped cancerduet oexposuret ot hese chemi cal s,

Chemour s,DuPontand Cor t eva r eached t he pr oposed nat i onwi de cl assact i on set t l ement t or esol ve t hei rpar ti nl awsui t sbr oughtbyabout300

communi t i esagai nstan ar r ayofchemi calcompani es and ot her st hat made or sol d fir efight i ng f oam.

Ci t i es f r om Phi l adel phi at o San Di ego say PFAS chemi cal si n fir efight i ng f oam l eached i nt o dr i nki ng wat er ,r equi r i ng t he wat erf aci l i t i est oi nst al l t r eat ment syst ems.Ci t i es have sued t or ecoup t hosecost s,t ypi cal l yseeki ngdamagesi nt het ens ofmi l l i onsofdol l ar s.

Thecompani essai dt heagr eementwoul dr esol ve al lPFASr el at edwat er syst em cl ai msagai nstt hem.

They sai dt he set t l ementcoul d event ual l y cover publ i csyst emst hatpr ovi dedr i nki ngwat ert ot he maj or i t yoft heU. S.popul at i on.

Thecur r entset t l ementwoul dn’ tr esol vewat er syst em l awsui t s agai nstot hercompani es,i ncl udi ng 3M,whi ch i s sett o go t ot r i ali nf eder alcour t

Chemour ssai di twoul dcont r i but ehal foft heset t l ementf unds,orabout$592mi l l i on,whi l eDuPont woul dgi vear ound$400mi l l i on,andCor t evaabout $193mi l l i on.Thecompani essai dt hemoneywoul d bedeposi t ed i nt oawat er di st r i ctset t l ementf und wi t hi n 10 days f ol l owi ng pr el i mi nar y appr ovalof t heset t l ementbyt hecour t .

Theset t l ementwoul dexcl udewat ersyst emsoper at ed by t he U. S.gover nment ,as wel las smal l syst ems t hat haven’ t det ect ed PFAS and ar en’ t r equi r ed t ot estf ori t ,t he compani essai d.I ft oo many syst ems opt out of t he set t l ement ,t he compani essai dt heyhavet her i ghtt ot er mi nat ei t . “ I faset t l ementcannotbefinal i zed and appr oved andpl ai nt i ffsel ectt opur suet hei rcl ai msi ncour t , t hecompani eswi l lcont i nuet o asser tt hei rst r ong l egaldef enses i n pendi ng l i t i gat i on, ”t he compani essai d.Thenumberofl awsui t sr el at i ngt o fir efight i ng f oam and PFAS chemi cal s has gr own.

Mondayi nacasebr oughtbyaFl or i daci t y.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3r TceAZ

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|19

LAW 360

}

DuPont ,Ot her sSt r i ke$1B DealI n' For everChemi cal s'Sui t s J UNE2,2023 Chemi calcompani esDuPont ,Chemour s,and

Cor t evahavest r uckadealwor t hmor et han$1.

1

bi l l i onwi t hwat ercompani esar oundt heU. S.over dr i nki ngwat erpol l ut edbysocal l edf or ever

chemi cal s,accor di ngt ot hepl ai nt i ffs'at t or neysi n mul t i di st r i ctl i t i gat i on.

Undert hedealannouncedbyNapol iShkol ni k

PLLC,Dougl as& LondonPCandBar on& BuddPC onFr i day,sever alcompani est hatmanuf act ur e per -andpol yfluor oal kylsubst ances,orPFAS, agr eedt opay$1.

18bi l l i ont oset t l ecl ai mst hat

t hei rpr oduct shavecont ami nat eddr i nki ngwat er sour cesar oundt hecount r y.

Theset t l ement ,whi chi sst i l lbei ngfinal i zedand wi l lbesubj ectt ocour tappr oval ,comesdays

bef or eot herdef endant s,suchas3M,begi nabel l wet hert r i alaspar tofaSout hCar ol i nabased MDLconsol i dat i ngcasesagai nstmanuf act ur er s anduser sofPFASf orappl i cat i onsl i kenonst i ckor st ai nr esi st antcoat i ngsandfir efight i ngf oam. " Aswefinal i zet het er msoft hemonument al $1.

185Bbi l l i onagr eement ,t het r i alagai nstr emai ni ngdef endant s,i ncl udi ng3M,i ssl at edt o commencei nChar l est on,Sout hCar ol i naonJ une 5,2023, "Napol iShkol ni ksai di nast at ement Fr i day."

Napol iShkol ni ki scommi t t edt ol eavi ng nost oneunt ur nedi nensur i ngj ust i cei sdel i ver ed i ncour t . "

“

Napol iShkol ni ki scommi t t ed t ol eavi ngnost oneunt urned i n ensuri ngj ust i cei sdel i vered i n court .

PFASt akeanext r emel yl ongt i met obr eakdown, and" bi oaccumul at e"i nhumansandot herl i vi ng t hi ngst hatar eexposedt ot hem,accor di ngt ot he under l yi ngl i t i gat i on.Thesui t scl ai m DuPontand ot her shaveknownf ordecadesaboutt hechemi cal s'per si st enceandt oxi ci t y.

Bar on & Budd sai dt he set t l ementf undswi l lpay f orr emedi at i onofpubl i cwat ersyst emst hathave al r eadydet ect ed PFASi nt hei rwat er ,wi l lpr ovi de f ort est i ngofwat ersyst emst hathaven' tyetbeen t est ed,andwi l lpayt hosewat ersyst emswhosubsequent l ydo find PFASasar esul toft hatt est i ng.

Theset t l ementdoesnotr el easeanycl ai msagai nst t hedef endant sf orgr oundwat erorsoi lcont ami na t i on,t hefir ms'announcementsai d. " Thi si san i mpr essi ve st ep t owar dr i ght i nga cor por at e wr ong t hat t hr eat ened t he heal t h of al l Amer i cans, "sai d Bar on & Budd shar ehol derScot t Summyi nast at ementFr i day."

DuPonthasdeci ded t o put money i nt o wat er syst ems'hands t oday r at hert handel ayi ngpaymentf oryear soft r i al .We appl aud t he companyf ort hi spr oact i ve move f or cl eanerwat erf oral lofus. "

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 43RcDRN

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|20

LAW 360

}

Car vanaWant sNCDeal er shi p' s ' Pr ot ect i oni st 'Sui tCur bed APRI L4,2023

Car sel l er Car vana t or ei nt o a Nor t h Car ol i na deal er shi p' st r ade pr act i ces l awsui ti n a bi dt o

havet hecasescr apped,t el l i ngaf eder alcour ti t s cont ent i ons aboutst at el aws ar e" f undament al l y

flawed"and i tdoesn' tal l egeanyi nj ur ycaused by t heonl i neusedcarr et ai l er .

I page mot i on t o di smi ss,Car vana t ol da n a 25-

Nor t h Car ol i na f eder al cour tt hat Mount ai neer

“

Li keEnron,when onel ooks behi ndt hecurt ai n ofCarvana,you real i zet hewhol et hi ngi scl out based sharepri cedri vi ngscheme,onewhi ch hasmadet heGarci af ami l ybi l l i ons becauseoft heobj ect i vel yf al se advert i si ngandot herunf ai ror decept i vet radepract i ces. . .

Mot or sofLenoi rI nc. ,doi ngbusi nessasCarGuys Mount ai neerMot or s,wasn' tspeci ficenough i ni t s cl ai msofunf ai randdecept i vet r adepr act i cesand

f al se adver t i si ng.Al so,Car vana sai d,t he al l ega t i onsar econt r adi ct edbyt hef act s.

The deal er shi p' s" pr ot ect i oni stand ant i compet i t i ve at t emptt o excl ude Car vana and ot heronl i ne carsel l er sf r om Nor t hCar ol i nashoul dber ej ect ed, andi t scompl ai ntdi smi ssedwi t hpr ej udi cebyt hi s cour t , "Car vanasai d.

Fi r stoff,an unf ai rand decept i ve t r ade pr act i ces cl ai m mustal l eget hatacompanyhasst i fledcompet i t i on,accor di ngt ot hemot i on.Buti nt hedeal er shi p' sowncompl ai nt ,i tsaysmor ecar sar ebei ng sol di n Nor t h Car ol i na si nce Car vana ar r i ved,i t sai d.

Mor eover ,t he al l egat i ons by t he deal er shi p ar e " vague"and don' tgi ve speci fic i nst ances ofsup posedvi ol at i ons,Car avansai d.

The deal er shi p al so cl ai mst hatCar vana i sbr eaki ngl awst hatr equi r ecarsel l er st ohaveaphysi cal l ocat i oni nt hest at e,butevenMount ai neerMot or s acknowl edged i ni t s compl ai ntt hatCar vana has " gi ant "bui l di ngsi n whi ch i tsel l scar s,t hemot i on says.Those l ocat i onswer e al so appr oved by t he st at e' s Depar t ment of Mot or Vehi cl es,i t adds.

Ot hercl ai msofunf ai randdecept i vet r adepr act i ces ar e" l egal l y and f act ual l y def ect i ve, " Car vana sai d.

Nott oment i ont hatbecausecarsal esar er egul at -

Nextup,t he deal er shi pi smaki ng unf ai rand decept i ve t r ade pr act i ces cl ai ms t hat don' t even

edbyt heDMV,i t ' supt oi tt opr osecut eanycl ai ms, notpr i vat edeal er shi ps,Car vanasai d.

appl yt o car sel l er s,Car vana sai d.Those cl ai ms cent er on Car vana sel l i ng car s wi t hout buyer s gui desandnotr egi st er i ngvehi cl esaf t ersal es.But t hoseal l egat i onswoul d affectconsumer s,notcar sel l er s,andsoMount ai neerMot or sl acksst andi ng t osue,i tsai d.

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3DFEmKQ

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|21

USNEWS

}

Manpar al yzedbyofficerwho mi st ookgunf orTasersues MARCH 1,2023

A Fl or i daman l ef tpar al yzed when apol i ceofficer shothi m af t ermi st aki nghi shandgun f orhi sst un

gunfil edal awsui tWednesdayagai nstt heci t y,t he

officerand ot her s,sayi ng,“ myl i f egotdest r oyed. ”

Mi chaelOr t i zi s seeki ng unspeci fied mi l l i ons of

dol l ar sf r om t heci t yofHol l ywood,Fl or i da,andOf ficerHenr yAndr ews,50,who i sal so f aci ngami sdemeanorchar ge f ort he 2021 shoot i ng -one of sever alovert he l ast20 year swher e officer ssay

t heymi st ookt hei rgunf ort hei rTaser .Thef eder al ci vi lr i ght sl awsui tal sonamesofficer sDi ont eRoot s

and J honny J i menez,who wer e subdui ng Or t i z

“

Mi chaelOrt i zneededa hel pi nghandandwhathegot wasabul l ett ot heback, . . .

" Mi chaelOr t i zneededahel pi nghandandwhathe gotwasabul l ett ot heback, "Cr ump sai d.Cr ump r epr esent s many vi ct i ms nat i onwi de of al l eged pol i ce mi sconduct ,i ncl udi ng t he f ami l i es of Mi chaelBr own,Br eonnaTayl o.

IandGeor geFl oyd. " Ther eshoul dhavebeengr eat eraccount abi l i t yf or t heofficer . "

Hol l ywood offici al s decl i ned comment .At t or ney J er emyKr ol l ,who r epr esent sAndr ewsi nt hemi s-

whenAndr ewsshothi m.

demeanorcul pabl e negl i gence case,sai d anot her

Or t i z,speaki ngatapr essconf er ence,sai dnotonl y

l awsui t .

has hi s own l i f e been dest r oyed,butso has hi s mot her ' sasshehast ochangehi sdi aper sandpr ovi de ot hercar e.He had cal l ed 911 f orhel p whi l e suffer i ngf r om ament alheal t hcr i si sbef or ehewas

l awyerwi l lbehi r ed t or epr esentt heofficeri nt he

The deal er shi p al so cl ai mst hatCar vana i sbr eaki ngl awst hatr equi r ecarsel l er st ohaveaphysi cal l ocat i oni nt hest at e,butevenMount ai neerMot or s

shotwhi l ehandcuffedont hegr ound.

acknowl edged i ni t s compl ai ntt hatCar vana has

" She i st r eat i ng me l i ke Iam 6 mont hsol d, "sai d

says.Those l ocat i onswer e al so appr oved by t he

Or t i z,43,who i s par al yzed f r om t he chestdown andusesawheel chai r .Heowes$3mi l l i oni nmedi calcost sandwi l lneedl i f et i mecar e.

" gi ant "bui l di ngsi n whi ch i tsel l scar s,t hemot i on st at e' s Depar t ment of Mot or Vehi cl es,i t adds. " I nr espondi ngt o adi fficul tand chaot i csi t uat i on, OfficerAndr ewsi nt ended t o depl oyhi st aserand mi st akenl ydi schar ged hi sfir ear m.Ther e wasabsol ut el ynoi nt entt ohar mi nt hi scase.Heandhi s f ami l ycont i nuet ohaveMr .Or t i zi nt hei rt hought s andpr ayer s, "Kr ol lsai di nast at ement .

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3OhqD1v

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|22

THEDENVER POST

}

Thor nt onsuesdozensofpr oducer s of“ f or everchemi cal s, ”al l egi ngwat er cont ami nat i on J ANUARY30,2023

Thor nt onfil edal awsui tMondayi nSout hCar ol i na Di st r i ctCour tagai nstdozens ofcompani es and

peopl et hatpr oducePFAS,or“ f or everchemi cal s” , cl ai mi ng t he t oxi c subst ances cont ami nat ed t he ci t y’ swat ersuppl y.

