Simmons Hanly Conroy Wins Elite Trial Lawyer Award in Products Liability, Named a Finalist in Mass Torts
New York – Simmons Hanly Conroy, one of the nation’s leading mass tort and product liability law firms, is proud to announce The National Law Journal has recognized Shareholder Jayne Conroy with a 2021 Elite Women of the Plaintiffs Bar Award. The firm was also named a winner in the Products Liability category and a finalist in Mass Torts.
“We congratulate Jayne on this well-deserved honor,” said Chairman John Simmons. “Her exceptional experience and leadership in civil litigation sets her apart as one of the elite women of the plaintiffs bar, and we’re proud to have her on our side.”
During her 30-year legal career, Conroy has established herself an elite trial lawyer, skilled strategist and decisive negotiator who has consistently helped secure billions of dollars for thousands of individuals, families and communities in courtrooms nationwide. She focuses her practice on mass torts, class actions, product liability, pharmaceutical and sexual abuse litigation.
Recently, she was appointed as co-lead counsel in the National Prescription Opiate Multi-District Litigation (MDL). Conroy also serves as lead trial attorney for Suffolk County, NY in the ongoing New York State opioid litigation. The proceedings mark the first opioid case to proceed with a jury trial in state and federal court. Several defendants recently exited the trial after a $1.1 billion settlement was reached. The trial is ongoing against the remaining defendants and expected to last into the fall.
In addition to Conroy’s recognition, the firm was also honored as the winner in the area of Products Liability. Mesothelioma verdicts that contributed to the award include:
- $8 million awarded to Steven Aaron, a former Louisiana mechanic diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed asbestos in brakes and clutches made by Ford Motor Co.
- $10 million awarded to Henry Pete, a former New Orleans longshoreman diagnosed with mesothelioma against two stevedoring companies and one shipping company after he unloaded raw asbestos from the NOLA docks.
- $34 million awarded to Arthur Putt, a former auto mechanic who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after he was exposed to asbestos-containing brakes manufactured by Ford Motor Co.
- $40.1 million awarded to Washington Navy veteran Walter Twidwell, who was exposed to asbestos released from Durabla gaskets manufactured by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
- $30 million awarded to Norris and Lori Morgan after a California jury found defendant J-M Manufacturing Company, Inc. negligent and strictly liable for distributing the asbestos-cement pipe that led to Norris’s mesothelioma diagnosis.
The Elite Trial Lawyer Awards recognize exceptional work on behalf of plaintiffs over the last 15 months. A solid track record over the past five years also was considered. The Elite Women of the Plaintiffs Bar Award, now in its fourth year, recognizes outstanding women lawyers who have achieved remarkable results for plaintiffs in high-stakes cases over their careers.
The award ceremony took place July 26 in New York City.
