Education
Georgetown Law (J.D., 1986, cum laude) University of Tennessee (B.A., 1983, magna cum laude)Accolades
- Super Lawyers, Washington, DC edition
- AV Preeminent Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell (Standard Edition and Judicial Edition)
- Litigation Star in Product Liability, U.S., Benchmark Litigation
- Life Sciences Star, LMG Life Sciences
- Who’s Who in America
- Who’s Who in American Law
- Who’s Who in the East
Memberships
- Law360, Inaugural Board of Editors, Former Member
- Advisory Board for Expert Evidence Reporter (BNA), Former Consulting Editor and Member
- Mealey’s Litigation Reports: Toxic Torts, Former Editorial Board Member
- Lexis/Mealey’s Toxic Tort Defense Advisory Council, Former Member
Insights & Events
Firm Partners Named Once Again as Top Rated Lawyers™ by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell™
news | November 28, 2016These AV® Preeminent™ rated attorneys named in October 2016 as legal industry leaders.
California Supreme Court Grants Petition to Review Innovator and Prior Manufacturer Liability in Pharma Litigation
news | June 10, 2016"After fewer than six hours of deliberations . . . the jury in Middlesex County Superior Court handed down its 7-1 decision in the case of Beverly Meng shortly after 11 a.m. Meng's lawsuit was the second to go on trial in the New Jersey mass tort, and Novartis has won both."
The New Jersey Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to judgments for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. in the first bellwether trial in consolidated litigation over claims the drugmaker's bone cancer drugs Aredia and Zometa caused jaw deterioration.
A Texas federal judge . . . ruled against a cancer patient who sued Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. over a jaw injury she allegedly sustained after taking Zometa, handing Novartis the latest of several wins in multidistrict litigation over the bone drug in the past several months.
DRI's The Voice
St. Louis Federal Jury Returns Verdict for Novartis in Second Zometa Defense Verdict in a Week
news | February 1, 2012Four Firm partners credited for summary judgment decision in N.D. Ga. products liability case.
news | January 11, 2012DRI's The Voice
Hollingsworth LLP Files Industry Coalition Amicus Brief in U.S. Supreme Court
news | October 13, 2011This industry coalition brief was filed on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Chemistry Council, American Coatings Association, American Insurance Association, American Petroleum Institute, and National Association of Manufacturers.
Avoiding the Sideshow: One Trial Judge’s Textbook Application of Daubert to Exclude Dubious Testimony
publication | June 3, 2011Washington Legal Foundation's Legal Backgrounder (June 3, 2011) (Matthew J. Malinowski)
Hollingsworth LLP secures major defense verdict for client Novartis in federal Aredia®/Zometa® trial.
news | May 25, 2011U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee rejects “cross-jurisdictional tolling” argument and grants Novartis summary judgment.
news | December 7, 2010Hollingsworth LLP secures key defense verdict for client Novartis in first bellwether Aredia®/Zometa® jury trial.
news | October 6, 2010Joe Hollingsworth and Eric Lasker cited by 6th Circuit in Reversal of Plaintiff Verdict in Welding Fume Litigation
news | September 8, 2010New Jersey Court Grants Summary Judgment to Novartis and Dismisses Case Brought by Non-U.S. Plaintiff
news | July 23, 2010Court grants Firm client Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation summary judgment in case selected for first wave of trials in New Jersey Aredia® and Zometa® Mass Tort action.
news | April 12, 2010Sixth Circuit affirms grant of summary judgment in favor of Firm client Novartis in five cases brought by non-U.S. plaintiffs.
news | November 24, 2009Sixth Circuit affirms grant of summary judgment in favor of Firm client Novartis in three cases based on Michigan law.
news | November 24, 2009MDL court grants Summary Judgment in four first-wave Zometa cases; Case No. 3:08-1157 (Anderson), Case No. 3:08-1156 (Melau), Case No. 3:06-0377 (Thomas).
news | October 28, 2009MDL court grants Summary Judgment in four first-wave Zometa cases; Case No. 3:06-0659, Emerson/Crews.
news | August 17, 2009Federal Court grants summary judgment filed by Firm client Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in five suits brought by foreign plaintiffs.
news | February 2, 2009Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation re-transfers two cases to Aredia®/Zometa® MDL over plaintiffs’ objections.
news | December 3, 2008Federal Court grants summary judgment based on product identification to Firm client Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
news | September 29, 2008State court grants motion to dismiss for forum non conveniens to Firm client C.R. Bard, Inc.
news | August 25, 2008Joe Hollingsworth and Kate Latimer author A Framework for Toxic Tort Litigation
publication | August 15, 2008Texas Court of Appeals Raises Causation Bar for Asbestos Plaintiffs and Their Experts
news | July 26, 2007Former lead paint manufacturers prevail in Missouri Supreme Court, with an assist from Firm client, National Paint & Coatings Association.