“

Notonl yi sThornt on sui nga sl at eofhi ghprofil ecompani es, l i ke3M,DuPontandChemours,i t ’ s al sosui ng20unnamed“ent i t i esor persons”t hatmi ghthave“permi t t ed, causedand/ orcont ri but ed”t ot he cont ami nat i on oft heci t y’ swat er.

Notonl yi sThor nt on sui ng a sl at e ofhi ghpr ofil e

Att het i me,Thor nt on’ swat ert r eat mentand qua-

compani es,l i ke 3M,DuPont and Chemour s,i t ’ s

l i t y manager sai dt he sour ce of t he chemi cal s

al so sui ng 20 unnamed “ ent i t i esorper sons”t hat

wer en’ ti mmedi at el y cl ear butt hatt he ci t y had

mi ghthave“ per mi t t ed,causedand/ orcont r i but ed”

st opped usi ng some wel l sf r om whi ch t hey dr ew

t o t he cont ami nat i on of t he ci t y’ s wat er .

wat erandbegant r eat i ngot herwat ersour ceswi t h

Fordecadest hecompani esunder st oodt hatPFAS,

new chemi cal st o dr aw outt he t oxi csubst ances.

orper fluor oal kyland pol yfluor oal kylsubst ances, donotdegr adenat ur al l yandwer eaccumul at i ngi n

Now ci t yoffici al sbel i evet hecont ami nat i oncomes

peopl e’ s bodi es, accor di ng t o t he l awsui t ’ s

f r om fir efight i ng f oam used acr oss t he ar ea f or

compl ai nt .

t r ai ni ng and f or act ual fir es,t he l awsui t says.

Thor nt on hi r ed a consul t antt o hel p under st and

Thet oxi cchemi cal s,whi ch ar eused i n fir efight i ng

how bestt ocl eant hecont ami nat i on.

f oam,f ur ni t ur e,cl ot hi ng,cosmet i cs,cookwar eand muchmor e,ar el i nkedt ocancerandbi r t hdef ect s.

Cl eanupanddamagei sexpect edt ohauntt heci t y

The Envi r onment alPr ot ect i on Agencyi scur r ent l y

“ f ormanyyear st ocome, ”t hel awsui tsays.Theci t y

r evi ewi ng whati tconsi der st o be an accept abl e

i sl ooki ng f ormoneyf r om t he compani esf ort he

l i mi tf ort hechemi cal si nwat er ,t houghexper t ssay

damage done t oi t spr oper t y and f ort he costof

t hey’ r eunsaf eatanyl evel .

“ i nvest i gat i ng, r emedi at i ng, and moni t or i ng” i t s dr i nki ngwat er .

Thor nt on offici al sannounced i nJ ul yt hati t swat er suppl yexceededt heEPA’ snew –shar pl yr educed–

Whi l eThor nt onappear st obet hefir stci t yi nCol o-

l i mi t sf orPFASbymor et han 1, 000t i mes.Theci t y

r ado t o sue PFAS manuf act ur er s,i t sl egalact i on

suppl i eswat ert oabout160, 000peopl e.

f ol l owsasi mi l arl awsui tfil ed near l yayearagoby At t or neyGener alPhi lWei ser .

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / dpo. s t / 3m51FI b

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|23

LAW 360

}

Pat i ent sSeekCl assCer t .I nCi gna Benefit sUnder paymentSui t J ANUARY18,2023

A pr oposed cl ass ofatl east8, 000 pat i ent swho

accuseheal t hi nsur erCi gnaandi t sbi l l i ngcont r act or , Mul t i Pl an, of col l udi ng t o under pay t hei r

out of net wor kcl ai msf orsubst ance use di sor der

t r eat ment s sought cl ass st at us i nt hei rl awsui t al l egi ngt hecompani es'r epr i ci ngschemevi ol at ed f eder alant i cor r upt i onandbenefit sl aws.

“

"Thi s' pol i cy'al l owed def endant st of raudul ent l y andunl awf ul l yt akei n mi l l i onsof dol l arsoff raudul ent ' savi ngs'f or whi ch t heychargedmi l l i ons of dol l arsoff ees, "t heproposed cl asssai d.

" Thi s' pol i cy'al l owed def endant st of r audul ent l y andunl awf ul l yt akei nmi l l i onsofdol l ar soff r audu-

I n ar edact ed mot i on fil i ng docket ed Tuesday,

l ent' savi ngs'f orwhi ch t hey char ged mi l l i ons of

pat i ent ssoughtcer t i ficat i onofasweepi ngcl assof

dol l ar s of f ees, "t he pr oposed cl ass sai d."

Thi s

anymemberofaheal t hbenefitpl anadmi ni st er ed

scheme hasbeen cont i nuoussi nce atl east2015,

ori ssued byCi gnaand gover ned byt heEmpl oyee

cont i nues i n oper at i on t o t hi s day, and wi l l

Ret i r ementI ncome Secur i t yActwhose cl ai msf or

cont i nuei nt ot hef ut ur ewi t houtcour ti nt er ven-

out of net wor k,i nt ensi ve out pat i ent t her apy f or

t i on. "

subst anceusedi sor der swer esi mi l ar l ypr ocessed.

Thecl asscer t i ficat i on mot i on wasal sofil ed under

The pr oposed cl assal so al l egesCi gna and Mul t i -

seal .

Pl an vi ol at ed ERI SA bypr ocessi ngcl ai msi n away t hat confli ct ed wi t h benefici ar i es' own pl an

Thepr oposedcl asssai dt hatf oral lcl ai msati ssue,

l anguage,and t hatt hey engaged i n sel f deal i ng.

Ci gnaver i fied t o pat i ent s'pr ovi der son t hephone t hatcl ai msf orment alheal t h and subst ance use

The pr oposed cl assdefini t i on al so st i pul at ed t hat

di sor der t r eat ment s woul d be r ei mbur sed at

pl an member s'cl ai ms cont ai ned speci fic bi l l i ng

what ' s known as t he " usual ,cust omar y and r ea-

and r evenue codest hatwer e submi t t ed t o Ci gna,

sonabl e, "orUCR,r at e.TheUCRr at ei sacomposi t e

andt hatt hemember ' spl anusedCi gna' spr ogr am

r at e based on si mi l arpr ovi der si nt he same geo-

f orpr i ci ngt hecl ai m knownast he" maxi mum r ei m-

gr aphi c ar ea.Butwhen cl ai ms wer el at erpr i ced

bur sabl echar ge, "orMRC.Thecl assdefini t i onal so

usi ngamet hodol ogyofMul t i Pl ansubsi di ar yVi ant ,

speci fied t hatt he cl ai ms wer e pr i ced usi ng t he

r ei mbur sement swer ecal cul at edusi ngmuchl ower

met hodol ogy ofVi antdur i ng t he cl ass per i od of

r at es,t he pr oposed cl ass sai d,i n a scheme t hat

J an.1,2015,t ot hepr esent .

t heyal l ege vi ol at ed t he Racket eerI nfluenced and Cor r uptOr gani zat i onsAct .

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3YX3hSR

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|24

ABSNEWS

}

Ci t yofBuffal ofil esfir stofi t ski nd l awsui tagai nstguni ndust r y DECEMBER 21,2022

Theci t yofBuffal oannounced Tuesdayi thasfil ed

a" fir stofi t ski nd"l awsui tagai nstt heguni ndust r y, seven mont hs af t er a t eenager ki l l ed 10 peopl e

and wounded t hr ee ot her s ata Buffal o gr ocer y st or e.

“

"Al loft heDef endant s manuf act uredordi st ri but ed t housandsoffirearmsrecoveredi n cri mescommi t t edi nt heCi t yof Buffal oandNew YorkSt at e, " t hel awsui tal l eges.

Thel awsui twasannouncedbyMayorByr onBr own

" As ofMar ch,2021,t he number ofpeopl e shot

and names as def endant s some oft he nat i on' s

i n Buffal o overt he fir stt wo mont hs oft he year

bi ggestfir ear m manuf act ur er s,i ncl udi ng Ber et t a,

j umped 140% compar ed t o t he same per i od

Smi t h & Wesson,Bushmast er ,Gl ockand Remi ng-

[ i n2020] , "t heci t y' sst at ementr eads.

t on. The sui t ,fil ed i n st at e Supr eme Cour ti n

Buffal o,al so names ghostgun r et ai l er s Pol ymer

Thel awsui tcomesaf t erar aci al l ymot i vat ed mass

andAr m orAl l yasdef endant s.

shoot i ngon May14 ataTopsmar keton t heeast si de ofBuffal ol ef t10 Bl ack peopl e dead.Pol i ce

" Member s of our communi t y have suffer ed t oo

sai d t he 18year ol d suspect , Payt on Gendr on,

much f ort oo l ongf r om gun vi ol ence, "Br own sai d

usedasemi aut omat i cr i flei nt hemassacr et hathe

i n ast at ement ."

Wemustdoever yt hi ngwecan t o

pur chased l egal l y butmani pul at ed t o fita hi gh

decr easegunvi ol ence.Enabl i ngt hepossessi onof

capaci t y ammuni t i on magazi ne t hati si l l egalt o

i l l egalgunsdest r oysl i vesand deepl y affect sour

possessi n New Yor k.I twasboughtatagun shop

nei ghbor hood, especi al l y i n Bl ack and Br own

i nPennsyl vani a.

communi t i es. " I n November ,Gendr on,now 19,pl eaded gui l t yt o Ci t yl eader sconcedet hatgunvi ol encei nBuffal o

15char gesi nal l ,i ncl udi ngdomest i ct er r or i sm mo-

i sget t i ngwor sedespi t eeffor t sbyt heBuffal o

t i vat edbyhat e,mur derandat t empt edmur der .He

Pol i ceDepar t mentt ocur bgunvi ol ence.

f acesl i f ei npr i sonwi t houtt hepossi bi l i t yofpar ol e whenhei ssent encedi nFebr uar y.

Gunvi ol encehassur gedi nt heci t ysi nce2020, when355peopl ewer eki l l edori nj ur edi n

Ci t yoffici al ssai dt hegoaloft hel awsui t" i snott o

shoot i ngs.

pr eventl egalgunowner shi p. "

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / abcn. ws / 41r Rai u

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|25

SENTI NEL& ENTERPRI SE

}

HankNaught ont appedf orj udgeshi p DECEMBER 21,2022 For merst at eRep.Har ol d“ Hank”Naught oni s i nl i nef oranew j obi nt hepubl i csect or .

Gov.Char l i eBakeradded t o aflur r yofl ameduck appoi nt ment s Monday,nomi nat i ng Naught on t o ser veasDi st r i ctCour tassoci at ej ust i cet osucceed

J udgeMar gar etGuzman,whohasbeent appedf or af eder alpost .

Naught on woul d be el i gi bl et o be swor ni n once

Guzman i s appoi nt ed as a f eder aldi st r i ctcour t j udge so l ong ast he Gover nor ’ sCounci lconfir ms hi snomi nat i on,accor di ngt oBaker ’ soffice.

“ At t or neyNaught on br i ngsyear sofpubl i cser vi ce and dedi cat i on t ot he bench and wi l lcont i nue t o

ser vet hepeopl eoft heCommonweal t hwel li nt hi s r ol e, ”Bakersai di n a st at ement .“ Iam pr oud t o

submi thi snomi nat i on t ot heGover nor ’ sCounci l . ” Naught onser ved13t er msi nt heHousebef or e opt i ngnott oseekr eel ect i oni n2020.Att het i me, hesai dheaccept edaj ob

“

“Naught on woul dbeel i gi bl et o besworn i n onceGuzman i s appoi nt edasaf ederaldi st ri ctcourt j udgesol ongast heGovernor’ s Counci lconfirmshi snomi nat i on”, accordi ngt oBaker’ soffi ce.

" As ofMar ch,2021,t he number ofpeopl e shot i n Buffal o overt he fir stt wo mont hs oft he year j umped 140% compar ed t o t he same per i od [ i n2020] , "t heci t y' sst at ementr eads.

Thel awsui tcomesaf t erar aci al l ymot i vat ed mass shoot i ngon May14 ataTopsmar keton t heeast si de ofBuffal ol ef t10 Bl ack peopl e dead.Pol i ce sai d t he 18year ol d suspect , Payt on Gendr on, usedasemi aut omat i cr i flei nt hemassacr et hathe pur chased l egal l y butmani pul at ed t o fita hi gh capaci t y ammuni t i on magazi ne t hati si l l egalt o possessi n New Yor k.I twasboughtatagun shop i nPennsyl vani a.

wi t hNew Yor kl aw fir m Napol iShkol ni kPLLCt hat al l owedhi mt owor k f r om home. “ Al t houghIwon’ tsayI ’ m st eppi ngawayf r om publ i c ser vi cef or ever ,t hi si st he bestdeci si onf ormyf ami l y andIatt hi st i me, ” Naught onsai di nApr i l2020 ofhi sdeci si onnot t or unf orr eel ect i on.

