Leslie Mitchell Kroeger has committed her professional life to seeking justice for those who have suffered a loss or their sense of hope. A highly accomplished trial attorney, she represents clients in matters involving complex, high-profile environmental toxic tort litigation, qui tam, human rights, and product liability.
Leslie has achieved multiple multi-million-dollar trial verdicts and settlement for her clients. An advocate for child safety, Leslie helped lead the charge for child seat safety in Florida resulting in the passage of SB 518, a state law requiring children under age five to be secured in federally approved child-restraint devices. Since 2012, she has been the force behind Cohen Milstein’s partnership with Safe Kids of Palm Beach County during which time the firm has donated more than 1,100 car and booster seats to area families.
Leslie began her legal career in the courtroom as an Assistant Public Defender for the 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida and later became an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County, Florida. She then moved into private practice where she continues to handle a variety of complex civil litigation before state and federal courts in Florida and nationwide.
- American Association for Justice
- The Florida Bar
- Florida Justice Association
- Palm Beach County Justice Association
- Florida Association for Women Lawyers
- Past-President of the Council of Presidents, American Association for Justice
- Past-President, Florida Justice Association
- Professional Ethics Committee Member, Florida Bar (2022-present)
- President Elect, Florida Justice Association (2018-2019)
- Executive Committee Member, Florida Justice Association, 2011-2020
- Prior Board Member, Past-President and Founder, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Martin County Chapter
- Women’s Caucus Chair, Florida Justice Association (2011-2012)
- Coalition Member, Safe Kids Palm Beach County
- Board of Directors, Communities Connected for Kids
- Prior Board Member, Guardians for New Futures
- Florida
- Cumberland School of Law, J.D., 1993
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.S., 1990
Current Cases
Bains, et al. v. American Tactical, Inc.
Bains, et al. v. American Tactical, Inc., et al. (W.D.N.Y.): On April 13, 2023, Cohen Milstein and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence filed a negligence, public nuisance and unlawful marketing lawsuit against American Tactical, Inc. and others involved in the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of the 60-round high-capacity magazine (HCM) used by the perpetrator in a deadly mass shooting on April 15, 2021 at a FedEx Ground Package facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tragically, thirteen people were shot during the attack. Eight died. At least five other people were injured.
Bains, et al. v. Securitas Security Services, USA, Inc.
Bains, et al. v. Securitas Security Services, USA, Inc. (S.D. Ind.): On April 13, 2023, Cohen Milstein filed a personal injury and wrongful death lawsuit against Securitas Security Services, USA, Inc. (Securitas) for its role in the deadly mass shooting that occurred on April 15, 2021 at the FedEx Ground Package facility on Mirabel Road in Indianapolis, Indiana. Securitas provided security guard services to the FedEx Ground facility.
Cape Fear River, NC Water Contamination Litigation: Carey v. The Chemours Company FC, LLC et al.
Cape Fear River Contaminated Water Litigation (E.D.N.C.): Cohen Milstein is Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel in a series of five putative environmental toxic tort class actions filed against E.I. DuPont de Nemours Company and The Chemours Company for knowingly discharging PFAS, such as GenX, and other “forever chemicals” into the Cape Fear River, one of North Carolina’s principal drinking water sources.
Edenville and Sanford Dam Failure Litigation
Edenville and Sanford Dam Failure Litigation (Mich. Crt. of Claims; Cir. Crt., Cty. Saginaw, Mich.): On June 24, 2020, Cohen Milstein filed two separate property damage lawsuits against Michigan State Government agencies, including the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy and Michigan Department of Natural Resources for blatantly mismanaging and failing to properly maintain the Edenville and Sandford dams, which catastrophically failed on May 19, 2020. Cohen Milstein is representing more than 300 residents and businesses in Midland County and Saginaw County, Michigan and the surrounding areas, including, Arenac, Gladwin, and Iosco counties.
Edwards v. Tesla, Inc.
Edwards v. Tesla (Sup. Crt. Cal., Alameda Cnty.): On June 25, 2020, Cohen Milstein filed a product liability lawsuit against Tesla, Inc. on behalf of Kristian and Jason Edwards. Ms. Edwards sustained catastrophic injuries as a result of the failure of the airbags to deploy in her Tesla Model 3 during an accident.
Edwards, et al. v. CSX Transportation, et al.
On March 2, 2021, Judge Terrence W. Boyle of the United State District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina Southern Division appointed Cohen Milstein’s Theodore J. Leopold as Interim Co-Lead Counsel in this putative class action against CSX Corporation. In addition, Cohen Milstein’s Leslie M. Kroeger was appointed to the Interim Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. […]
Flint Water Crisis Class Action Litigation
On November 10, 2021, Judge Judith E. Levy of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan granted final approval of a landmark $626.25 million settlement resulting from the class action and individual lawsuits brought on behalf of more than 90,000 Flint residents and businesses against multiple governmental defendants, including the State of Michigan, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and individual defendants, including former Governor Rick Snyder, for their roles in re-directing toxic levels of contaminated water from the Flint River into the City’s drinking water in an effort to save money and their subsequent efforts to try to cover up the crisis.
In re Chiquita Brands International Inc. Litigation
Cohen Milstein represents hundreds of Colombian citizens who allege that they or their family members were victims of torture or extrajudicial killing committed by the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), a paramilitary group designated by the United States government as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” during armed conflict in Colombia in the 1990s and early 2000s. The victims included labor organizers, elected officials, and activists on Chiquita’s banana plantations. Plaintiffs allege that the deaths of their relatives were a direct and foreseeable result of Chiquita’s financial support of the AUC. The case is proceeding under Colombian law against Chiquita and under the U.S. Torture Victim Protection Act against individual Chiquita executives and board members.
