Category: Mass Tort

BG Files New Lawsuits on Behalf of 193 Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse in the Cook County, IL Juvenile Court System

Bailey Glasser and co-counsel have filed another round of new complaints on behalf of 193 survivors of sexual violence and abuse against the State of Illinois; the Office of the Chief Judge for Cook County, Illinois; the Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice employees, alleging these entities failed to protect children from rampant sexual abuse perpetrated by adult employees at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (formally known as the Arthur J. Audy Home).

As alleged in the complaint filed on July 22, 2024, between 1995 and 2022, hundreds of youths were victimized at JTDC. This filing comes on the heels of two other lawsuits filed on May 6 and June 3 of this year arising from state-operated Illinois Youth Centers, now raising the total number of plaintiffs to nearly 400.

Partner D. Todd Mathews, lead counsel on the Bailey Glasser litigation team, stated at yesterday’s press conference: “This abuse has been going on since 1995 and it is still going on to this day. It must stop… We will continue to have press conferences and file lawsuits until the folks in Springfield and Cook County hear us and do something.”

The Bailey Glasser team also includes founding partner Brian A. Glasser; partner and Mass Tort Practice Group Leader David Selby; and lawyer Samira Bode. Levy Konigsberg serves as co-counsel for the plaintiffs.

MEDIA REQUESTS: To schedule an interview with counsel or for other media inquiries, please contact Joe Carey at joe@careystrategiccommunications.com.

To read more about the lawsuit please visit here.

To learn more about how we fight on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse across the country, please visit here.

#SexualAbuse #Survivors #CookCounty #BaileyGlasser

Lori Bullock, Katherine Charonko, and Joshua Hammack Named to 2024 Lawdragon X – The Next Generation List

Bailey Glasser partners Lori A. Bullock, Katherine Charonko, and Joshua I. Hammack have been named to Lawdragon’s 2024 500 X – The Next Generation guide. This recognition acknowledges the achievements of the top 500 lawyers who have vaulted to the forefront of the legal profession. This Lawdragon recognition is prestigious as the 500 lawyers included were selected through a process of “select[ing] members of this guide through our time-honed process of submissions, independent research and vetting with friends and foes.”

Lori Bullock is an impactful litigator, handling challenging cases across several litigation areas, including Title IX athletics, labor and employment, sexual harassment, disability discrimination, education law, and civil rights, and is the managing partner of BG’s Des Moines, Iowa office. Lori has won ground-breaking Title IX settlements for student-athletes at nine U.S. colleges and universities for violating the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination at educational institutions receiving federal funds, including appeals to federal circuit court and the Supreme Court included in this submission. She was also part of the team that won the $5 million judgment against “MyPillow’s” Mike Lindell related to false claims made about the 2020 election.

Katherine Charonko is a litigator and head of the firm’s sophisticated and cutting-edge ESI group where she oversees e-discovery in complex disputes involving billions of documents and ensures proper collection, production, and review of electronic data. Kate holds the global Certified e-Discovery Specialist (CEDS) credential, a global recognition that assures clients and co-counsel that our approaches are compliant, efficient, cost-effective, and reduces risk in all phases of e-Discovery. In addition, Kate is a key part of the firm’s multidistrict litigation (MDL) teams, which concentrate largely on automotive and medical device product liability actions. She serves as liaison director of e-Discovery and ESI on several MDL leadership committees nationwide and has worked on landmark MDL matters including some of the largest vehicle defect litigations in history, including the Volkswagen emissions case, and many more. Indeed, Kate was recognized for her product liability work in this year’s Chambers & Partners accolades in the nationwide plaintiffs category, among other recognitions.

Joshua Hammack handles complicated matters from their inception through appeal. He has briefed and argued appeals in state and federal courts across the country for a host of substantive legal areas, including Title IX, the Commerce Clause, contract interpretation, deed construction, statutes of limitation, and the Video Privacy Protection Act. He has briefed multiple issues to the Supreme Court of the United States. In just the last eight months, he has argued before the Second, Sixth, and Ninth Circuits, as well as intermediate appellate courts in West Virginia and New York. Members of the firm regularly gather to watch or listen to his oral arguments, and he also hosts an annual training session on brief writing for lawyers at the firm.

To learn more about the 2024 LDX500 guide, visit: https://www.lawdragon.com/guides/2024-06-28-the-2024-lawdragon-500-x-the-next-generation

Motion for Temporary Order Filed in Suit Against Johnson & Johnson

Bailey & Glasser, LLP and a group of leading law firms filed a motion to show cause why a preliminary injunction ought not issue to stop Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries from pursuing a new bankruptcy filing in any district other than in New Jersey, where tens of thousands of civil lawsuits are already consolidated in multidistrict litigation.