I n November , Gendr on, now 19,pl eaded gui l t yt o 15 char ges i n al l ,i ncl u di ng domest i ct er r or i sm mot i vat ed

by

hat e,

mur der and at t empt ed mur der .He f aces l i f ei n pr i son wi t houtt he possi bi l i t y

of

par ol e

when he i s sent enced i n Febr uar y.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3I Vgj uL

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|26

CI TYOFROCHESTER

}

MayorEvansAnnouncesCi t yLawsui t Agai nstFi r ear msCompani es DECEMBER 20,2022

Ci t y ofRochest erMayorMal i k Evanswasj oi ned

t oday by Cor por at i on CounselLi nda S.Ki ngsl ey and at t or neys f r om Napol i Shkol ni k PLLC t o

announcet heCi t yi sfil i ngal awsui ti n St at eCour t agai nstfir ear m i ndust r y member sf or t hei rr ol e

“

“Goi nggroceryshoppi ng, wal ki nghomef rom school …t hese mundaneact i vi t i esshoul dnot resul ti n gun vi ol encei nci dent s, ” sai dPart nerSal vat oreC.Badal a ofNapol iShkol ni k.

i nf uel i ng t he gun vi ol ence cr i si si nt he Ci t y of Rochest er .

“ Addr essi ng gun vi ol ence i sa t op pr i or i t y ofmy admi ni st r at i on,and Iwantt ot ackl et hi si ssue on

The sui t seeks t o hol d manuf act ur er s,maker s,

ever yf r ont , ” sai d Mayor Mal i k Evans.“ Vi ol ence

i mpor t er s,anddi st r i but or soffir ear msr esponsi bl e

pr event i onr equi r esamul t i t udeofst r at egi esanda

f ort hei l l egalandunr easonabl esal e,manuf act ur e,

si gni ficantamountofcol l abor at i on.Thi si sj ustt he

di st r i but i on,i mpor t i ng,andmar ket i ngoffir ear ms.

l at est t act i c I wi l l dedi cat et o er adi cat i ng gun

TheCi t yseekscompensat or yandpuni t i vedamag-

vi ol encei nRochest er . ”

es,t he cr eat i on ofan abat ementf und,and r ei mbur sementofat t or neys’f ees.

“ Bot hbef or eandsi ncet hedecl ar at i onofast at eof emer gency,my office has been f ocused on nui -

Gunvi ol encei nRochest erhassur gedovert hepast

sanceabat ement ,dr ugact i vi t i es,and ot hercr i mi -

t wo year s,asi thasacr osst he count r y.Possi bl e

nalconduct–and gunsar ei next r i cabl yl i nked t o

causes i ncl ude economi c st r ess l i nked t o t he

al l of i t , ” sai d Cor por at i on Counsel Ki ngsl ey.

COVI D19pandemi c,nat i onalci vi lunr est ,and t he

“ We appr eci at et he t eam atNapol iShkol ni kf or

i ncr easedavai l abi l i t yofi l l egalfir ear ms.

suppor t i ng our effor t st o combat t hi s deadl y pr obl em. ”

TheDef endant s,suchasBer et t a,Smi t h& Wesson, Gl ock,Remi ngt onandBushmast er ,andGhostGun

“ Goi ng gr ocer y shoppi ng, wal ki ng home f r om

compani esl i kePol ymer80andAr m orAl l y,manu-

school …t hesemundaneact i vi t i esshoul dnotr esul t

f act ur ed or di st r i but ed t housands of fir ear ms

i n gun vi ol ence i nci dent s, ”sai d Par t nerSal vat or e

r ecover ed i n cr i mes commi t t ed i n t he Ci t y of

C.Badal aofNapol iShkol ni k.“ TheCi t yofRoches-

Rochest erandNew Yor kSt at e.

t er r ef uses t o i gnor et he f ul l scope of t hose r esponsi bl ef ori nnocentl i ves bei ng l ost ,and i s t aki ngact i on. ”

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3I DL1Hf

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|27

LAW 360

}

Bi l l i ngCont r act orMustFor kOver DocsI nSur pr i seBi l l i ngSui t DECEMBER 2,2022

A Cal i f or ni af eder alj udgeor der edbi l l i ngcont r act orMul t i Pl an on Fr i day t of or k overhundr edsof document s i t had pr evi ousl y wi t hhel d f r om

di scover yi nal awsui tbr oughtbypat i ent sal l egi ng

t hei ri nsur er l owbal l ed t hem on out of net wor k

“

Thepat i ent sal l eget hat Mul t i Pl an andUni t edvi ol at edbot h t heEmpl oyeeRet i rementI ncome Securi t yActandt heRacket eer I nfluencedandCorruptOrgani zat i ons Act . .

cl ai m r ei mbur sement s,findi ng t he company had

wai ved al lcl ai med pr ot ect i onsi ni t spr i vi l egel og.

Mor eover ,i nl i ghtofMul t i Pl an' sr esponse t ot he Oct ober 3,2022 or der ,t he under si gned i s not

U. S.Magi st r at eJ udgeJ osephC.Sper oi na33page

confidentt hatgi vi ngMul t i Pl an af ur t heroppor t u-

or dergr ant ed an Augustmot i on t o compelf r om

ni t yt or evi sei t spr i vi l egel ogwi l lr esul ti n pr ompt

t he pr oposed cl ass, whi ch sought sanct i ons

r esol ut i on oft he par t i es'di sput es as t ot he r e-

agai nstUni t edBehavi or alHeal t handMul t i Pl anf or

mai ni ng wi t hhel d document s, "J udge Sper o sai d.

pr oduci ng evi dence and ot hermat er i al spastt he cut off dat ef ordi scover y.

The under l yi ng sui twasfir stfil ed i n 2020 f r om a pr oposed cl assl ed byfivepat i ent sknown onl yby

J udge Sper o sai d Mul t i Pl an' sf ai l ur et o heed an

t hei ri ni t i al s,L. D. ,D. B. ,B. W. ,R. H.and C. J .-f our

Oct ober or der about t he di scover y di sput e,

empl oyedbyAppl eandonewhowor kedf orTesl a.

combi nedwi t ht hecour t ' sfindi ngsofani ncamer a

Theycl ai mt heyf acedsur pr i secost sf orout of net -

r evi ew ofpr evi ousl y wi t hhel d document s,meant

wor k heal t h cover age af t er Uni t ed f ai l ed t o

t hecompanywoul dhavet opr oduceal ldocument s

r ei mbur sepr ovi der spert het er msoft hei rheal t h

oni t sr evi sedpr i vi l egel ogbyDec.16.

pl ancover age.

" Mul t i Pl an' s conduct has si gni ficant l yi ncr eased

The pat i ent s al l ege t hat Mul t i Pl an and Uni t ed

t he pr ej udi ce t o pl ai nt i ffs associ at ed wi t h i t s

vi ol at ed bot ht he Empl oyee Ret i r ement I ncome

f ai l ur et opr oduceanadequat epr i vi l egel ogast he

Secur i t y Act and t he Racket eer I nfluenced and

l engt h of t he del ay has al most doubl ed si nce

Cor r uptOr gani zat i onsActwhent heyengagedi na

pl ai nt i ffs i ni t i al l y soughtj udi ci ali nt er vent i on on

schemet o under payt hecl ai msbyr epr i ci ngt hem

t hi si ssue.

based on compar abl e cl ai ms i n t he same geogr aphi car ea.Thepr oposedcl assfil edamot i on f orcl asscer t i ficat i oni nAugust .

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3yr Bi i K

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|28

LAW 360

}

Teva,Al l er ganFi nal i zeMul t i bi l l i onDol l ar Gl obalOpi oi dDeal s

TevaonTuesdaysai dt hati thadfinal i zedagl obal dealwor t h up t o $4.

25 bi l l i on t o end al l egat i ons

br oughtby st at es and l ocalgover nment st hati t

f uel edt heopi oi dcr i si sbydownpl ayi ngt her i sksof

“

addi ct i on,i naddi t i ont oAl l er gansayi ngi tfinal i zed i t sowndealwor t hupt o$2.

02bi l l i on.

Teva has been one oft he maj ordr ug maker si n

Teva sai d i n a st at ement t hat i t has fini shed

sui t s acr oss t he count r y al l egi ng t hat dr ug

document i ng t he deal wi t h st at es at t or neys

compani es mi ni mi zed t he r i sks of addi ct i on t o

gener al and l ead at t or neys i n mul t i di st r i ct

opi oi ds and f ai l ed t o pr event t he di ver si on of

l i t i gat i ont hati thadfir stannouncedi nJ ul y.AbbVi e

pr escr i pt i on nar cot i cs f or i l l i ci t uses; i t s deal

uni tAl l er gan al so sai di tt i ed up i t s set t l ement

hi nged on Al l er gan r eachi ng i t s own nat i onal

t er ms,whi ch wi l lf und effor t st or esol vet hecr i si s

set t l ement , whi ch was announced af t er Teva

andr ei mbur seat t or neys'f eesandcost s.

i ni t i al l yannouncedi t sown.

Now t hatt het er mshavebeen final i zed,asi gnon

Al l er gan sol di t sgener i copi oi dspor t f ol i ot o Teva

pr ocess wi l lbegi nf or st at es t oj oi nt he deal ,

i n 2016;t he dealr esol ves cl ai ms r el at ed t ot hat

accor di ngt oTeva.

busi ness, accor di ng t o t he company. AbbVi e acqui r edAl l er gani n2020.

" Gi ven t he hi gh par t i ci pat i on r at e i n ot her nat i onwi deopi oi dsset t l ement s-andTeva' sset t l e-

" Pr evi ousl y, Al l er gan made t he deci si on t o

ment swi t hTexas,Fl or i da,Loui si ana,RhodeI sl and,

vol unt ar i l y di scont i nue i t s br anded pr escr i pt i on

WestVi r gi ni a,San Fr anci sco and New Yor k -we

opi oi d busi ness, whi ch had a mi ni mal mar ket

r emai n opt i mi st i ct hatahi gh par t i ci pat i on r at ei n

shar eofl esst han 1% ofnat i onwi depr escr i pt i on,

t hi s nat i onwi de set t l ement wi l l be achi eved,

and Al l er gan di d notf und anyt hi r dpar t ypai n or -

enabl i ng us t o put t hese cases behi nd us and

gani zat i ons'opi oi di ni t i at i ves, "t he company sai d

cont i nue t of ocuson t he pat i ent swe ser ve ever y

i n a st at ement . " Al l er gan' s pr omot i on and

day, "Tevasai di nast at ement .

mar ket i ngofopi oi dmedi cat i onswer er esponsi bl e and appr opr i at e,and t hi s set t l ement i s not an admi ssi onofanywr ongdoi ng. "

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3mzt U21

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|29

BUSI NESSWI RE

}

Napol iShkol ni kAnnounces:$3.

1Bi l l i onMul t i St at e Set t l ementSecur edbyCour t Appoi nt edLeader shi pi n Nat i onalPr escr i pt i onOpi at eLi t i gat i onMDL

The$3.

1Bi l l i on set t l ementr eachedwi t hWal mar t i sanot hersi gni ficantmi l est onei nt hefightagai nst t he nat i on’ s opi oi d cr i si s. Thi s agr eement addr essest he phar macychai n’ scont r i but i ng r ol e t ot heopi oi depi demi cbyf ai l i ngt or egul at eopi oi d

pr escr i pt i onsati t sst or es.Set t l ementf undswi l lbe

“

Thi sagreementaddresses t hepharmacychai n’ scont ri but i ng rol et ot heopi oi depi demi cbyf ai l i ng t oregul at eopi oi dprescri pt i onsat i t sst ores.

used i n pr ogr ams t o addr ess t he f al l out f r om

opi oi d abuse,i ncl udi ng t r eat ment ,r ecover y and

abat ement .Addi t i onal l y,Wal mar t wi l lbe cour t or der ed t o compl ywi t h an over si ghtpl an t o pr eventf ut ur ef r audul entpr escr i pt i onsand r ed flag

“ We under st and t hat f ami l i es and communi t i es

suspi ci ouspr escr i pt i ons.

have l ost l oved ones and we hope t hat t hi s set t l ement ,whi ch al so l ooks t owar ds t he f ut ur e,

“ OurPEC opi oi d set t l ementt eam and AG gr oup

hel psi nheal i ngandr ebui l di ngl i ves, ”addsPar t ner

have been l aserf ocused on si gni ng t hi sdealf or

Sal vat or eC.Badal a.

mont hs.Iam pr oud oft he har d wor k on bot h si des,whi ch br i ngs much needed r el i ef t o our communi t i es.Much t hankst oourt eam and i ti sa pr i vi l eget owor kwi t hChr i sSeeger ,Pet erMougey, PaulGel l er ,J ayne Conr oy,El i zabet h Cabr aser ,J oe Ri ce and St eve Ski kkos, ” sai d Napol i Shkol ni k Par t nerandPl ai nt i ffExecut i veCommi t t eemember Hunt erJ .Shkol ni k.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bwnews . pr / 41Ycah7

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|30

TOPCLASSACTI ONS

}

TevaPhar maceut set t l esNew Yor k opi oi dl awsui t sf or$523M NOVEMBER 4,2022

New Yor kAt t or neyGener alLet i t i aJ amessecur ed

$523 mi l l i on i n set t l ement sf r om dr ugmakerTeva Phar maceut i cal sf ori t sr ol ei nf uel i ng t he opi oi d

cr i si s,final i zi ng her year sl ong l i t i gat i on agai nst opi oi dmanuf act ur er sanddi st r i but or s.

I n a pr ess r el ease post ed Nov.3,t he New Yor k

“

Tevawi l lpayupt o$4.

