ALTON, Illinois – Simmons Hanly Conroy, one of the nation’s largest law firms focused on product liability and mass tort actions, is proud to announce two of the firm’s practices have been named among Law360’s Practice Groups of the Year for 2019.
Now in its tenth year, Law360’s Practice Groups of the Year honors the top law firms behind the previous year’s litigation wins and major deals that resonated throughout the legal industry. Simmons Hanly Conroy received honors for both its Product Liability and Class Actions practice areas.
“We are very proud to be recognized by Law360 for our commitment to our clients and the significant results we secure for them,” said Chairman John Simmons. “This honor is a testament to the knowledge and skills of our attorneys, as well as the tireless commitment of our legal and support teams in protecting the rights of workers, citizens and families harmed at the hands of corporate wrongdoing.”
A partial list of the firm’s substantial verdicts that contributed to its Law360 honors include:
- $325 million in settlements for two Ohio counties in the first bellwether trial in the National Prescription Opiate MDL, which the New York Times called “the most daunting legal challenge in the country.” Partner Paul Hanly Jr. serves as co-lead of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and Partner Jayne Conroy serves as co-lead counsel for the proposed negotiation class.
- $60 million settlement for more than 170 Haitian boys who were sexually abused by convicted child molester Douglas Perlitz while attending a school for impoverished children. Simmons Hanly Conroy’s team made multiple trips to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, sometimes under armed guard, to prepare them for their depositions.
- $170+ million in verdicts awarded over a two-year period in six asbestos trials. During the past year, the firm secured two multimillion verdicts in Los Angeles Superior Court: $30.2 million for a former construction supervisor in Norris Morgan and Lori Morgan vs CBS Corporation, et al., Case No. BC695605 and $34 million for former mechanic Arthur Putt in Arthur Putt and Janet Putt vs CBS Corporation, et al., Case No. 18STCV06912. Both men developed mesothelioma, a rare and often fatal form of cancer, after being exposed to asbestos-containing brakes and transite pipe, respectively, manufactured by the defendants.
Simmons Hanly Conroy was one of 85 law firms recognized out of 776 submissions for this year’s awards. To view a full list of honorees, visit the Law360 website here.