The company recently announced the pursuit of a prepackaged bankruptcy plan to resolve talc claims in an unspecified federal court in Texas. Two previous bankruptcy filings by the company have been denied by the courts in New Jersey, where J&J is headquartered. In today’s filing, we seek a temporary restraining order on the basis that J&J is attempting to evade jurisdiction and continue to manipulate the bankruptcy process to disadvantage tens of thousands of women who developed cancer from continued use of Johnson’s products. We also seek to prevent any amendments to agreements between J&J and its subsidiaries to fund the plan without notifying the plaintiffs.

The Bailey Glasser team in this case includes founding partner Brian A. Glasser; David L. Selby II, the firm’s Mass Tort Practice Group Leader, partner D. Todd Mathews, Of Counsel Thomas B. Bennett, partner Thanos Basdekis, partner and Consumer Protection Practice Group Leader Patricia Kipnis, and Of Counsel Michael Shenkman. Other firms representing the plaintiffs in this lawsuit are Beasley Allen Crow Methvin Portis & Miles PC, Levin Papantonio Rafferty Proctor Buchanan O’Brien Barr Mougey PA; Golomb Legal; Ashcraft & Gerel LLP; and Burns Charest LLP.

On behalf of our clients, we have requested that the injunction hearing be heard at the earliest possible time.

For more please visit this link.

Lawsuit Filed Against Johnson & Johnson for Bad Faith Bankruptcies

Bailey & Glasser, LLP and a group of leading law firms filed a federal lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and other defendants due to their repeated attempt to use the U.S. bankruptcy system to prevent victims of its cancer-causing products from having their day in court. The case is Love v. LLT Management LLC, No. 24-06320 (5/22/24), U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

The Bailey Glasser team in this case includes founding partner Brian A. Glasser; David L. Selby II, the firm’s Mass Tort Practice Group Leader, partner D. Todd Mathews, and Of Counsel Thomas B. Bennett, former Chief Justice of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Other firms representing the plaintiffs in this lawsuit are Beasley Allen Crow Methvin Portis & Miles PC, Levin Papantonio Rafferty Proctor Buchanan O’Brien Barr Mougey PA; Golomb Legal; Ashcraft & Gerel LLP; and Burns Charest LLP.

To read the complaint, media links, and more details, visit this link.

Brian Glasser Named a Top 200 Lawyer in America by Forbes

Bailey Glasser founding partner Brian Glasser has been named one of “America’s Top 200 Lawyers” by Forbes in its first-ever elite lawyer list.

Forbes described its criteria as follows: “[t]he elite lawyers on this list were selected through a rigorous, multi-stage process of researching, evaluating and rating thousands of candidates, conducted by an editorial team with broad experience in law practice and the legal marketplace. The result is a collection of top lawyers involved in the most consequential cases, deals or legal trends in recent years . . . . they all share reputations for integrity, records of excellence—and Forbes’ recognition as the best in the business. What follows is a power list of lawyers whose skill, passion and purpose set them apart—for when you or your business need it most.”

In the last two years alone, Brian won a $5 million award against MyPillow CEO and election conspiracist Michael Lindell; helped lead the challenge to Johnson & Johnson’s “Texas Two Step” bankruptcy maneuver on behalf of people injured by J&J’s asbestos-riddled talc products; helped win dismissal of the bankruptcy of 3M subsidiary Aearo Technologies by a federal judge which thereafter resulted in the $6 billion settlement of more than 260,000 lawsuits brought by veterans and U.S. service members alleging that 3M military earplugs caused their hearing loss; and has won tens of millions of dollars for his clients in other lawsuits. He has also led the filing of hundreds of lawsuits on behalf of people abused as minors by the State of Maryland’s juvenile hall facilities via a new law passed in October 2023 that permitted previously time-barred claims by abuse survivors.

Read more here.

Partner D. Todd Mathews Named a “Super Lawyer”

BG partner Todd Mathews has been named a 2024 Super Lawyer. Todd dedicates his career to fighting for people injured by defective products like asbestos, hernia mesh, 3M’s combat earplugs, as well as on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse. We thank everyone who took part in Todd receiving this recognition. For more about Todd and his work, please visit here.