247 bi l l i on nat i onwi det oset t l eopi oi d cl ai msaspartofanat i onal set t l ement .

At t or ney Gener al ’ s Office says t he set t l ement s

The agr eemental so secur es a ban on hi ghdose

r esol ve New Yor k’ scl ai msagai nstTeva,t he final

opi oi ds,pr ohi bi t i onsonmar ket i ngopi oi ds,r est r i c-

r emai ni ngdef endantt hati snoti nbankr upt cyi na

t i ons on pol i t i cal l obbyi ng and di scl osur e of

wi der angi ngopi oi dcase.

Teva opi oi d pr oduct cl i ni caldat a,among ot her i nj unct i ver emedi es.

J amessecur ed$523mi l l i onf orNew Yor kf r om t wo

separ at e set t l ement agr eement s wi t h Teva,her

Teva set t l ement s come af t er ext ensi ve opi oi d

office sai d.Thi st akest he f undsshe hassecur ed

l awsui t

f orNew Yor kf r om t hosei nt heopi oi di ndust r yt o $2bi l l i on.

I n 2019,J ames fil ed an ext ensi ve l awsui tagai nst opi oi d di st r i but or s and manuf act ur er s,i ncl udi ng

“ You cannotputa pr i ce on l i ves l ost ,addi ct i on

Teva, f or t hei rr ol e i n t he opi oi d epi demi c.

suffer ed,and f ami l i es t or n apar t ,but wi t ht he mor et han$2bi l l i onwehavenow del i ver edt oNew

I n addi t i on t o Tevaand i t saffil i at es,t hemanuf ac-

Yor ker s,wecan cont i nuet or ebui l d and r ecover , ”

t ur er s named i nt he compl ai nti ncl uded Pur due

shesai d.

Phar ma and i t saffil i at es;member soft he Sackl er f ami l y,owner sofPur due;J anssenPhar maceut i cal s

Teva wi l lpay up t o $4.

247 bi l l i on nat i onwi de t o

andi t saffil i at es;Mal l i nckr odtLLCandi t saffil i at es;

set t l e opi oi d cl ai ms as par t of a nat i onal

and Endo Heal t h Sol ut i ons and i t s affil i at es.

set t l ement .

The di st r i but or s named

i n

t he compl ai nt

I nNew Yor k,t hef undssecur edf r om t heset t l e-

wer e McKesson Cor p. , Car di nal Heal t h I nc. ,

ment swi l lbepai doutoveraper i odof18year s.

Amer i sour ceBer gen Dr ug Cor p. and Rochest er Dr ugCooper at i veI nc.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3J u9AI C

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|31

LAW 360

}

NYReaches$523M Opi oi d DealWi t hTeva NOVEMBER 3,2022

The New Yor k at t or neygener alannounced ear l y Thur sdayt hatt hest at ehasr eacheda$523mi l l i on

set t l ementwi t h Teva overcl ai ms t hatt he dr ug-

maker cont r i but ed t o t he opi oi d epi demi c, f ol l owi ngaj ur yver di ctl astyearhol di ngt hecompanyl i abl ef ori t spar ti nf uel i ngt hecr i si s.

“

I nl at eDecember,aLong I sl andj uryf oundt hatTevapl ayeda parti nt hecri si si nt hest at eand creat edapubl i cnui sancei n Suffol k andNassau count i es. . .

Theset t l ementwoul daddi t i onal l yr esol vel awsui t s

New Yor kAt t or neyGener alLet i t i aJ amessai dt hat

agai nstTevabyNassauandSuffol kcount i esi ft he

t hedeali st hel ar gestt hatherofficehasr eached

count yl egi sl at ur esappr ovei t .

wi t h an i ndi vi dual def endant , endi ng cl ai ms

agai nstt he l astdef endantnotcur r ent l yi n bank-

" ehol di ngTevaPhar maceut i cal saccount abl e Wear

r upt cy.I nl at eDecember ,aLongI sl andj ur yf ound

f ori t sr ol ei nt heopi oi d cr i si sand t hei r r epar abl e

t hatTevapl ayedapar ti nt hecr i si si nt hest at eand

har m i thasdone t o New Yor ker s,t hei rf ami l i es,

cr eat ed a publ i c nui sance i n Suffol k and Nassau

and t hei r communi t i es, " New Yor k Gov. Kat hy

count i es,whi ch had t r i ed t hei rcaseal ongsi det he

Hochulsai di nast at ement ."

Thi scompanymi sr ep-

at t or neygener al ' soffice.

r esent ed i t s pr oduct sf or decades,floodi ng t he mar ket wi t h danger ous pr escr i pt i on dr ugs and

" Teva knowi ngl y and i nt ent i onal l y mi sl ed New

endanger i ngcount l essl i ves. "

Yor ker sandt heAmer i canpeopl eaboutt hedeadl y danger s ofopi oi ds,and l astyear ,a j ur yf ound

Thef undswi l lbepai doutoveraspanof18year s,

t hem r esponsi bl ef ort hedevast at i onanddest r uc-

accor di ng t oJ ames'st at ement .The t er ms oft he

t i on t hey have caused, " At t or ney Gener alJ ames

dealal soi ncl udei nj unct i ver el i efi ncl udi ngr est r i c-

sai di nast at ement .

t i onson mar ket i ngopi oi dsand pol i t i call obbyi ng.

The dealal so wi l lend t he sui t s br oughtby t he count i esi ft hei rl egi sl at ur esappr ovei t ,accor di ng t ot hest at ement .

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3mkdBGb

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|32

LAW 360

}

CVS,Wal gr eensOf f er$10BTo EndNat i onwi deOpi oi dSui t s NOVEMBER 2,2022

CVS Phar macy and Wal gr eens,t he nat i on' st wo

l ar gest dr ugst or e r et ai l er s, have pr el i mi nar i l y

st r uckdeal swor t h$10bi l l i ont oendt housandsof

l awsui t st ar get i ng t hei rsal esofpr escr i pt i on nar cot i cs,t hecor por at i onsandpl ai nt i ffscounselsai d Wednesday.

“

A st at ementf rom pl ai nt i ffs at t orneysi n mul t i di st ri ctopi oi d l i t i gat i on confirmedt he$10bi l l i on val ueandhai l edt he"l andmark agreement si n pri nci pl e. "

" Iknow t heydon' twantt ot al k abouti tyet , "t he

CVS Phar macy and Wal gr eens sai d Wednesday

sour cesai di nani nt er vi ew.

t heyhavepr el i mi nar i l yst r uckdeal swor t h$10bi l l i on t o end l awsui t st ar get i ng t hei rsal es ofpr e-

AWal mar tspokesper sondecl i nedt ocommentl at e

scr i pt i onnar cot i cs.

Tuesdayonanypossi bl eset t l ement ,andt hest at ementf r om MDLat t or neysdi dn' taddr essapot en-

Thet wophar macychai ns,whi ch col l ect i vel yoper -

t i aldealwi t ht hebi gboxr et ai l er .

at e near l y 20, 000 br i ckandmor t ar st or es, di scl osed separ at eagr eement swor t hr oughl y$5bi l -

I naquar t er l year ni ngsr epor t ,CVSsai dt hati ten-

l i on api ece i n secur i t i esfil i ngsWednesdaymor n-

t er ed medi at i on wi t h st at e at t or neysgener aland

i ng.Ast at ementf r om pl ai nt i ffsat t or neysi nmul t i -

MDL l awyer si n mi dOct oberand has t ent at i vel y

di st r i ctopi oi dl i t i gat i on confir med t he $10 bi l l i on

agr eed t o pay $4.

9 bi l l i on t o st at es,ci t i es and

val ue and hai l ed t he " l andmar k agr eement si n-

count i es,aswel las$130 mi l l i on t o Nat i veAmer i -

pr i nci pl e. "

cant r i bes,overt hecour seof10year s.

A sour ce f ami l i arwi t h opi oi dl i t i gat i on,speaki ng

I n anot herfil i ngwi t ht heSecur i t i esand Exchange

wi t h Law360 on t he condi t i on ofanonymi t y,al so

Commi ssi on,Wal gr eensdescr i bedr esol ut i onst hat

confir med Wednesday t hatWal mar t-whi ch r uns

woul d send $4.

8bi l l i on t o st at esand al most$155

t he count r y' st hi r dl ar gestphar macynet wor k -i s

mi l l i ont ot r i besovera15yearper i od.Thoser eso-

expect edt oset t l ei t snat i onwi deopi oi ddocketf or

l ut i onsal so" pr ovi def ort hepaymentofup t oap-

" al i t t l emor et han$3bi l l i on. "

pr oxi mat el y$753.

5 mi l l i on i n at t or neys'f eesand cost soversi x year sbegi nni ng i n yeart wo oft he set t l ement f r amewor ks, " Wal gr eens sai d, f or a t ot alpayoutof$5.7bi l l i on.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3mwi f kE

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|33

LAW 360

}

Af t erPhar macyDeal s,New Opi oi d Sel l er sI nLegal' Bul l ' sEye' NOVEMBER 2,2022

Mul t i bi l l i ondol l arset t l ement swi t ht op phar macy r et ai l er swi l lshi f ta hi st or i cbar r age ofopi oi d

l i t i gat i onawayf r om t hel astofi t sear l yt ar get sand

t owar d gr oupsofphar maceut i calsel l er sand advi ser swhosebusi nesspr act i cesandl egaldef enses

have r ecei ved l i t t l e at t ent i on,accor di ng t o pl ai nt i ffscounselandcour tr ecor ds.

“

Hunt erJ .Shkol ni kofNapol i Shkol ni kPLLC,ahi ghranki ng pl ai nt i ffsat t orneyi n opi oi dcases, t ol dLaw360on Wednesdayt hat "t hesebi gchai ns. . .havegobbl edup regi onalsupermarket sal lovert he Uni t edSt at es"andarenow acent ral f ocusoft hel i t i gat i on.

Whi l eWednesday' snewswasst i l ldevel opi ng,l awyer sf ormuni ci pal i t i esandt r i beswer eal r eadyset -

Thepr el i mi nar ydeal scover i ngCVSPhar macyand

t i ngt hei rsi ght sonanew col l ect i onofcompani es.

Wal gr eens -as wel las Wal mar t ,accor di ng t oa

Those compani esi ncl ude r egi onalphar macy net -

sour ce-becamepubl i con Wednesday,near l yfive

wor ksoper at edbygr ocer yst or egi ant s,suchasAl -

year saf t ert hef or mat i onofmul t i di st r i ctl i t i gat i on

ber t sons Cos. ,The Kr oger Co. ,Mei j er I nc.and

f ort housandsofopi oi dcr i si sl awsui t sonbehal fof

Publ i xSuperMar ket s.

l ocalgover nment sandNat i veAmer i cant r i bes.

Hunt er J . Shkol ni k of Napol i Shkol ni k PLLC, a I l est one momentt hateffect i vel ycl oses twasami

hi ghr anki ng pl ai nt i ffs at t or ney i n opi oi d cases,

t he books on a br ui si ng and pr ot r act ed st age of

t ol d Law360on Wednesdayt hat" t hesebi gchai ns

br i efingandt r i al sagai nstt hepr i mar ydef endant s.

. . .havegobbl edupr egi onalsuper mar ket sal lover

Wi t ht het hr eedr ugst or echai nspoi sedt obow out ,

t heUni t ed St at es"and ar enow acent r alf ocusof

mostoft hel ar gestcompani essel l i ngpr escr i pt i on

t hel i t i gat i on.

nar cot i cshavenegot i at ed nat i onwi der esol ut i ons.

Ahandf ulofot her swentwobbl yundert hewei ght

" They' r ei nt henextr ound -t hebel l wet hert r i al s-

of mount ai nous l egal cost s and ei t her sought

r eadyt ogo.Sowear eaddr essi ngt hem, "Shkol ni k

bankr upt cypr ot ect i onor ,asi nt hecaseofRi t eAi d

sai d."

Thesedef endant sar enow i nt hebul l ' seye.

Cor p. ,br oker ed at empor ar yt r ucewhi l et r yi ngt o

Theysatbackand wat ched,and now i t ' st i me f or

findt hei rfinanci alf oot i ng.

t hem t ost epupandt aker esponsi bi l i t y. "

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 41NG9Z4

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|34

BLOOMBERG LAW

}

3M LosesUSCont r act orI mmuni t y Ar gumenti nPFASCase SEPTEMBER 16,2022

3M Co.f ai l edt oper suadet hef eder alj udgepr esi di ngoverPFASmasst or tl i t i gat i ont hatt hecompany

i si mmune f r om l i abi l i t yf oral l eged damagesf or

t he t oxi csubst ancesasa gover nmentcont r act or .

Thatquest i oni sf ort hej ur yt odeci de,J udgeRi char d M.Ger gelsai di n ar ul i ng Fr i daydenyi ng t he manuf act ur er ' smot i on f orsummar yj udgmenton t hei ssue.

Compani es i ncl udi ng 3M, Chemguar d I nc. , Ki ddeFenwalI nc. ,Nat i onalFoam I nc. ,and Dynax

Cor p. have been sued f or damages al l egedl y caused by t he chemi cal s,whi ch ar ei nf astf ood

cont ai ner s,cosmet i cs,f ur ni t ur e,and ot herpr oduct s, mor e t han 6, 400 t i mes si nce 2005.