Miramar Water Litigation
If you believe your home was damaged due to the negligence of the City of Miramar and the malpractice of its consultants, please call us at 561-515-1400 or complete our contact form. On April 5, 2023, Cohen Milstein filed Antezana, et al. v. Kimley Horn, et al. ( Cir. Crt. Broward Cnty.), an environmental toxic […]
Ratha, et al v. Phatthana Seafood Co
Ratha, et al v. Phatthana Seafood Co. (C.D. Cal.): Cohen Milstein is representing seven Cambodian plaintiffs in a cross-border human rights lawsuit involving human trafficking, forced labor, involuntary servitude, and peonage by factories in Thailand that produce shrimp and seafood for export to the United States.
Reed, et al. v. USA – Chimney Tops 2 Fire
Cohen Milstein is representing plaintiffs in a wrongful death and property damage mass action against the United States Department of Interior and National Park Service (NPS) for the negligence of its employees to perform their duties during The Chimney Tops 2 Fire in Tennessee, which originated in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and ultimately damaged or destroyed 2,500 homes, buildings and other structures, and killed more than a dozen people.
U.S.A. v. Janssen Biotech, Inc.
U.S.A. v. Janssen Biotech, Inc. (D. Mass.): Cohen Milstein represents the plaintiff-relator in a whistleblower/qui tam lawsuit against Janssen Biotech (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson), alleging that the manufacturer of the rheumatoid arthritis drugs Remicade and Simponi ARIA violated federal law by engaging in a scheme through which it provided physicians free practice management and infusion business consulting services over an extended period to induce the physicians to purchase Remicade and Simponi ARIA and administer these drugs to patients, including Medicare beneficiaries, via infusions performed in their offices.
Underwood v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook)
Underwood v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook) (State Crt., Cal.): Cohen Milstein filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Angela Underwood Jacobs, the sister of slain federal security officer Dave Patrick Underwood, against Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly Facebook. On May 29, 2020, Officer Underwood was providing security at a federal courthouse during a rally to protest the killing of George Floyd. According to documents filed in federal criminal proceedings, Officer Underwood was the victim of a drive-by shooting by Steven Carrillo and his accomplice, Robert Alvin Justus, Jr., who identify as boogaloo adherents, part of an extremist movement that advocates targeted violence against federal officers. Plaintiff alleges that by connecting users to extremist groups, including Officer Underwood’s killers who met through Facebook where they hatched their extremist plot to target and kill federal officers, and promoting inflammatory, divisive, and untrue content, the company bears responsibility for the tragic murder of Officer Underwood.
Walmart Litigation
Walmart Litigation: Litigation against Walmart Stores has been ongoing since June 2001, in an effort dedicated to ensuring that millions of women who have worked for Walmart over the years receive equal pay and an equal chance at promotion.
Past Cases
Caterpillar, Inc. Engine Products Liability Litigation
Caterpillar Product Liability Litigation (D.N.J.): Cohen Milstein was co-lead counsel in a nationwide product liability class action lawsuit alleging Caterpillar sold diesel engines with defective exhaust emissions system that resulted in power losses and shutdowns. The case was settled in September 2016 for $60 million.
ExxonMobil -Villagers of Aceh Litigation
Doe, Aceh, Indonesia v. ExxonMobil Corporation (D.D.C.): Cohen Milstein represented eleven villagers from Aceh, Indonesia, who alleged that they or their relatives endured horrific human rights abuses, including murder, torture, sexual violence, and kidnapping, at the hands of Indonesian soldiers contracted by ExxonMobil to guard its oil operations in the region. On May 15, 2023, a week before a jury trial was to start and after 20 years of litigation, the case settled. Although the case was litigated in U.S. federal court, Indonesian law applied to Plaintiffs’ claims and was applied by the Court. The case set numerous legal precedents during its 20-year history, during which it saw two trips to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals (decided January 2007 and July 2011) and one to the Supreme Court (certiorari was denied in 2008). Each time, novel issues of foreign policy impact, extraterritorial jurisdiction, and choice of law were briefed and considered by the Court of Appeals. In August 2022, months before trial, the Court largely denied ExxonMobil’s motion for summary judgment, finding most of its arguments “entirely meritless.”
Herrera et al v. JFK Medical Center Limited Partnership and HCA, Inc.
Herrera v. JFK Medical Center and HCA, Inc. (M.D. Fla.): Cohen Milstein was lead counsel in a class action lawsuit alleging that four Florida plaintiffs and others like them were billed inflated and exorbitant fees for emergency radiology services, in excess of the amount allowed by law, covered in part by their mandatory Florida Personal Injury Protection insurance. When the district court struck plaintiffs’ class claims, Ms. Martin successfully petitioned the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to accept immediate appellate review and obtained a reversal of the district court’s order. Cohen Milstein resolved the case and secured final approval of a $220 million injunctive relief settlement.
Lindsay X-LITE Guardrail End Terminal Litigation
Lindsay X-LITE Guardrail End Terminal Litigation: Cohen Milstein represented a number of families of decedents and victims of catastrophic injuries in a series of individual products liability, wrongful death and catastrophic injury lawsuits in Tennessee and South Carolina state courts against the Lindsay Corporation and several related entities for designing, manufacturing, selling, and installing defective, X-Lite guardrails on state roadways.
