At the forefront of Opioid epidemic litigation both in New Jersey and nationally, Carella Byrne currently represents a number of counties and cities in litigation against manufacturers, distributors, and certain retailers of prescription opioids who, by their fraudulent and deceptive conduct, contributed to the on-going opioid crisis.
- In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation, MDL No. 2804 (N.D. Ohio), which now consists of more than 3,000 cases related to the opioid crisis, Carella Byrne’s attorneys are deeply committed to seeking justice for all those harmed by the opioid prescription public health crisis.
- James E. Cecchi oversees Carella Byrne’s Opioid litigation team and also serves on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee.
- Carella Byrne Partners Zach Bower, David Gilfillan, and Michael Innes were members of the successful trial team representing bellwethers Summit and Lake Counties in Ohio in the In re National Prescription Opioid Litigation, MDL 2804, where a federal jury found that three pharmacy chains played a key role in feeding the opioid crisis in Lake and Trumbull counties, a verdict that is the first in the nation involving the dispensing of prescription painkillers.
- As part of the litigation effort, over $26 billion has been set aside by opioid manufacturers and distributors for municipalities throughout the United States.