Thechemi cal scan' tbr eakdownnat ur al l y.Theyaccumul at ei n wat er ,on soi l ,and i n bl ood,and can l ead t o sever e heal t h and envi r onment aleffect s.

Thi smul t i di st r i ctl i t i gat i onpr esi dedoverbyGer gel i s a pr et r i alconsol i dat i on of mor et han 2, 000 cases br oughtovert he use ofPFAS i n Aqueous Fi l m For mi ng Foams ( AFFF) ,such as fir efight i ng f oamsdevel opedby3M.

“

Thechemi cal scan' tbreak down nat ural l y.Theyaccumul at e i n wat er,on soi l ,andi n bl ood,and can l eadt osevereheal t h and envi ronment aleffect s.

3M ar guedt hatbecausei tdevel opedt hef oam f or t he Navyt o fightl i qui df uelfir es,i tcan' tbe hel d l i abl e under a gover nment cont r act or def ense, whi ch l i mi t smanuf act ur er s'l i abi l i t ywhen pr oduci ngmi l i t ar ypr oduct st ogover nmentspeci ficat i ons. " Whi l ewear edi sappoi nt edwi t ht hecour t ' sr ul i ng, t hi sdeci si on i smade i n summar yj udgmentpr oceedi ngsi nwhi cht hecour ti sr equi r edt oexami ne t he f act si nt he l i ghtmostf avor abl et ot he pl ai nt i ffs, "t he companysai di n an emai l ed st at ement . " Webel i evet hatt heevi denceatt r i alwi l ldemonst r at e3M mett hecr i t er i af ort hegover nmentcont r act ordef ense i nt he ongoi ng AFFFmul t i di st r i ct l i t i gat i on, "i tsai d.

Ger gel ,whosi t si nt heUSDi st r i ctCour tf ort heDi st r i ctofSout hCar ol i na,f oundt her ewer ei ssuesof f actast ot hegover nment ' sknowl edgeoft her i sks, andr ej ect ed3M' sbi df ori mmuni t y.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3Ys LzG2

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|35

THENEW YORK TI MES

}

TevaReachesTent at i ve$4.

25Bi l l i on Set t l ementOverOpi oi ds J ULY26,2022

Teva Phar maceut i cal s,one oft he count r y' s bi ggestmanuf act ur er sofgener i copi oi ds,announced

a set t l ementi n pr i nci pl e wi t h some 2, 500 l ocal gover nment s,st at esandt r i besovert hecompany' s

r ol e i n t he deadl y, ongoi ng opi oi d epi demi c.

“

Thedeal-wort h upt o$4.

25 bi l l i on -cameaf t eraseri esof bl i st eri ngt ri al sandprevi ous set t l ement si ni ndi vi dualcases acrosst hecount ryovert hepast year.

Thedeal-wor t h up t o$4.

25bi l l i on -cameaf t era

" Thi si snotgoi ngt osol vet heopi oi d cr i si sf ort he

ser i esofbl i st er i ngt r i al sandpr evi ousset t l ement s

t r i bes: 'sai d St even Ski kos, a l awyer who r ep-

i ni ndi vi dualcasesacr osst hecount r yovert hepast

r esent st r i bes."

Ther ei sst i l lsi gni ficantwor kt odo

year .

wi t ht her emai ni ngdef endant s.

"St at es,ci t i esand count i escan choose t o accepta por t i on oft hei r

Though much l esser known,Teva,an I sr ael icom-

payout si nt hemedi cat i ons,r at hert hancash.

pany,andi t saffil i at espr oducedf armor epr escr i pt i on opi oi ds dur i ng t he peak year s oft he cr i si s

The dealwas negot i at ed by r epr esent at i ves f or

t hanmar queenameopi oi dmanuf act ur er ssuchas

abouta dozen st at e at t or neys gener al ."

Today' s

J ohnson & J ohnson di d.I t spr oduct i on ofbot h ge-

announcementonce agai n shows t hatt hose r e-

ner i cand br anded pai nki l l er sdwar f ed t he out put

sponsi bl ef ort hi st r agi ci ssuewi l lbehel daccount -

ofPur due Phar ma,t he makerofOxyCont i n,t he

abl eandhel pwi l lbeavai l abl et ot hoseaffect edby

medi cat i on mosti mmedi at el yassoci at ed wi t h set -

t heopi oi depi demi c; •Tom Mi l l er ,t heat t or neygen-

t i ng off an aval anche ofover doses and deat hs.

er alofI owa,whoseofficewasi nvol vedi nt henegot i at i ons,sai di nast at ement .

Undert hedeal ,Tevawoul dmakepayout sover13 year s,di r ect ed t o st at e,l ocaland t r i balpr ogr ams

Tevasai di nast at ement ," Whi l et heagr eementwi l l

t oeaset heopi oi dcr i si s,whi chhasonl ydeepened

i ncl udenoadmi ssi onofwr ongdoi ng,i tr emai nsi n

dur i ngt hecor onavi r uspandemi c.The$4.

25bi l l i on

ourbesti nt er estt oputt hesecasesbehi ndusand

t ot al i ncl uded t he near l y $550 mi l l i on i n

cont i nue t of ocuson t he pat i ent swe ser ve ever y

set t l ement st he company had al r eady st r uck as

day. "

t r i al sgotunder wayi n San Fr anci sco aswel lasi n Fl or i da,WestVi r gi ni a,Texas,Loui si anaandRhode I sl and.I tal so i ncl udes$119mi l l i on f orabout570 t r i bes,who wi l lal so r ecei ve over dose r ever sal medi cat i ons.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / nyt i . ms / 3ygvqbZ

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|36

LAW 360

}

TevaReaches$5BNat i onalOpi oi dDeal

J ULY26,2022

Lead at t or neys f or l ocal gover nment s, Nat i ve

Amer i can t r i bes and st at es on Tuesday sai dt hat t heyhad r eached a set t l ementi n pr i nci pl e wor t h

near l y$5 bi l l i on wi t h dr ug makerTeva,i ncl udi ng about$3.7bi l l i oni ncash.

“

Tevahasbeen oneoft he maj ordef endant sI n sui t s acrosst hecount ryal l egi ngt hatdrug compani eshi dt heri sksofaddi ct i on t oopl ol dsandf ai l edt opreventt he di versi on ofprescri pt i on narcot i cs f ori l l i ci tuses.

The pl ai nt i ffs'execut i ve commi t t ee sai dt hatt he

" Al t hough wehavet r i ed bel l wet hercasesand wl l l

$3.7bi l l i oni ncl udesabout$650, 000ear mar kedi n

cont i nuet odoso,myover ar chi ngf ocushasbeen

pr evi ousl yset t l edcases.Theabat ementf undswi l l

on achi evi ng compr ehensi ve set t l ement s on a

bespr eadover13year s,accor di ngt ot hecommi t -

nat i onwi de basi st hatwi l lbr i ng cr i t i calr esour ces

t ee,wi t hl egalf eesand cost st o be pai d oversi x

t o al lst at esand al lcommuni t i est hathave been

year s.Tevawi l lal sopr ovi det heopt i onofdonat i ng

r avi shedbyt hi sepi demi c,andt hi si sanot herst ep

$1.

2bi l l i on wor t h ofagener i cver si on ofi t sover -

t owar ds achi evi ng t hat goal , " Paul Gel l er of

dosedr ugNar canf ort henextdecadeoranagr eed

Robbi nsGel l erRudman& DowdLLP,amemberof

uponequi val enti ncash.

t he execut i ve commi t t ee, sai d I n a st at ement .

Tevasai di nast at ementt hatwhi l et heset t l ement

Cl osi ngar gument sI nt heSanFr anci scobel l wet her

agr eement does not i ncl ude an admi ssi on of

t r i alr ecent l yconcl uded,wi t hWal gr eensast hel ast

wr ongdoi ng,i twasi nt hecompany' sbesti nt er est

r emai ni ngdef endant .

t o putt he casesbehi nd i tand f ocuson pat i ent s. ' ' Thi s set t l ementnotonl y br i ngs needed hel pt o Tevahasbeenoneoft hemaj ordef endant sI nsui t s

communi t i esl i kePaulment i oned,buti mpor t ant l y

acr oss t he count r y al l egi ng t hatdr ug compani es

i tshows t hathi gh l evell i t i gat i on i s a vehi cl et o

hi dt he r i sksofaddi ct i on t o opl ol dsand f ai l ed t o

ensur et hatcompani esl i keTevaar ehel daccount -

pr eventt hedi ver si onofpr escr i pt i onnar cot i csf or

abl ef ort hei ract i ons, "Hunt erShkol ni kofNapol i

i l l i ci tuses.Mostr ecent l y,I tst r uck a set t l ement

Shkol ni k PLLC,anot hert op at t or ney f ort he MDL

wi t h San Fr anci sco t o escape a bel l wet hert r i alI n

pl ai nt i ffs,sai d.

t he opi oi d mul t i dl st r l ctl i t i gat i on,agr eei ng t o pay $24.

8mi l l i onI ncashanddonat i ngt he$20mi l l i on wor t hofover dosemedi cat i on.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3Yl 2oCI

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|37

LAW 360

J &JWant sOpi oi dCl ai msFr om NYTowns,Ci t i esTossed J ULY19,2022

J ohnson& J ohnsonwant sanOhi of eder alcour tt o

J &J ,Amer i sour ceBer genCor p. ,Car di nalHeal t hI nc.

t ossopi oi dcl ai msmadeagai nstt hecompanybya

and McKesson Cor p.r eached a deall astyeart o

hostofNew Yor kmuni ci pal i t i es,sayi ngachanget o

end t hebul koft hesui t st aki ngai m att heopi oi d

an Empi r e St at e l aw bar s t hose al l egat i ons.

cr i si s, whi ch

Aspar tofspr awl i ngmul t i di st r i ctl i t i gat i onovert he

Dr ugmaker s have been accused of f uel i ng t he

opi oi dcr i si si nOhi of eder alcour t ,J &Jandi t sJ ans-

opi oi d cr i si sbyampl i f yi ng opi oi ds'benefit swhi l e

senPhar maceut i cal suni tsai di namot i onMonday

under st at i ng t he r i sks of addi ct i on,whi l e dr ug

t hati tshoul dn' thave t of ace opi oi d cases t hat

di st r i but or sal l egedl yt ur ned abl i nd eyet o suspi -

have been fil ed by dozens of New Yor k ci t i es,

ci ousl yl ar geor der sofopi oi dsshi ppedar oundt he

t owns,vi l l agesand even fir e and wat erdi st r i ct s.

count r y.

Af t erNew Yor kand ot herst at esi nl une 2021 an-

By Febr uar y, enough st at es had si gned t he

nounced t heyhad r eached a gl obalopi oi d set t l e-

set t l ementagr eementt ofinal i zei t .

was val ued

at $26

bi l l i on.

mentwi t hJ ohnson& J ohnsonandcer t ai ndr ugdi st r i but or s,t he st at e amended i t s Ment alHygi ene

Overt he next18 year s,t he dr ug di st r i but or swi l l

Law t o cr eat eaf und wi t h moneyf r om t heset t l e-

payupt o$21bi l l i on.J &J ,whi chdoesnotadmi tl i a-

ment s, accor di ng t o J &J . Pol i t i cal subdi vi si ons

bi l i t y,wi l lpayup t o $5 bi l l i on and hasagr eed t o

wi t hi nt he st at e coul dt hen getmoney f r om t hat

st opmaki ngopi oi ds.

f und,butt hechangeal sobar r edsui t swi t hsi mi l ar cl ai msfil ed af t erJ une 30,2019,accor di ng t oJ &J .

Thecompanysai dal lt heent i t i esi tt ar get edi nt he mot i on fil ed t hei r sui t s af t er t hat deadl i ne.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3J kI a7Y

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|38

BUSI NESSWI RE

}

Napol iShkol ni kCommendsEPAf orRel easi ng Gr oundBr eaki ngNew Heal t hAdvi sor i esf or PFASChemi cal si nU. S.Wat erSyst ems

Napol iShkol ni k,oneoft henat i on' sl eadi ngl i t i gat i on fir msi nt he fiel d ofenvi r onment all aw,com-

mendst heEnvi r onment alPr ot ect i onAgency( EPA) f ort hegr oundbr eaki ngdr i nki ngwat erheal t hadvi sor yl evel st he agency r el eased ear l i ert hi sweek

f or f our PFAS chemi cal sf ound i nt housands of wat ersyst emsacr osst hecount r y.Theheal t hadvi

sor yl evel sorHALs,whi chwer ei ssuedonWednesday,J une15,2022,i dent i f yt hemaxi mum l evel sof t hese PFAS chemi cal st hatEPA cur r ent l ybel i eves

pr ot ectal lpeopl e,i ncl udi ngsensi t i vepopul at i ons andl i f est ages,f r om adver seheal t heffect sduet o exposur e.

Accor di ng t o EPA,i tf el tt he need t or evi si tt he heal t hadvi sor i esf orPFOSandPFOA because“ t he l evel satwhi chnegat i veheal t heffect scoul doccur ar emuch l owert han pr evi ousl yunder st ood when EPA i ssued t he 2016 heal t h advi sor i es f orPFOA and PFOS–i ncl udi ngnearzer of orcer t ai n heal t h effect s. ”

The f ourPFAS chemi cal saddr essed i nt he heal t h advi sor i es i ncl ude per fluor ooct ane sul f oni c aci d ( PFOS) ,per fluor ooct anoi c aci d( PFOA) ,per fluor obut ance

“

Theheal t h advi soryl evel sor HALs,whi ch werei ssuedi nJ une 2022,i dent i f yi ngt hemaxi mum l evel s oft hesePFASchemi cal st hatEPA current l ybel i evesprot ectal l peopl e. . .

sul f oni c

aci d

( PFBS) ,

and

hexafluor opr opyl ene

oxi de

di mer

aci d

( GenX) .