Mincey v. Takata
Mincey v. Takata (Cir. Crt., Duval Cnty., Fla.): Cohen Milstein was lead counsel in a lawsuit brought on behalf of Patricia Mincey and her family, a Florida woman who sustained catastrophic injuries that rendered her a quadriplegic in 2014 when the driver’s side airbag in her Honda Civic deployed too aggressively during a collision due to a product defect. Patricia Mincey passed away in early 2016 due to complications from her quadriplegia. The suit charged that Takata, the manufacturer of the airbag system, knew of the airbag defect and hid the problem from consumers. When the defendants removed Ms. Mincey’s case to federal court in an attempt to have it bogged down in multi-district litigation, Cohen Milstein successfully had the case remanded to Florida state court, where it is was resolved in July 2016.
Paz-Orjales v. Ford Motor Company
Paz-Orjales v. Ford Motor Company: In Septemeber 2018, Cohen Milstein successfully settled a catastrophic injury lawsuit against Ford Motor Company. Our client, Mr. Paz-Orjales, asserted that due to a defective design, the roof of the Ford truck, in which he was a passenger, collapsed and crushed him during a roll over accident, resulting in his quadriplegia.
Quinteros, et al. v. DynCorp, et al.
Quinteros, et al. v. DynCorp, et al. (D.D.C.): Cohen Milstein represented over 2,000 Ecuadorian farmers and their families who suffered physical injuries and property damage as a result of aerial spraying of toxic herbicides on or near their land by DynCorp, a U.S. government contractor. A bellwether trial on behalf of the first six Ecuadorian clients came to a conclusion in April 2017, when the ten-person jury unanimously determined that DynCorp was responsible for the conduct of the pilots with whom it had subcontracted to conduct the chemical spraying after April 2003. This resolution allowed for a successful case settlement.
Saori Yamauchi, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al.
Saori Yamauchi, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al. (Cir. Crt., Dutchess Cty., N.Y.): Cohen Milstein and local New York co-counsel resolved a product liability and personal injury lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corporation, Autoliv, and related entities on behalf of Saori Yamauchi. Mrs. Yamauchi sustained a catastrophic injury during an accident in her Toyota Sienna as a result of the vehicle’s airbag system deploying in a dangerous manner.
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2020-2024)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America (2019-2023)
- Legal 500 Leading Lawyers – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions (2023)
- Legal 500 Dispute Resolution: Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Plaintiff (2018-2023)
- Super Lawyers (2016-2024)
- The National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers Environmental Protection (2019, 2021)
- Best Lawyers in America (2016-2023)
- Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs, West Palm Beach, FL (2018)
- Daily Business Review Distinguished Leader (2018, 2020)
- Palm Beach Illustrated Top Lawyers (2018-2023)
- Florida Trend Legal Elite (2016, 2018, 2021)
- Florida Justice Association Women’s Caucus Ruth Bader Ginsberg Award (2023)
- Florida Justice Association’s B.J. and Tom Masterson Award for Professionalism (2021)
- Florida Justice Association Cornerstone Award (2017-2019)
- Florida Justice Association Champion of Consumer Safety Award (2015)
February 1, 2024
Flint Property Owners Reach Class Action Settlement with Water Engineering Firm Veolia North America
On February 1, 2024, Flint Michigan property owners, businesses, and adults, reached a $25 million settlement with Veolia North America (VNA), the last private engineering firm Flint residents were seeking to hold accountable for its role in the devastating Flint water crisis. This settlement brings the total amount of the settlements reached on behalf of plaintiffs in the Flint Water Crisis cases to over $655 million. The case, a certified environmental water contamination class action, was scheduled to go to jury trial on February 13, 2024.
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
January 30, 2024
Leslie Kroeger to Speak on Leadership in State Legal Associations
Leslie Kroeger, co-chair of the Complex Tort Litigation practice, has been invited to speak on a panel during the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus Leadership Summit at the 2024 American Association for Justice’s Winter Convention in Austin, TX on Friday, February 9, 2024. The members of the panel, Going Big at Home: Making an Impact […]
Events | American Association for Justice
October 5, 2023
Cohen Milstein and Susman Godfrey Help Cape Fear River Residents Win Class Certification in PFAS Toxic Tort Class Action Against Chemours and DuPont
COHEN MILSTEIN AND SUSMAN GODFREY HELP CAPE FEAR RIVER RESIDENTS WIN CLASS CERTIFICATION IN PFAS TOXIC TORT CLASS ACTION AGAINST CHEMOURS AND DUPONT More than 770,000 North Carolinians were exposed to toxic “forever chemicals” in their drinking water while Chemours and DuPont misled officials about toxic material disposal Cape Fear, N.C. – A federal judge […]
Press Releases
May 15, 2023
Indonesian Villagers Achieve Settlement from ExxonMobil on Eve of Human Rights Trial and After Two Decades of Litigation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: cohenmilstein@berlinrosen.com Indonesian Villagers Achieve Settlement from ExxonMobil on Eve of Human Rights Trial and After Two Decades of Litigation In an August 2022 Decision on the Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court Ruled that the Majority of ExxonMobil’s Arguments were “Entirely Meritless” WASHINGTON, D.C. – Eleven villagers who alleged that they […]
In the News
April 14, 2023
Michigan Says It Had No Control Over Failed Dam
The state of Michigan told an appeals panel Wednesday that it can’t be on the hook for property damage caused by the 2020 Edenville Dam failure, arguing that property owners are using a ploy to try to get around government immunity because the dam’s private owner went bankrupt. Nathan Gambill, an assistant attorney general representing […]
In the News | Law360
April 14, 2023
Indianapolis FedEx Shooting Victims Sue Over Magazine Size