In addition to this accolade, Todd is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, an invitation-only organization composed of premier trial lawyers from each state or region, and is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in America. In 2024 he was also recognized by Best Lawyers in America in three categories: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Action – Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Law – Plaintiffs.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Interviews Partner David Selby on Lawsuit Against Gunmaker Taurus

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covers a new lawsuit brought by law firms Bailey Glasser and Wheeles Garmon. David Selby II, partner and Mass Tort Practice Group chair is leading the litigation on behalf of Bailey Glasser. “The guns fire without pulling the trigger, and they fire when they shouldn’t fire,” Selby told AJC.

The article delves into a nationwide class action lawsuit filed on Friday in Georgia against firearm manufacturer and distributor Taurus, which seeks to have Taurus institute a robust notice and recall program. It is our position that the pistols cannot be repaired.

The suit alleges, among other things, violations of Georgia’s Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act and seeks unspecified damages to compensate thousands of affected gun owners, including the profits Taurus made from producing the allegedly defective firearms and notes that “[f]or years, (the Taurus companies) have knowingly manufactured, marketed, and distributed thousands of defective (GX4) pistols to consumers . . . Specifically, the defect causes the trigger of the [GX4] pistols to move rearward when the pistol is subjected to an impact or dropped.”

“We certainly anticipate there unfortunately will be more (harmful incidents) because the guns are out there,” Selby said.

To learn more, read the full article here.
#DefectiveFirearms #Taurus #BaileyGlasser #TaurusGX4 #DropFire

Partner Todd Mathews on the Mass Tort News Legalcast

In the most recent episode of the Mass Tort News Legalcast, Bailey Glasser partner Todd Mathews discusses how the firm is helping survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of the State of Maryland acting through the Department of Juvenile Services and its predecessors find closure, healing, and accountability.

The discussion also touches on other states’ approaches to addressing child abuse cases, with some implementing limited windows of opportunity for survivors to file claims. Todd points out the challenges of addressing these cases, especially the need for a sensitive and compassionate approach, avoiding the re-traumatization of survivors.

Switching gears, the conversation touches on recent developments in the legal field, particularly in relation to Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and its potential third bankruptcy filing. Todd expresses his concern and disapproval of such actions, which he views as an abuse of the bankruptcy process to delay compensating victims further. He also addresses the viability of the Camp Lejeune docket, highlighting how recent issues with case attrition and unethical practices in the legal field can impact its resolution.

Partner Todd Mathews Visits “The Leverage Report” Podcast

Todd Mathews, Bailey Glasser mass torts partner, is featured on The Leverage Report podcast where he discusses his commitment to justice, “do no harm,” and being inspired by “The Blind Side,” with program host Susan Barfield.

Todd also discusses the firm’s recently filed sexual abuse cases against the State of Maryland on behalf of former minors who were horrifically abused while institutionalized in the juvenile hall system. In one highlight from the program, Todd states:

“We hope that with the position of the Attorney General, which I read to you earlier, along with the law that has changed, we hope that we can find some sort of a global solution for these survivors. The last thing I really want to do is subject these survivors to depositions and trial and all of the public scrutiny that, quite frankly, they don’t deserve. So we are in contact with the Attorney General’s office. We were before we even filed suit. And we believe we’re going to have a very productive interaction. And moving forward, I think we’re going to try and find a… I’m hopeful that they’ll continue to try and pursue justice with us on these cases.”

The podcast can be viewed here (along with a transcript): https://yourcaseworks.com/the-leverage-report/sexual-abuse-update-with-todd-mathews/

For more about our lawsuits on behalf of abuse survivors in Maryland, visit here: https://www.baileyglasser.com/news-Survivors-of-Sexual-Abuse-Sue-Maryland-Under-Child-Victims-Act-of-2023

Bailey & Glasser, LLP Fighting for Maryland Sex Abuse Survivors

This has been a significant week for survivors of sex abuse in the state of Maryland. On Sunday, the new Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 went into effect, eliminating the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. On the same day, Bailey Glasser and a consortium of 3 other law firms filed six lawsuits against the State of Maryland on behalf of over 50 survivors abused while in Maryland’s juvenile justice system.

We are grateful for the all the public interest in the fight for justice for these survivors. If you’d like to learn more about these lawsuits or our team of attorneys, you can read our press release and other media coverage here.

The Bailey Glasser team includes Sharon F. Iskra leader of the Institutional Abuse & Neglect team, founding partner Brian A. Glasser, Mass Torts Practice Group leader David L. Selby II, and mass torts partner D. Todd Mathews. The other law firms representing the survivors include Walsh Law PLLC; Rhine Law Firm; and DiCello Levitt.

#survivorsrights #ChildVictimsAct #BaileyGlasser

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