EPA had not pr evi ousl yi ssued heal t h advi sor y l evel sf orPFBSorGenX,whi chi nr ecentyear shave beenconsi der edr epl acement sf orPFOSandPFOA i n chemi cal and pr oduct manuf act ur i ng. EPA i ssued finalheal t h advi sor yl evel sf ort hese t wo PFAS of2, 000 pptf orPFBS and 10 pptf orGenX.

PFOS and PFOA ar et he t wo oft he mostwi del y st udi ed chemi cal si nt hePFASgr oup and unt i lt he ear l y2000swer eusedi nawi der angeofpr oduct s, i ncl udi ng fir efight i ng f oams used by mi l i t ar y and ai r por t sf ordecades.EPA’ sact i onson Wednesday l owert heheal t hadvi sor yl evel sf orPFOSandPFOA f r om a combi ned l evelof70 par t spert r i l l i on or ppt ,whi ch t heagencyhad i ssued i n May2016,t o 0.

02 pptf orPFOSand 0.

004 pptf orPFOA—l evel s t hatar e bel ow whatcan even be det ect ed usi ng st andar dPFASt est i ngmet hods.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bwnews . pr / 3J gI UuK

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|39

BLOOMBERG LAW

}

Compani esFaceBi l l i onsi nDamages asPFASLawsui t sFl oodCour t s MAY23,2022

Mor et han 6, 400 PFASr el at ed l awsui t s fil ed si nce2005

Li t i gat i onpr esent s“ exi st ent i alt hr eat ”t osome compani es

Foryear s,pl ai nt i ffs’l awyer ssui ngoverheal t hand

envi r onment al damage f r om so cal l ed f or ever chemi cal s,known col l ect i vel yasPFAS,f ocused on

onesetofdeep pocket sE.I .du PontdeNemour s andCo.

Butovert hepastt woyear s,t her e' sbeenasei smi c shi f ti nt he l egall andscape asawar enessofPFAS

has expanded. Cor por at i ons i ncl udi ng 3M Co. , Chemguar dI nc. ,Ki ddeFenwalI nc. ,Nat i onalFoam I nc. ,andDynaxCor p.ar enow bei ngsuedatr oughl y t he same r at e as DuPont , accor di ng t o a Bl oomber g Law anal ysi s of mor e t han 6, 400 PFASr el at ed l awsui t s fil ed i n f eder al cour t s bet weenJ ul y2005andMar ch2022.

I fPFAS wenti nt o a company' s fini shed pr oduct , oddsar ei t ' sbei ngsued.A f eder alj udgeover seei ngt housandsofPFAScasesputt her i sksbl unt l y. " I tdoesnott akeageni ust ofigur eoutt hati fcer t ai n mot i ons don' tgo t hei rway,t he def endant s ar ei nanexi st ent i alt hr eatt ot hei rsur vi val , "J udge Ri char d Ger gelsai di naJ ul y 2019 pr oceedi ng.

“

Tot alPFASl i abi l i t i escoul d reach $30bi l l i on i n a"worst case scenari o"f ort hecompany,accordi ng t osomeest i mat es.

E. I .du Pontde Nemour swasnamed asa def endanti nmor et han6, 100PFASl awsui t ssi nce2005, t he Bl oomber g Law anal ysi s f ound. But no company' sdegr eeofl egalj eopar dymayber i si ng f ast ert han 3M' s.I twas named i n an aver age of mor et han t hr ee PFASr el at ed l awsui t sa dayl ast year ,accor di ng t ot he anal ysi s.The company' s mostr ecentannualr epor tdedi cat edmor et han15 pagest oi t sl egalexposur ef r om PFAS. Tot alPFAS l i abi l i t i es coul dr each $30 bi l l i on i na " wor st case scenar i o"f ort he company,accor di ng t osomeest i mat es. " I t ' sl ooki ngl i ke3M i sgoi ngt obeart hemostl i abi l i t y,i ft her ei sany, "Bl oomber gI nt el l i genceanal yst Hol l yFr oum sai d.I tbecomesmor eappar entast he cour t spl i t s def endant si nt ot he di ffer ent r ol es t hey had i n manuf act ur i ng PFAScont ai ni ng pr oduct s,shesai d. " Some oft hem onl y made sur f act antand some wer et he fini shed pr oductmanuf act ur er s.3M di d ever yt hi ng. "

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3ZC97t 0

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|40

LAW 360

}

Phar maci esFaceKeyTr i alTestAs Opi oi dMDLI nt r i gueSwi r l s MAY6,2022

Amer i ca' sbi ggestphar macychai nsar epoi sedf or api vot alt r i alatt he cent erofmul t i di st r i ctopi oi d

l i t i gat i on and t he opi oi d cr i si si t sel f ,ai mi ng t o

aver ta gi antj udgmentand an enor mousexpansi onoft hei rbr oaderl i abi l i t yi nt housandsofcases

t hat ar e suddenl yt hr eat eni ng t o spi r alout of cont r ol .

CVS Phar macy,Wal gr eens and Wal mar t ,r eel i ng f r om a j ur y' sconcl usi on t hatt heycont r i but ed t o

r ampantdr ugabusei nt woOhi ocount i es,wi l lseek

t ost em t hei rl ossesatabench t r i alst ar t i ngTuesdayt o det er mi nedamagesi n connect i on wi t ht he Novemberver di ct .

Her e,Law360shar eskeydet ai l st oknow aboutt he t r i al ,aswel lasasur pr i si ngMDLdevel opmentt hat coul d make 3, 000 pendi ng opi oi d cases even har derf ort hecompani est ohandl e.

THETRI AL The t r i ali n Cl evel and f eder alcour ti nvol vesbel l wet her cases br oughtby t he nor t heast er n Ohi o count i esofLakeandTr umbul l ;bot hcount i eshave opi oi ddeat hr at eswel labovet henat i onalaver age,

“

CVSPharmacy,Wal greens andWal mart ,reel i ngf rom aj ury' s concl usi on t hatt heycont ri but edt o rampantdrugabusei nt woOhi o count i es. . .

" Asyou can see f r om t he deat hs,f r om t hose suf f er i ngwi t hopi oi dusedi sor der ,f r om t hei mpacton t he school s,t he i mpactacr osst he communi t y. . . t heyhaven' thadenoughabi l i t yt oaddr esst heepi demi c, "Fr ankL.Gal l ucciI I I ,counself orLake and Tr umbul l ,t ol dLaw360."

Thi si st heoppor t uni t yf or t he cour tt o r eal i ze t hat and t o pr ovi de t he f undi ng. " Thet r i ali sexpect edt ol astr oughl yt woweeks.U. S. Di st r i ctJ udgeDan Aar on Pol st er-pr esi di ngj udge f ort het r i alandt heent i r eMDL-wi l lt hent aket he mat t erunderconsi der at i on and event ual l ydeci de how much money t he phar maci es shoul d pay.

Mostoft heot heropi oi dt r i al si nvol vi ngt hephar maceut i cali ndust r yhaveonl yexpl or edl egall i abi l i t y, not damages, known f or mal l y i n opi oi d l i t i gat i onas" abat ement "f undi ng.

and even above t he aver age i n Ohi o,whi ch has seen mor epercapi t af at al i t i esi nvol vi ngnar cot i cs t hanal mostanyot herst at e.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3SRCJ j Z

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|41

THEWI CHI TA EAGLE

}

J ur yr ul esagai nstdoct or ,i nf avorof f ami l yofExcelvi ct i m whodi edofopoi ds APRI L28,2022

Aj ur yhasr ul edi nf avoroft hef ami l yofamanwho

f at al l y over dosed on dr ugs pr escr i bed f or post t r aumat i cst r essdi sor deraf t erhewasi nj ur ed i nt heExcelI ndust r i esmassshoot i ng.

The Sedgwi ck Count yj ur y deci ded ear l i er t hi s

mont h on a $2.

57 mi l l i on r ul i ng i n f avor of Ni chol asMoon' sf ami l y,al t hough hi sf ami l ycoul d r ecei vef arl esst hant hat .

Moon was30when hedi ed ofan over dosei n De-

cember2017,af t erbei ngpr escr i bed dr ugsbyDr .

El si eSt eel ber g,af or merWi chi t apsychi at r i stwho

hest ar t edt oseeaf t erbei ngshotatExceli n2016.

The mass shoot i ng i n Hesst on l ef tt hr ee peopl e deadand14wounded.

Moonl ef tbehi ndawi f eandpr et eenson.

Thej ur yr ul edt hatMoon was45% r esponsi bl ef or t heover dose,St eel ber gwas40% r esponsi bl eand herpr act i ce15%,meani ngMoon' sf ami l ycoul dbe pai d $1.

03 mi l l i on f r om St eel ber g and possi bl y $386, 250 f r om her pr act i ce,mi nus any at t or ney f ees.

“

TheSedgwi ckCount yj ury deci dedearl i ert hi smont h on a $2.

57mi l l i on rul i ngi nf avorof Ni chol asMoon' sf ami l y. . .

Gr i bbl ehasn' tdeci dedwhet hert oappealt hecour t deci si on.

Chr i sSchni eder s,t he Moon f ami l y at t or ney,sai d he t hi nkst he awar d amounti st he l ar gesti nt he count yf oranopi oi dr el at eddeat h. " Thej ur ywasabl et oseet hr ought hest i gmaoft he psychi at r i ci nj ur i es suffer ed by Ni ck Moon and f ocusont her el ent l essescal at i onoft heaggr essi ve r egi men ofopi oi dsand benzodi azepi nest hatDr .

St eel ber g wr ot ef or Ni ck, " Schni eder s sai di na news r el ease."

We ar e hopef ult hat t hi sr esul t ser vesasawar ni ngt hatpat i ent sneed t o beopt i mi zed on nonopi oi d and cont r ol l ed subst ances bef or eevert hi nki ngoft r yi ngt hesedanger ousand addi ct i vedr ugs. " Moon wor ked as a pai nt eratExcelbef or e bei ng

Not hi ng has been pai d yet .St eel ber g' s at t or ney, Don Gr i bbl e,sai d he i sn' tsur et he por t i on f r om her pr act i ce can be pai d si nce i twas di ssol ved bef or et het r i alandhasnol ar geasset s.St eel ber g i si n her80s and r et i r ed;herl i cense i si nact i ve.

shotj ustbel ow t he r i ghtknee dur i ng t he mass shoot i ngatt hef act or y.Hehad mul t i pl esur ger i es because oft he shoot i ng buthad weaned off opi oi dsf r om t he sur ger i esbef or e he st ar t ed t o see St eel ber gi nAugust2016,Schni eder ssai d.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3ZJ 3Yi F

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|42

LAW. COM

}

AnEmer gi ngTr endi nMassTor t s:Move t oPuer t oRi co!

APRI L28,2022

A f unny t hi ng happened dur i ng t he COVI D19

pandemi c: Lawyer s speci al i zi ng i n mass t or t s moved t o Puer t o Ri co.Now,many oft hem ar e pl anni ng an i naugur alpl ai nt i ffs'bar conf er ence nextweek i n San J uan,compl et e wi t h oceansi de cockt ai l s,aconcer tandaVI Pboatpar t y.

MassTor t sPuer t o Ri co,t o behel d May46att he Condado Vander bi l tHot el ,f eat ur es some oft he bi ggestt opi csi n masst or t s:Roundup,Zant acand

t heJ ohnson&J ohnsont al cum powderbankr upt cy.

But

i t

al so

i ncl udes

a

sessi on

cal l ed

" Pr act i ci ng Law i n Par adi se, "descr i bed as" ever yt hi ngyou need t o know aboutt he t axbenefit sof movi ng t o Puer t o Ri co, "accor di ng t ot he event ' s

websi t e ( ht t ps: / / www. masst or t spuer t or i co. com/ ) .

Mi kalWat t s,whohel pedl auncht heevent ,i soneof sever alpl ai nt i ffs l awyer s who moved t o Puer t o Ri coi nt hepastt woyear s. ' ' The pr i mar yr eason was,COVI D was shut t i ng down al loft he cour t houses, "sai d Wat t s,ofSan Ant oni obasedWat t sGuer r a,whomovedt oPuer t o Ri co i n December2020.' ' Ther ewer eno t r i al s.We al lbecameZoom l awyer sandIr eal i zedt hatf or30 year sI ' ve been t r avel i ng t hr ee and a hal fdaysa weekt obet her e. "

“

Each oft heseat t orneyswas drawn t oPuert oRi cof ori t s comf ort abl ecl i mat e,vi brantcul t ure, andexci t i ngbusi nessopport uni t i es.

PaulNapol iand Hunt erShkol ni k,par t ner satNew Yor k' sNapol iShkol ni k,al so bot hl i staddr essesi n San J uan on cour tdocument s.PaulFar r el l ,who ser ves as col ead counseli nt he opi oi d mul t i di st r i ctl i t i gat i on,i snow atFar r el land Ful l eri n San J uan.Far r el lpr evi ousl y was atGr eene,Ket chum, Far r el l ,Bai l ey& Tweeli nHunt i ngt on, WestVi r gi ni a.