A group of victims and families of victims of the April 15, 2021, mass shooting at an Indianapolis FedEx facility on Thursday sued the distributor of the 60-round magazine used in the attack, saying it recklessly advertised the magazine in a way that encouraged such a shooting. In the 54-page complaint in New York federal […]
In the News | Law360
April 13, 2023
FedEx Mass Shooting Victims, Families File Lawsuit Against Gun Distributor
Victims and families of victims of the 2021 Indianapolis FedEx mass shooting filed a lawsuit Thursday against American Tactical Inc. the distributor of the magazine used in the mass shooting, where 13 people were shot, eight fatally. The 19-year-old suspect was a previous employee at the FedEx Ground station who died by suicide inside the […]
In the News | Indianapolis Star
April 13, 2023
Victims of the 2021 Indianapolis FedEx Mass Shooting File Lawsuit Against American Tactical, Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: cohenmilstein@berlinrosen.com Victims Allege American Tactical, Inc. Unlawfully Marketed the High Capacity Magazine Used in the FedEx Mass Shooting That Killed Eight ROCHESTER, NEW YORK (April 13, 2023) – Today, victims and families of victims of the 2021 Indianapolis FedEx mass shooting filed a lawsuit against American Tactical, Inc., the distributor […]
Press Releases | Cohen Milstein
April 13, 2023
High-Capacity Magazine Supplier Sued in FedEx Mass Shooting
The son of a man killed in a 2021 mass shooting at an Indianapolis FedEx facility filed a federal lawsuit Thursday with two of the survivors against the distributor of the 60-round magazine used by the gunman, alleging the use of reckless marketing tactics targeting young men at risk for violent behavior. The lawsuit — […]
In the News | AP
April 5, 2023
Cohen Milstein Brings Class Action Suit Against City of Miramar and Private Engineering Firms for Failure to Properly Treat Water Resulting in Massive Property Damages
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2023 Press Contact: cohenmilstein@berlinrosen.com Class Action Suit Brought Against City of Miramar and Private Engineering Firms for Failure to Properly Treat Water Resulting in Massive Property Damages Residents of Miramar, Florida claim that the City neglected to correctly treat their water, ultimately corroding their pipes, leading to devastating financial consequences for […]
In the News
March 10, 2023
Janssen Must Hand Over Records In Kickback Case
Janssen Biotech Inc. must hand over its communications with federal agencies regarding a former employee’s claims filed on behalf of the government that the company paid doctors kickbacks to boost its drug sales, a Boston federal judge ordered. Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley settled a crossfire of discovery motions in an order Thursday […]
In the News | Law360
February 22, 2023
Leslie Kroeger and Laura Posner Invited to Speak at Epiq’s Mass and Class Summit 2023
Leslie Kroeger will speak on the panel “Hot Topics in Class Actions” and Laura Posner will speak on the panel “Securities Class Actions” on March 1 during the Epiq Mass and Class Summit 2023 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The three-day summit includes court appointed neutrals, judges and some of the best plaintiff and defense attorneys who […]
Events
February 17, 2023
Boosting Safety in Palm Beach County
Our Complex Tort Litigation team, co-chaired by Leslie M. Kroeger, is proud to once again partner with Safe Kids of Palm Beach County for our bi-annual booster seat and car seat giveaway this Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the Boynton Beach Fire Rescue – Station 5 in Boynton Beach, Florida. Saturday, February 25, 2023 9:30 […]
Events
December 16, 2022
Janssen Thwarting Docs Order in Kickback Suit, Court Told
Pharmaceutical giant Janssen is refusing to comply with previous orders for discovery, impeding the progress of a suit alleging that it paid kickbacks to doctors to boost sales of certain drugs, attorneys for a relator told a Massachusetts federal judge Thursday. In a memorandum to U.S. District Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor, relator Julie Long […]
In the News | Law360
September 16, 2022
Reaction to Chemours’ Scheduled Public Information Sessions on Facility Expansion
Chemours wants to expand its manufacturing facility in Bladen County. The company is scheduled to hold two public information meetings to give people an opportunity to learn more about the planned expansion, but some local environment protection organizations are not pleased with the company’s plans. Ahead of the planned sessions, WWAY spoke with Cape Fear […]
In the News | WWAY3
September 15, 2022
Cohen Milstein’s Complex Tort Team Hosts Booster Seat Giveaway in Riviera Beach, FL
In honor of National Child Passenger Safety Week and National Seat Check Saturday, our Complex Tort Litigation team, led by Leslie M. Kroeger, is hosting a booster seat giveaway on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Community Partners of South Florida in Riviera Beach, FL. Our booster seat giveaway is being hosted in partnership with Safe Kids Palm Beach County and […]
Events
September 13, 2022
Leslie Kroeger to Speak at the Masters of Mass Tort’s TOXIC: Forever Chemicals and Contaminated Water Conference
Leslie M. Kroeger has been invited to speak at the Masters of Mass Tort’s TOXIC: Forever Chemicals and Contaminated Water conference hosted by Archer on September 13, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. Ms. Kroeger will present on two panels: “Practical Tips for Litigating PFAS Cases” and “Comparing and Contrasting Three High-Profile Water Cases: C8 DuPont, BP Deep Horizon, […]
Events
September 7, 2022
11th Circ. Revives Bellwether Cases in Chiquita Murder MDL
The Eleventh Circuit has revived a bunch of bellwether cases in a massive multidistrict litigation alleging Chiquita Brands International funded a Colombian paramilitary group that killed thousands of people, ruling on Tuesday that a Florida district court wrongly precluded the cases from going to trial. In a 104-page unanimous published opinion, the court reversed much of a summary judgment […]
In the News | Law360
September 6, 2022
Appellate Court Revives Human Rights Case Against Chiquita