news | June 12, 2007Hollingsworth LLP Steps in as Appellate Counsel; 11th Circuit Vacates $18 million Verdict against GE
news | October 11, 200511th Circuit Affirmance in Rider v. Sandoz Completes Daubert Sweep in Parlodel Litigation
news | June 24, 2002“The BEST Defense … And Then There Are Wins Without Trial,” The National Law Journal
news | March 19, 2001Cases
Tenth Circuit Unanimously Affirms Plaintiff’s Expert Testimony Not Scientifically Reliable
- Precedent
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- February 14, 2015
Key Early Victory for Pharma Defendant Became Major Body of Daubert Case Law
- Precedent
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- February 1, 2015
The Parlodel Trilogy
- Precedent
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- January 27, 2015
The Zometa Cases
- Precedent
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- Class Action Defense
- January 27, 2015
Court Dismisses $4B Claim Brought by New Mexico Against General Electric
- Precedent
- Environmental
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- Natural Resource Damages
- January 27, 2015
Federal Court Grants Daubert and SJ Motions to General Motors in PCB Lawsuit
- Precedent
- Environmental
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- October 1, 2006
Federal Court Holds N.J. Statute Precludes Punitive Damages and “fraud” Exception is Preempted
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- July 31, 2018
New Jersey Court Grants Avon Summary Judgment in Talc Litigation
- Case
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- Class Action Defense
- June 15, 2018
11th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Reclast Case Based on Daubert Exclusion of Expert Testimony
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- April 30, 2018
Pennsylvania Federal Court Grants Summary Judgment to Novartis in Personal Injury Case
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- October 7, 2015
New Jersey Court Grants Novartis Summary Judgment in Bellwether Trial Case
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- June 6, 2014
5th Circuit Finds for Novartis, Affirming Dismissal of Aredia/Zometa Suit
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- May 27, 2014
Novartis Prevails on Summary Judgment on Liability for Generic Products Manufactured by Others
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- May 12, 2014
Novartis Wins Again
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- September 6, 2013
Western District of Oklahoma Grants Novartis Summary Judgment in Zometa Case
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- June 28, 2013
Louisiana Federal Court Grants Summary Judgment to Novartis After Excluding Plaintiff’s Expert Witnesses
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- June 14, 2013
New Jersey Jury Finds No Failure to Warn in Zometa Suit
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- May 15, 2013
In Another Pharmaceutical Case, Novartis Wins Summary Judgment
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- September 19, 2012
In Major Precedent for Drugmakers, Federal Court Precludes Punitives Under New Jersey Law
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- September 5, 2012
Second Circuit Affirms Defense Verdict in Favor of Novartis
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- August 29, 2012
E.D. Missouri Grants Novartis Summary Judgment in Products Liability Case
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- June 19, 2012
Novartis Bellwether Defense Verdict Upheld on Appeal in New Jersey
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- June 13, 2012
Federal Court in Pharma Litigation Excludes Most of Plaintiff’s Expert’s Proffered Testimony
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- March 21, 2012
Sandoz Exits MDL After E. D. New York Finds Product Liability Claims Preempted
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- January 30, 2012
North Carolina Federal Magistrate Says New Jersey Law Should Govern Punitive Damages in Pharmaceutical Case
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- December 16, 2011
New Jersey Court Says NJ Punitive Damages Law to Apply in Products Liability Suit Filed by Virginia Resident
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- November 18, 2011
Sixth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Three Cases for Firm Client Novartis
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- August 23, 2011
Sixth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Based on Statutory Presumption Created by Florida Law
- Case
- Complex Litigation
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- August 23, 2011
W.D. North Carolina Grants Novartis’s Motion to Preclude Punitive Damages Law
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- June 28, 2011
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts Grants Summary Judgment to Sandoz
- Case
- Complex Litigation
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- May 9, 2011
Eastern District of New York Excludes Entire Testimony from Plaintiff”s Purported Regulatory and Warnings Expert
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- May 3, 2011
Firm Secures Defense Verdict for Novartis in First Bellwether Aredia/Zometa Jury Trial
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- October 22, 2010
Southern District of Florida Upholds Removal of a “Pure Bill of Discovery” in Novartis Elidel Case
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- November 26, 2006
NLJ Top Defense Win for Firm in First Trial of Hernia Repair Mesh Serial Litigation
- Case
- Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- June 10, 2004
Clark v. Velsicol Chem. Corp., 944 F.2d 196 (4th Cir. 1991).
- Case
- Products Liability & Toxic Torts
- September 10, 1991