Lastyear ,Shkol ni kandNapol i ,andhi swi f e,Mar i e Napol i , al ong wi t h Wi l l i am Pi nt as of Chi cago' s Pi nt as & Mul l i ns Law,f ounded Tr i alLawyer s of Puer t o Ri co I nc. ,accor di ng t ot he or gani zat i on' s websi t e( ht t ps: / / t r i al l awyer sof pr . or g/ ) .I t ' s one of t heor gani zer sofMassTor t sPuer t oRi co. " Eachoft heseat t or neyswasdr awnt oPuer t oRi co f ori t scomf or t abl ecl i mat e,vi br antcul t ur e,andexci t i ng busi ness oppor t uni t i es, " accor di ng t ot he Mass Tor t s Puer t o Ri co event ' s websi t e."

Upon movi ng t o PR,each f ound a t hr i vi ng pr of essi onal communi t y. "

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3F2oj YA

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|43

NEWSDAY

}

Gr ummanpol l ut edBet hpage' sai r ,t oo, l awsui tal l eges FEBRUARY25,2022

Fordecades,concer nsoverGr umman' sext ensi ve r el easeoft oxi cchemi cal si nBet hpagef ocusedon i mpact st ot hewat er .

Now,a f eder alcl assact i on l awsui t al l eges t he

communi t y' smostsi gni ficantexposur et ocar ci nogenscamenotf r om wat er-ort het ai nt edsoi lata

Gr umman dumpt ur nedpubl i cpar k -butt he ai r .

Lawyer s seeki ng t o cr eat e a medi calmoni t or i ng f und f ort ensoft housandsofpeopl e ar e ar gui ng t hatt he makerofWor l d War11 fight er sand t he Apol l o Lunar Modul e bet ween 1950 and 1994

annual l yr el easedt housandsofpoundsofhexaval entchr omi um andmor et han1mi l l i onpoundsof t r i chl or oet hyl ene,orTCE,i nt ot he at mospher e as

t heyal sol ett hesubst ancesseepi nt ot heaqui f er .

Thenew t heor y,i nt r oducedfiveyear si nt ot hel i t i gat i on agai nst Gr umman' s cor por at e successor , Nor t hr opGr umman,i sspot l i ght i ngt hepr act i ceof usi ng exper t st o pr ove -ordi scr edi t-hi st or i cal pol l ut i on exposur es t hatwer e neverf or mal l yi nvest i gat ed by publ i c heal t h agenci es and ar e no l ongerpr esenti nt he envi r onment .The company sai dt hecasei swi t houtevi dence.

“

Af ederalcl assact i on l awsui t al l egest hecommuni t y' smost si gni ficantexposuret ocarci nogens camenotf rom wat er-ort het ai nt ed soi lataGrumman dumpt urnedpubl i c park-butt heai r.

f or merBet h page f aci l i t y,wher et oxi c chemi cal s

wer e used f or decades as sol vent st o pr oduce

ai r pl anepar t sandot hermachi ner y.

Thesui t ,fil edi n2016,i snewl yal l egi ngt hatr esi -

dent s wer e exposed t ot hese chemi cal s notonl y

vi agr oundwat erandsoi lvapor s,butal sohi st or i cal

ai remi ssi ons,whi ch wer e notr egul ar l yr ecor ded

or wel l r egul at ed bef or e Gr umman' s mi d1990s hal t i ngofmostl ocalpr oduct i on.Gr umman' scor por at e successor ,Nor t hr op Gr umman,says t he casei swi t houtevi dence.

A f eder al magi st r at ej udge, af t er consi der i ng exper tr epor t sf r om t he pl ai nt i ffs and Nor t hr op Gr umman,wi l lr ul e on whet hert o cer t i f yt he sui t as cl ass act i on.Legalexper t s say t hat medi cal moni t or i ngandpr oper t yval uedamagecl assesar e gener al l yeasi ert o est abl i sh t han per sonali nj ur y ones, wher e di r ect i on causat i on bet ween t he cont ami nat i on and r esi dent s'i l l nessesi sneeded.

WHATTO KNOW A cl assact i on l awsui tseekst o cr eat e a medi cal moni t or i ng f und, and obt ai n damages f or l ost pr oper t y val ue,f ort ens oft housands ofpeopl e who l i ve or l i ved i nt he vi ci ni t y of Gr umman' s

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / nws dy. l i / 3kSxOTk

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|44

NBC6SOUTH FLORI DA

}

ManLef tPar al yzedAf t erHol l ywoodPol i ceShoot i ng Cal l sf orPr osecut or st oI nvest i gat e FEBRUARY10,2022

A Sout h Fl or i daman whowasl ef tpar al yzed af t er

apol i ceofficershothi mi nt hebackcal l edf orpr os-

ecut or st oi nvest i gat eand pot ent i al l yfil ecr i mi nal char ges i n connect i on wi t h t he shoot i ng l ast summer .

Mi chaelOr t i zwashavi ngapani cat t ackathi sHol l ywood home on J ul y 3,2021,and cal l ed 911 f or

hel p.Hol l ywood Pol i cer esponded,and i nst ead of ai di nghi m af t erhewasal r eadyl yi ngon t hefloor

and handcuffed,an officershothi m i nt he backpar al yzi nghi mf r om t hewai stdown.

Hol l ywood Pol i ceadmi t t ed t hemi st akei n ast at ementTuesday,sayi ngi n par t ," Ashecont i nued t o r esi st ,an officerdi schar ged hi s fir ear m,st r i ki ng

Mr .Or t i zonce. . .andi ni t i alr evi ew suggestt heofficer i nt ended t o depl oy hi st aser , but i nst ead di schar gedhi sfir ear m. " " Wet hi nkt heBr owar dSt at eAt t or neyshoul dcompl et et he i nvest i gat i on qui ckl y and i dent i f y what cr i mi nall awswer e vi ol at ed and t ake swi f tact i on agai nstanyonewhovi ol at edt hel aw, "sai dHunt er Shkol ni k,whoi soneofOr t i z' sat t or neys.

The Br owar d St at e At t or ney' sOffice sentNBC 6 a st at ementThur sday,sayi ng," The Fl or i da Depar t ment of Law Enf or cement i st he appr opr i at e agency t o conduct t he i nvest i gat i on, whi ch i s al r eadyunder way.

“

Mi chaelOrt i zwashavi ngapani c at t ackathi sHol l ywoodhomeon J ul y3,2021,andcal l ed911f orhel p.

Hol l ywoodPol i ceresponded,andi nst ead ofai di nghi m af t erhewasal readyl yi ng on t hefloorandhandcuffed,an offi cer shothi mi nt heback-paral yzi nghi m f rom t hewai stdown.

FDLEwi l lpr esenti t sfindi ngst ot heBr owar dSt at e

At t or ney' s Office when t hati nvest i gat i on i s com-

pl et ed.Pr osecut or swi l lt hencompl et eat hor ough

r evi ew ofal loft he findi ngsand evi dence bef or e

maki ngadeci si on. "

Tenmont hsagoi nMi nnesot a,vet er anofficerKi m-

ber l y Pot t er shotand ki l l ed 20year ol d Daunt e Wr i ght .Pot t ercl ai med t hatshe meantt o use her t aserbutpul l ed herweapon i nst ead.Pot t erwas convi ct ed on mansl aught erchar gesand i snow i n pr i son. " We hear di tmostr ecent l yi n Br ookl yn Cent er , Mi nnesot a,wher e Ki m Pot t er cl ai med she was goi ngf orhert aserand shotDaunt eWr i ghti nt he chest ,ki l l i nghi m,andnow wehearwi t ht hi spol i ce officerher ei n Hol l ywood t r yi ngt o use t hi s same excuse.I t ' san unj ust i fied useofexcessi vef or ce, " sai d at t or ney Benj ami n Cr ump, who i s al so r epr esent i ngOr t i z.

NBC 6 f ound t he Or t i zt r agedyappear st o be t he 17t hi nst ancei nt heU. S.wher eofficer swhomeant t o use t aser s ended up fir i ng t hei r handguns.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3J j E67W

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|45

LOCAL10.

COM

}

BenCr umpr epr esent smanpar al yzedaf t ercopshot hi m,want svi deor el eased FEBRUARY7,2022

At t or neysBen Cr ump and Hunt erShkol ni kst ood

nextt o Mi chaelOr t i z,a wheel chai rusersi nce a

pol i ce bul l etpi er ced hi sspi ne and hi spancr eas.

Thepol i ceshoot i ngl ef thi m par al yzedonJ ul y3i n Hol l ywood.

“

“Weshoul dn’ thavet obe si t t i ngherefil i ngl awsui t s j ustt ogett hepi ct urest hatanswer t hequest i onsofwhywassomeone shoti nt heback?WhywasMi chael shoti nt heback,l ayi ngon t he ground,handcuffed?”

" Hewashavi ngacr i si s;heneededahel pi nghand.

“ Ei ghtmont hsofMi chaelever ydayt r yi ngt ofigur e

He di dn' tneed abul l eti n hi sspi ne, "Cr ump sai d,

outwhy di dt he pol i ce officer shoothi m i nt he

addi ngt heHol l ywoodPol i ceDepar t mentneedst o

back? ”Cr ump sai d.“ Whyi she par al yzed f orl i f e?

r el easet hevi deooft heshoot i ng.

Whydoeshehaveover$1.

4mi l l i oni nmedi calbi l l s

t hatcont i nue t or i se ever y day? Why woul dt he

Or t i zhad a message f ort he pol i ce officerdur i ng

Hol l ywood Pol i ce Depar t ment cont i nue t o deny

t he newsconf er ence on Monday:" Why?Why di d

t hem t he answer st hatt hey deser ve? The t r ut h

youhavet heneedt oshootme? "

t hatt heydeser ve? ”

Or t i zcal l ed 911 t o ask f orhel p and r epor t ed he

Shkol ni ksai dOr t i z’ sf ami l ydeser vesanswer snow.

was havi ng a ment al heal t h cr i si s. He t ook a showerand wal ked out si det o meetfir str espond-

“ Youshoul dn’ tr equi r el awyer st ogot ocour tt ol et

er s.Af t ert he shoot i ng,officer sr el eased a st at e-

t hecommuni t yknow whysomeoneget sshoti nt he

mentdescr i bi ngOr t i zasa" combat i vesubj ect "and

back, whi l e t hey’ r e l ayi ng handcuffed, naked, ”

r epor t edt her ewasast r uggl e.

Shkol ni ksai d.“ Weshoul dn’ thavet obesi t t i ngher e fil i ngl awsui t sj ustt o gett hepi ct ur est hatanswer

" Hewasf acedown.Hewashandcuffed.Theyhad

t he quest i ons ofwhy was someone shoti nt he

t wot aser s,onei neachshoul der , "sai dCynt hi aUr -

back?WhywasMi chaelshoti nt heback,l ayi ngon

qui dez,Or t i z' ssi st er ."

Whatwast hepoi ntoft hem

t hegr ound,handcuffed? ”

shoot i ngatmybr ot her ? "

The Hol l ywood Pol i ce Depar t mentdi dn’ tr espond The Fl or i da Depar t mentofLaw Enf or cementwas

t o quest i onsaboutt hest at usoft hepol i ceofficer

st i l li nvest i gat i ngt heshoot i ngonMonday.

i nvol ved.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3Yq5OUK

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

I N THEPRESS|46

THEHI LL

}

For mi dabl el egalbarshi el dsmi l i t ar y f r om PFASl awsui t s J ANUARY27,2022

Mi l i t ar yi nst al l at i onsar e a maj orsour ce ofcommuni t ycont ami nat i onf r om acl assoft oxi cchemi -

cal scal l edPFAS,butt r yi ngt ohol dt heDef enseDepar t mentaccount abl ecan bef or mi dabl eduet oa l abyr i nt hofl egall i mi t at i ons.

“

Whi l et herearet housandsof PFASvari et i es,t het womost researchedt ypesarecal l edPFOS andPFOA.

Mar kFavor s,an act i vi stand nur seor i gi nal l yf r om

ButFavor ssai dt hatt he l egalhur dl esassoci at ed

Col or adoSpr i ngs,hasseenmanyf ami l ymember s,

wi t hchal l engi ngt hemi l i t ar yi ncour t ,aswel last he

i ncl udi ng hi s gr andmot her ,di ef r om cancer —

mi ni malchangest hatdoi ng so coul d effect ,have

whi ch he bel i evesr esul t ed f r om t he di schar ge of

det er r edhi mf r om t r yi ngt osuet heDepar t mentof

PFAS,per andpol yfluor oal kylsubst ances,f r om t he

Def ense( DOD) .

near byPet er sonAi rFor ceBase.

“ Sayyoucoul dfil eal awsui t— whatcoul dwer eal l y

These socal l ed “ f or everchemi cal s, ”dubbed such

get t hat woul d pr event t hi sf r om happeni ng? I

due t ot hei rpr opensi t yt ol i ngeri nt he envi r on-

t hi nki t ’ sso compl exofan i ssue, ”Favor st ol d The

ment ,ar epr esenti n avar i et yofhousehol d pr od-

Hi l l .“ To me,especi al l ymygr andma,t her e’ sr eal l y

uct sbutar emostwel l knownf ort hei rpr esencei n

nofinanci alamountt hatcoul dcompensat emef or

aqueousfil mf or mi ngf oam ( AFFF) ,usedt ofightj et

t hi s,so Ij ust don’ t see how i t woul d be t hat

f uelfir es on mi l i t ar y bases and ci vi l i an ai r por t s.

benefici al . ”

PFAS ar el i nked t o ki dneycancer ,t hyr oi d di sease andot heri l l nesses.