The decision overturns a lower court ruling and reinstates claims against Chiquita in a historic lawsuit over the company’s role in funding paramilitary groups in Colombia. Atlanta, Ga.–Today, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that several families suing Chiquita Brands International for its role in funding paramilitary death squads in Colombia can proceed toward […]
In the News
August 26, 2022
Ford’s $1.7B Trial Loss Puts Spotlight on Hush Deals, Ga. Law
A Georgia jury’s $1.7 billion punitive damages verdict against Ford Motor Co. over a fatal rollover collision shines a light on an alleged defect that previously has resulted in confidential settlements. But the award may not stick, attorneys told Law360, especially if a Georgia law prompts a post-trial settlement. Elderly couple Voncile and Melvin Hill were […]
In the News | Law360
August 12, 2022
Flint Water Crisis Class Action Litigation Continues Against Water Engineering Firms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: cohenmilstein@berlinrosen.com Non-Affiliated Bellwether Trial Ends in Mistrial DETROIT – Yesterday, a federal judge in Michigan declared a mistrial in the first Flint bellwether trial in Walters, et al. v. Flint et al. (No. 5:17-cv-10164). The trial focused on the two remaining defendants, both private engineering firm, who were actively involved in […]
In the News
June 15, 2022
EPA Announces PFAS Drinking Water Health Advisories and $1 Billion in Funding to Strengthen Health Protections
On June 15, 2022, The Washington Post reported that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced four drinking water health advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the latest action under President Biden’s action plan to deliver clean water and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap. The EPA also announced that it is inviting states […]
In the News
May 31, 2022
Public Justice Announces Finalists for 2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award – In re Flint Water Cases
Watch the video.
In the News
March 24, 2022
Leslie M. Kroeger to Speak at FJA’s 2022 Workhorse Seminar
Leslie M. Kroeger has been invited to speak at Florida Justice Association’s 2022 John Romano Workhorse Seminar on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, FL. Ms. Kroeger will present on the topic “Debunking Defense Arguments and Positions on Damages During Rebuttal Summation.” To learn more about Ms. Kroeger, please click here. For […]
Events | Florida Justice Association
March 7, 2022
Leslie M. Kroeger Invited to Speak at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School’s Symposium
Leslie M. Kroeger has been invited to speak at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School’s Judicial Symposium on Scientific Methodology and the Admissibility of Expert Testimony on Monday, March 7, 2022 in Destin, FL. The panel will discuss “The Judge as Gatekeeper: The Proper Role of Judges in Evaluating Expert Testimony.” To learn more about Ms. […]
Events
January 21, 2022
Social Media Company Sued for Federal Officer’s Murder
In her first national television interview since filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Facebook’s parent company, Angela Underwood Jacobs explains why she blames the social media company for the 2020 killing of her brother, a federal officer gunned down by anti-government extremists. View the complete interview here.
In the News | CBS Mornings
January 6, 2022
Facebook Sued Over Death of Federal Officer
A lawsuit filed on behalf of the officer’s sister argues Facebook’s recommendation system played a part in radicalizing the people accused in the killing. The sister of a federal officer allegedly killed by a member of a domestic extremist movement is suing Facebook, charging that the platform’s recommendation system played a part in the radicalization […]
In the News | NBC News
January 6, 2022
Slain Officer’s Sister Sues Facebook in ‘Boogaloo’ Murder, Alleging It Pushed Extremist Content
Facebook gave rise to the boogaloo community that led the officer’s killer and accomplice to connect, lawsuit alleges. The sister of a slain federal officer is suing Facebook’s parent company Meta, alleging it bears responsibility for her brother’s killing during racial justice protests in 2020. Facebook facilitated the hateful far-right “boogaloo” movement, leading an adherent […]
In the News | The Washington Post
January 6, 2022
Facebook Promoted Extremism Leading to Federal Officer Dave Patrick Underwood’s Murder: Lawsuit
Underwood was shot and killed guarding the federal courthouse in Oakland, Calif. In May 2020, as protests over the death of George Floyd raged across the country, federal security officer Dave Patrick Underwood was shot and killed while protecting the federal courthouse in Oakland, California. The alleged shooter, Steven Carrillo, an active-duty Air Force staff […]
In the News | ABC News
January 6, 2022
Sister of Slain Federal Officer Sues Facebook, Accusing Social Media Company of Promoting Violent Content and Connecting Alleged Killers Online
Facebook is the target of a new lawsuit from the sister of a slain federal officer who claims the tech giant’s algorithms and drive for revenue played an active role encouraging her brother’s alleged killers. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in California state court Thursday by Angela Underwood Jacobs, the sister of David Patrick […]
In the News | CNN
January 6, 2022
Groundbreaking Lawsuit Alleges That Facebook Bears Responsibility for Murder of Slain Federal Officer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Family: Holding Facebook Responsible for Profit-Driven Promotion of Extremist Content Could Help Prevent Future Violence Case Highlights Reasons Facebook’s Conduct Isn’t Protected by Section 230 ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA – A groundbreaking wrongful death lawsuit filed today against Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly Facebook, Inc., alleges that by connecting users to extremist groups and promoting […]
In the News
August 28, 2021
State Cites Chemours for Air Pollution Violations, Company’s Third Write Up in 2021
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — North Carolina cited Chemours on Thursday for multiple state air pollution violations, saying the company has been exceeding its GenX air pollution limits for much of 2021. In its letter to Chemours, environmental officials warned the company that the state is preparing an enforcement report against the chemical makers for its multiple […]
In the News | Wilmington StarNews
August 12, 2021
“Judge Rules on Motions for Flint Water Lawsuit Against Two Engineering Firms,” ABC12
Case against Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam is separate from $641.2 million settlement One of the many lawsuits regarding the Flint water crisis is closer to moving forward. This lawsuit involves two engineering firms that aren’t part of the $641.2 million settlement for victims — Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & […]
In the News
August 12, 2021
Partial Class Cert. Granted in Suit Against Flint Engineers
Flint residents have been granted partial class certification in a suit seeking to hold two engineering firms accountable for their work advising the Michigan city on its lead water crisis, after a federal judge tinkered with their proposed definitions for doing so. U.S. District Judge Judith E. Levy divided claims against engineering firms into two […]
In the News | Law360
August 11, 2021
Flint Federal Judge Certifies Issues Classes Against Remaining Flint Water Crisis Defendants
FLINT, MI – Interim Co-lead Class Counsel in the Flint water crisis litigation announced that Federal Judge Judith Levy of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan entered an order granting Class Certification on liability claims in the ongoing litigation against private engineering firms Lockwood, Andrews & Newman (LAN) and Veolia, […]
In the News
July 30, 2021
Leslie Kroeger to Speak on Cross Examinations at Palm Beach County Justice Association
Leslie M. Kroger will speak at the Palm Beach County Justice Association (PBCJA) on “What’s Important in a Cross Examination” on Friday, July 30, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. via Zoom.* PBCJA’s summer webinar series, “Resuming Trials – Knocking Off the Rust and Getting Back into Court” is intended as a refresher on the trial basics to […]
Events
July 2, 2021
Champlain Towers South Condominium Building Collapse, Surfside, FL – FAQs
To the individuals and families affected by the devastating Champlain Towers South condominium building collapse in Surfside, Florida, we send our deepest condolences. While first responders and city, county, and federal authorities work to understand how a building failure of this magnitude occurred, we have prepared a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about personal […]
Articles
February 24, 2021
Leslie M. Kroeger to Speak at Florida Justice Association’s 2021 Workhorse Seminar
Leslie M. Kroeger, Co-Chair of Cohen Milstein’s Complex Tort Litigation practice, has been invited to speak on Florida Justice Association’s 2021 Workhorse Seminar hosted via Zoom on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. Ms. Kroeger will present on “The Art and Science of Defending Your Expert from a Daubert Attack.” The FJA, formerly the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (AFTL), is […]
Events
November 13, 2020
Leslie Kroeger and Regina Poserina to Speak at FJA’s 2020 Qui Tam Webinar
Leslie M. Kroeger and Regina D. Poserina will speak at Florida Justice Association’s (FJA) 2020 Qui Tam Webinar “Bringing Home The Bounty: The Trial Lawyer’s Approach to False Claims Act Litigation” on Friday, November 13, from 1-5pm. Ms. Kroeger will moderate the panel, “Ask the Magic 8 Ball: Predicting the Future of Whistleblower Litigation in 2021 […]
Articles
October 20, 2020
Amazon: Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company?
By Adam J. Langino and Leslie M. Kroeger “The most important single thing is to focus obsessively on the customer. Our goal is to be earth’s most customer-centric company.”— Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com, Inc. On August 13, 2020 in Bolger v. Amazon.com, LLC1 , California’s Fourth Appellate District held that Amazon.com, LLC can be […]
Articles | FJA Journal
September 9, 2020
Judge: US Park Hasn’t Shown Enough Done to Inform of Fire
U.S. park officials have failed to show enough was done to keep the public updated as a deadly wildfire spread from Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2016, a judge ruled. The decision Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer in Knoxville keeps lawsuits by survivors of the blaze on track for a potential trial, […]
In the News | Associated Press
July 16, 2020
Leslie M. Kroeger to Speak on National Business Institute’s Personal Injury CLE Seminar
Leslie M. Kroeger has been invited to speak on the National Business Institute (NBI) “Valuing Injury Cases and Increasing Claim Value” CLE seminar hosted via live teleconference on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 12:00 pm EST. Ms. Kroeger will discuss how to determine liability in injury cases, calculating and quantifying damages, ways to increase claim value, […]
Events
June 30, 2020
Lawsuit Blames State Agencies for Dam Failures
A new lawsuit in the Michigan Court of Claims places the blame for damages done to homes and businesses during the May 19 flooding on state agencies. The lawsuit, filed on June 25, alleges the state agencies Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) “caused the […]
In the News | Midland Daily News
June 29, 2020
Cohen Milstein Joins Pitt Legal Team to Enhance Edenville Dam Legal Team
For Immediate Release Partnership from Flint Water Crisis Legal TeamExtended to Help More Michiganders The Pitt Legal Team announces the addition of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, to the Edenville Dam legal team. The newly expanded team seeks to represent neighbors who suffered catastrophic damage to their lives and property after avoidable dam failures […]
In the News
June 26, 2020
Tesla Sued for Airbag Malfunction in Model 3 Highway Crash
Washington college professor blames automaker for brain injury. Company faces regulatory scrutiny over other safety issues. Tesla Inc. was sued over a Maryland highway crash last year in which a Model 3’s airbags failed to deploy, leaving a college professor with brain damage. Elon Musk, the company’s co-founder, has touted the Model 3 as the […]
In the News | Bloomberg
June 25, 2020
Tesla Airbags, Seat Belts Faulted in Woman’s Brain Injury Suit
A Maryland woman who suffered traumatic brain injuries in a 2019 accident sued Tesla Inc. in California state court Wednesday alleging it manufactured an unsafe Model 3 vehicle with airbags that didn’t properly deploy. Kristian Edwards and her husband, Jason Edwards, allege Tesla designed and manufactured an “unreasonably dangerous” Model 3 vehicle with defective airbag […]