Nonet hel ess,Favor si sf r ust r at edt hatnopr act i cal met hodexi st sf orhol di ngt heDef enseDepar t ment

Whi l et her e ar et housandsofPFAS var i et i es,t he

r esponsi bl ef ori t sact i ons,st r essi ngt hat“ weneed

t wo mostr esear ched t ypes ar e cal l ed PFOS and

congr essi onalaccount abi l i t y. ”

PFOA.

Favor s,whonow wor ksi nani nt ensi vecar euni ti n SomeofFavor s’ sl i vi ngr el at i veshavesi gnedont o

New Yor k,al so ser ved asa nur se i nt he mi l i t ar y

mul t i di st r i ctl i t i gat i on ( MDL)t aki ng pl ace agai nst

andwasr ai sedi nElPasoCount y,Col o. ,“ ar ounda

t he compani es t hat pr oduced t hese chemi cal s.

l ar gel ovi ngf ami l y,manyofwhom ar eU. S.mi l i t ar y vet er ans, ” he sai d i n 2019 House t est i mony.

READ FULLARTI CLEATht t ps : / / bi t . l y/ 3I WVMEK

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

Gi vi ngBack Napol iShkol ni kpr oudl y suppor t st hecommuni t i es t hatwer epr esent .

WESTRONGLYBELI EVEi nor gani zat i ons t hatencour ageeducat i onaloppor t uni t i es, pr ovi det hei nspi r at i onalt ool sneededf or t r uepr ogr essandt henr ecogni zet he achi evement s.

I nar api dl ychangi ngandchal l engi ngwor l d, wet hi nki ti si mpor t antt osuppor tposi t i ve devel opmentandgoal s.Wear ehappyt o pr ovi deassi st ancet oor gani zat i onsi nor der t or eal i zet hei rMi ssi onsofhel pi ng i ndi vi dual s,nei ghbor hoodsand communi t i es.

NATI ONALSEPTEMBER11 MEMORI ALAND MUSEUM A hi st or i cali nst i t ut i onhonor i ngt hevi ct i ms andexami ni ng9/ 11andi t scont i nuedgl obal si gni ficance.AsaBoar dMember ,Pauli sver y i nvol vedi nr eal i zi ngt heor gani zat i on’ smessage ofvol unt eer i sm,educat i onandr emembr ance.

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

GI VI NG BACK |48

9/ 11Memor i al5KRun/ Wal k Thefir mi sal wayspr oudt obeaMi l eMar ker sponsor !Ourfir mt eamspar t i ci pat easr unner s andwal ker satt heeventandl ocal l yi nt hei r homet owns.

Bi deawee® Napol iShkol ni kwashappyt odonat enumer ous l ar geboxesoff ood,t oys,suppl i es,andmor et o Bi deawee’ sNew Yor kCi t yl ocat i on.Thecompassi onat est aff wor kst or escue,car ef orandpl ace homel esscat sanddogswi t hpeopl ewhowi l ll ove t hem.

AnnualFoodDr i ve Ever yyeareachoft hefir m’ sofficel ocat i ons or gani zesaf ooddr i vet osuppor tal ocalsoup ki t chen,meal sonwheelpr ogr am orshel t er .

Wewer eabl et odonat eover30l ar geboxesf ul l ofnonper i shabl ei t emsl astyearandwehope t hegener osi t yonl ycont i nuest ogr ow.

BoneMar r ow Foundat i on TheBoneMar r ow Foundat i on( BMF)hel psf ami l i es i mpr ovet hei roddsoffindi ngadonorandr ecei ve t henecessar ysuppor tast hei rl ovedoner ecei ves t r eat ment .WhenPaulNapol iwasdi agnosedwi t h l eukemi aandwast ol dheneedal i f esavi ngbone mar r ow t r anspl ant ,t heBMFpr ovi dedi nf or mat i on

Amer i canRedCr oss: Her oesAmongUsGal a Napol iShkol ni kwaspr oudt obepar toft hi s event ,whi chr ecogni zedci vi cl eader sandher oi c i ndi vi dual swhoembodyt hehumani t ar i an mi ssi on.

andsuppor t .

Chi nat ownI mmi gr at i on, Educat i onandHeal t hFai r I nconj unct i onwi t ht heChi neseChamberof Commer ceNew Yor k,Napol iShkol ni kwasabl e t oassi sti nr ai si ngawar enessf ort hecommuni t y

TheAssoci at i onofFor mer Agent soft heU. S.Secr et Ser vi ce,I nc.( AFAUSSS) Thi si sachar i t abl eandbenevol entor gani zat i on compr i sedoff or merandcur r entempl oyeesof t heU. S.Secr etSer vi ce.I tst r i vest osuppor t si t s member sandt hei rcommuni t i est hr ough schol ar shi ps,gr ant sandawar ds.Wear e honor edt obepar tofr eal i zi ngt hei rMi ssi on

r egar di ngheal t hyl i vi ng,l egalassi st anceand soci alser vi ces.

Col umbusCi t i zens Foundat i on Thefir m st r ongl ybel i evesi neducat i onalschol ar shi pssot hatnoqual i fiedst udenti sdeni edan educat i onbecauseoffinanci alneed.

ofpr ovi di ngval uet ot hei rmember sandal so t hegener alpubl i c.

Doct or sofDi st i nct i on Thi sdi st i ngui shedor gani zat i oncol l abor at edwi t h t heAmer i canCancerSoci et yt ohostanout st andi ngevent .Napol iShkol ni kwaspr oudt oat t end andsponsort heeveni ng.

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

GI VI NG BACK |49

FDNYFi r eFami l y Tr anspor tFoundat i on

Ment alHeal t hAssoci at i on ofNassauCount y

Thei rMi ssi oni st oassi stfir efight er sandt hei r

Wear egl adt hatwecanmakeadi ffer encewi t h

f ami l i esbypr ovi di ngt r anspor t at i ont oandf r om

t heMHA,whi chi sanot f or pr ofitmember shi p

medi cali nst i t ut i ons.Thi snonpr ofitFoundat i oni s

or gani zat i ondedi cat edt oi mpr ovi ngment al

al l vol unt eerandwecoul dnotbemor epr oudt o

heal t hi nt hecommuni t yt hr oughadvocacy,

suppor tt hei rcause.

educat i on,pr ogr am devel opment .

Hi spani cFeder at i on-Puer t oRi co wesuppor tt hei rst r ongandposi t i vei mpacton

NassauCount yLaw Enf or cementExpl or i ng Pr ogr am

t hei sl andasseeni nt hei rAdvocacyser vi ces,

Thi syout hpr ogr am emphasi zesCar eerOppor t u-

I nsuppor t i ngt heor gani zat i on' sFi est aBenéfica,

Communi t yAssi st ancePr ogr ams,Educat i onal

ni t i es,Li f eSki l l s,Ci t i zenshi p,Char act erEducat i on

Tr ai ni ngs,andmor e.

andLeader shi pExper i ence.I ti sr ewar di ngt osee par t i ci pant sbl ossom wi t ht hesechar act er i st i cs.

LongI sl andGoRedf orWomen nessofcar di ovascul ardi seaseandr i skf act or s

New Yor kCi t y Mar at hon

par t i cul ar l yast heyappl yt owomenandt hefir m

I nhonorofPaul ’ sfightagai nstl eukemi aandt o

Thi sor gani zat i onseekst oi ncr easepubl i cawar e-

i shappyt obei nvol vedi nsuchawor t hymessage.

suppor tt hef ami l i esofot herpat i ent s,Mar i e col l ect edover$50, 000i npl edgest osuppor tt he f oundat i on’ spr ogr ammi ngbycompl et i ng

I t al i anHer i t age& Cul t ur e Commi t t eeofNew Yor k,I nc.

Thefir mi shappyt osuppor tt heI HHCNY’ scont i nui ngeffor t sofpr ovi di ngconcer t s,exhi bi t s,and l ect ur esoft heI t al i ancul t ur et ot hecommuni t y.

t he2015NYCMar at hon.

New Yor kCi t yPancr eat i c CancerResear chWal k Bysuppor t i ngt hi sevent ,Napol iShkol ni khel ps t oadvancet hesci ent i ficandmedi calr esear ch

LongI sl andSchool ofChi nese

r el at edt ot hedi agnosi s,t r eat mentandcur e ofpancr eat i ccancer .

Napol iShkol ni kwi l lbehost i ngeducat i onalsemi nar satt heLI SOC,anonpr ofiti nst i t ut i ont hat wor kst obr i ngr i chcul t ur alpr ogr amsandact i vi t i est ot hecommuni t y.

NAPOLISHKOLNI K

2023LEGALREPORT

GI VI NG BACK |50

New Yor kCi t y Pol i ceMuseum

St .J ohn’ sUni ver si t y Pr esi dent ’ sDi nner

Thefir mi sact i vel ycommi t t edt ohel pi ngt he

Thefir mi spr oudt obeanannualSponsoroft he

Museum r eal i zei t sMi ssi ont opr eser vet he

AnnualPr esi dent ’ sdi nner ;aneventcommi t t edt o

hi st or yoft heNew Yor kCi t yPol i ceDepar t ment

r ai si ngschol ar shi pmoneyi nor dert opr ovi de

t hr ougheducat i onalpr ogr ammi ngand

financi alassi st ancet odeser vi ngst udent s.

exhi bi t i ons.

SomosPuer t oRi co Penci l :Tr ansf or mi ng School s.Toget her ®

Thi seventbr i ngshundr edsofmember sofNew Yor k' spol i t i calcommuni t yt oget heri nonepl ace

Wear eexci t edt obesuppor t i ngt hi sor gani zat i on,

t onet wor k,soci al i ze,andst r at egi ze.Thefir m was

whi chcr eat esi nnovat i veandi mpact f ulmodel s

apr oudsponsoroft hi sconf er ence.

ofcol l abor at i onbet weent hebusi nessand educat i oncommuni t i esbybr i ngi ngschool needsandbusi nessexper t i set oget her .

Uni f or medFi r efight er sAssoci at i on TheUFAi sanonpr ofitadvocacyor gani zat i on r epr esent i ngt heheal t h,saf et yandi nt er est sof

ThePol i ceAt hl et i c League( NYC)

New Yor kCi t yFi r efight er sandt heci t i zenst hey ar eswor nt opr ot ect .

Wear epr oudsuppor t er soft hi snot f or pr ofit or gani zat i on’ sbel i eft hat“ youngpeopl e’ s i ndi vi dualst r engt hsandcapabi l i t i escangui de t hem t omat ur e,pr oduct i veadul t hood”wi t h

Uni t edWay

encour agementandcommi t ment .

Bysuppor t i ngt hi sevent ,t hefir m hel psUni t ed Wayr eal i zet hei rMi ssi onofhel pi ngmember sof t hecommuni t yfindser vi cesandassi st anceas

Pul askiFoundat i on Par ade

t heynavi gat et hr oughdai l yl i f e.

Napol iShkol ni kj oi nedi ncongr at ul at i ngt he 81stPul askiDayPar adeGr andMar shal land subsequentPul askiPar adeBanquet .

NAPOLI LAW. COM

2023LEGALREPORT

MI SSI ON The Tr i al Lawyer s of Puer t o Ri co i s a di ver se gr oup of l awyer s who ar e commi t t edt obr i ngi ngt oget hert het op l egalmi ndsi n MassTor tand Per sonal I nj ur y.

Ourmi ssi on i st odevel op r i ch par t ner shi psamong ourmember s– many of whom ar er espect ed l eader si nt hei r ar eaofexper t i se–t ocr eat eeducat i onal oppor t uni t i esandexponent i alval uef or each member ,t hei r cl i ent s,and t he peopl eofPuer t oRi co.

PaulandMar i eNapol iandHunt erShkol ni kar eamong t heFoundi ngMember soft heTr i alLawyer sofPuer t oRi co.

Si ncef or mi ngi n2021,TLPRhasbecome knownf orhost i ngexci t i ng,col l abor at i veevent sf ormember s,i ncl udi ngt he oneof i t ski ndMassTor t sPuer t oRi co Conf er ence.I ni t ssecondyear ,MTPR pr ovi dest heoppor t uni t yt onet wor k, soci al i z e,gai nexper i enceandpossi bl y l ear nanew ski l l set .Theshor t f or mat semi nar sf ocusonemer gi ngt or t s, cur r ent l yact i vedocket sandl ead gener at i ont echni quesandat t endees ear nCLEGener alandEt hi cscr edi t s.

OurMi ssi on i st ohel pour cl i ent s,whet hert heybef ami l i es, government sorcompani es,cope wi t ht hei rl ossesandt hei rl egalneeds.

West r i vet oachi evet hebestpossi bl eout comef orour cl i ent sandpr ovi deanunpar al l el edl evelofser vi ce.

Weaccompl i sht hi sbyf ost er i ngaconfidentcl i ent f ocused wor kenvi r onmentwi t hmot i vat edempl oyeeswher e cooper at i ont hr i vesandi nnovat i oni sr ewar ded.

( 866)2680317 360LEXI NGTON AVENUE,11TH FLOOR NEW YORK,NEW YORK10017

OfficesNat i onwi de|

NAPOLI LAW. COM