In the News | Law360
June 12, 2020
State of Missouri Suing X-LITE Manufacturer, Calls Guardrail ‘Defective
The state of Missouri is suing the company that made and marketed a guardrail that’s been at the center of a News4 Consumer investigation for years. A number of people across the country have died or been severely injured after crashing into guardrail end pieces known as the X-LITE. The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, […]
In the News | WRC-TV NBC Washington
April 14, 2020
Why Firefighters Are at Risk of Managed Care Abuse
Some insurance carriers delay or deny a patient’s medically necessary care, despite recommendations by doctors or other health professionals, in order to reduce costs and increase profits. A delay or denial can happen to anyone with a health care plan. However, firefighters are particularly vulnerable because, as government employees, their plans are not protected by […]
In the News | TheBigRedGuide.com
March 7, 2020
Leslie M. Kroeger Pens Op-Ed for The Palm Beach Post, “Florida Consumers Are Under Attack in Tallahassee”
If you are interested in discussing any of the issues raised in this opinion piece, please contact us or reach out to Leslie directly at lkroeger@cohenmilstein.com or 561-515-1400. Every day in Tallahassee, Florida lawmakers are being inundated with legislation that flies in the face of protecting the constituents they are elected to serve. […]
Articles
January 21, 2020
Toyota to Recall 3.4 Million Vehicles Worldwide, Air Bags May Not Deploy in Crashes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp said on Tuesday it will recall 3.4 million vehicles worldwide because of an electronic defect that can result in air bags not deploying in crashes. The recall, which includes 2.9 million U.S. vehicles, covers 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles and is tied to […]
In the News | Reuters
October 25, 2019
What’s in a Defect?
By Leslie M. Kroeger, Diana L. Martin and Poorad Razavi The title of the section of the Journal is Products Liability. Each month, various types of defective products and corresponding litigation are described in hopes of educating you and warning you about what’s literally in your backyard. But, regardless of your legal acumen or experience […]
Articles | FJA Journal
September 9, 2019
“Child Safety,” FJA Journal
The article “Child Safety” originally appeared in the Florida Justice Association Journal (Summer 2019). Please contact any one of the authors if you’d like to learn more about Cohen Milstein’s experience in product liability claims related to products specifically designed for babies and young children. By Leslie M. Kroeger, Adam J. Langino and Diana L. […]
Articles
August 15, 2019
Misleading Statements: NHTSA’s Concerns with Tesla’s Model 3 Safety Claims
Cohen Milstein’s Complex Tort Litigation practice group publishes the bi-weekly Complex Tort Eblast addressing a number of consumer safety and product liability issues. The Tesla Model 3 may not be as safe as Tesla claims it to be. As reported in the Observer and CNBC last week, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sent Tesla a cease-and-desist […]
Articles | Cohen Milstein
July 7, 2019
Is Your Swimming Pool Safe: A Quick Checklist on Pool Safety Standards
Cohen Milstein’s Complex Tort Litigation practice group publishes the bi-weekly Complex Tort Eblast addressing a number of consumer safety and product liability issues. Summertime means fun in the sun, and likely time spent poolside with family and friends. As drowning remains the number one unintentional cause of death for children in the U.S. ages 1 […]
Articles | Cohen Milstein
February 1, 2019
“E-Cigarettes: An Exploding Market,” FJA Journal
By Adam J. Langino and Leslie M. Kroeger Electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) are battery-operated devices that are used to inhale aerosolized liquid and chemical flavorants, typically containing nicotine. E-cigarettes were first patented in 2003 and have been available for sale in the U.S. since 2007. They are growing rapidly in popularity. By January 2014, there […]
Articles
November 5, 2018
Rethinking Florida’s Statute of Repose for Automotive Product Liability – Florida Justice Association Journal
Florida’s statute of repose for product liability actions is found at §95.031(2)(b), Fla. Stat., and provides, in part, that “[u]nder no circumstances may a claimant commence an action for products liability, including a wrongful death action or any other claim arising from personal injury or property damage caused by a product, to recover for harm […]
Articles
June 29, 2018
Recovery for Injured Workers Outside Florida’s Workers’ Compensation System
Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Act sets up a self-executing system under which an employee injured in a workplace accident can receive medical care and lost wages without filing a civil lawsuit. This system, however, does not provide all the remedies that would be necessary to make an injured worker whole. For instance, noneconomic damages, such as […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
May 21, 2018
Distinguished Leader: Leslie M. Kroeger
The DBR’s annual Distinguished Leaders awards recognize the great performances and valuable leadership of noteworthy South Florida attorneys. The Daily Business Review’s Distinguished Leaders awards recognize lawyers who achieved impressive results in 2017 and demonstrated clear leadership skills that helped them achieve those results. The award is about highlighting South Florida lawyers who demonstrated great […]
In the News | Daily Business Review
January 3, 2018
Blind Spots in Booster Seats
Manufacturers market booster seats to parents whose children are too young to safely travel in one, increasing the risk of serious injury. Here are some issues you may face in these difficult but vital cases – and how to get around them. Before children are large enough to be placed in booster seats, they typically […]
Articles | American Association for Justice Trial Magazine
November 1, 2017
WARNING! Spoiler Alert
A primary principle of a products liability attorney is to always preserve the product at issue. Having litigated defects ranging from airbags to guardrails to chemical receptacles, I can confidently confirm the cogency of that credo. The absence of the product provides the defense expanded reign to fabricate alternate failure mode theories to the detriment […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
April 21, 2017
Jury Finds DynCorp Responsible for the Actions of Plan Colombia Pilots Who Conducted Fumigations After April 2003
On Thursday, April 20, 2017 a federal jury returned a verdict in the first of the test trials against DynCorp International, the defense contractor that did the aerial fumigations in Plan Colombia. The International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates) first filed this case in 2001 on behalf of over 2,000 Ecuadoran farmers who live near the border […]
Articles | International Rights Advocates
April 19, 2017
Were Peasant Farmers Poisoned by the U.S. War on Drugs? A Jury Has the Case
After a 15-year legal battle, a U.S. jury will begin deliberations Wednesday over whether a U.S. security contractor must pay damages to as many as 2,000 Ecuadoran farmers who say they were poisoned by the U.S. and Colombian governments’ years-long, coca-eradication campaign. During a two-week trial in Washington that ended Tuesday, a lawsuit against McLean, […]
In the News | The Washington Post
March 1, 2017
Florida’s Autonomous Vehicle Law – 2016: First State to Legalize Fully Self-Driving Cars
On March 11, 2016, Florida legislators voted unanimously to approve House Bill 7027. When that bill was signed on April 4, 2016, and went into effect on July 1, 2016, Florida became the nation’s first state to legalize fully autonomous vehicles on public roads without a driver behind the wheel. If the vehicle can drive […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
January 13, 2017
Former Takata Executives Indicted for Fraud and Conspiracy
A federal grand jury in Detroit has indicted three former employees of Takata, charging them with concealing deadly defects in the Japanese company’s automotive air bag inflators. The indictments on six counts of conspiracy and wire fraud were returned Dec. 7 and unsealed Friday, January 13 just hours ahead of a Justice Department news conference […]
In the News | CBS Evening News
January 1, 2015
Florida’s New Smoke Alarm Law Falls Short
“Effective January 1, 2015, a battery-powered smoke alarm that is newly installed or replaces an existing battery-powered smoke alarm [in a one-family or two-family dwelling in Florida] must be powered by a nonremovable, nonreplaceable battery that powers the alarm for at least 10 years.” § 553.883, Fla. Stat. As three out of every five home […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association
July 1, 2014
GM’S Ignition Switch Recalls: The List Keeps Growing
General Motors has recalled over 20 million vehicles in 2014 – more vehicles than it sold last year. Astounding. Even more astounding is that many of these recalls should have occurred long ago, but GM failed to act on information that it was using a defective ignition switch component in many of its vehicles. According to […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
April 1, 2014
Supreme Court Passes Up Opportunity to Further Chip Away at Class Relief
In what was a surprise to many who have come to believe the agenda of the Roberts Court is to completely eviscerate the class action as a vehicle for obtaining relief for consumers on a large scale, the United States Supreme Court has passed up the opportunity to further chip away at the viability of class […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
October 1, 2013
Deadly Roadways: Guideposts for Defective Guardrail Litigation
Guardrails are installed along America’s roadways for the protection of motorists. Guardrails, if properly designed, keep vehicles from straying off the roadway into dangerous places and, when impacted at the end points, should absorb or dissipate energy from the crash and give way, rather than remaining rigid and potentially intruding into the accident vehicle. But, […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
November 1, 2012
Avoiding Mandatory Arbitration in Products Liability Cases
As consumer class action attorneys are painfully aware, in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, 131 S.Ct. 1740 (2011), the United States Supreme Court determined that the federal government views arbitration with such favor that state courts are sometimes preempted from striking provisions of arbitration clauses that are unconscionable under state law. Since Concepcion, courts are […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
May 1, 2012
Is There a Products Liability Case Without the Product?
A relatively unique aspect of products liability cases is that the event giving rise to a claim for product defects often also destroys the central evidence in the case—the defective product. Even if the product is not destroyed, the event may so damage the product that it is discarded as garbage by someone who fails to recognize its significance as evidence […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
August 31, 2011
Tire Aging: Why Should You Care?
By Leslie M. Kroeger and Theodore J. Leopold Because the safety of your family and friends is riding on them. Do you know how old your tires are? Why should you care? Because your safety and the safety of your family, and your friends are riding on them. The federal government, through the Federal Motor […]
Articles
May 1, 2011
Safety of Florida’s Children Ignored During Legislative Session
This year, the Florida legislature decided that it does not want Florida to be an outlier when it comes to products liability law, and therefore passed Senate Bill 142 in order to expressly overrule D’Amario v. Ford Motor Co., 806 So. 2d 424 (Fla. 2001), which adopted a minority view regarding the allocation of liability […]
Articles | Florida Justice Association Journal
April 1, 2011
“The Importance of D’Amario v. Ford and How it Protects Florida’s Consumers,” 85 Florida Bar Journal 4
By Theodore J. Leopold, Leslie M. Kroeger, and Diana L. Martin Due to an aggressive campaign seeking to legislatively overrule the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in D’Amario v. Ford, 806 So. 2d 424 (Fla. 2001), the decision may no longer be good law by the time this article is published. The abolition of this decision, which held […]
Articles