Associate Maria Fleming is Appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committees in Product Liability Litigations

Ms. Fleming is a Member of the firm’s Complex Litigation Department based in Cleveland, OH.

Napoli Shkolnik is proud to announce that associate Maria Fleming has been appointed to two plaintiff steering committees in notable product liability litigations. These prestigious appointments are a direct reflection of Ms. Fleming’s multifaceted legal acumen and commitment to clients.

In her role as a member of both PSCs, Maria will collaborate on document management, coordinate witnesses, meet with experts, and draft briefs to move the litigation forward on behalf of those affected:

In Re: Exactech Polyethylene Orthopedic Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 22-md-03044) by United States District Court Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis for the Eastern District of New York.

In Re: Hair Relaxing Marketing Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3060) by U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.

Recently, Ms. Fleming served as plaintiff trial counsel in the National Prescription Opiate Litigation MDL Bellwether trials of Lake and Trumbull Counties. In this role, she was responsible for all of the Plaintiffs’ exhibits to be introduced in trial and submitted to the jury.

She also played an integral role in the National Prescription Opiate Litigation MDL Bellwether settlements for Cuyahoga and Summit Counties in Ohio. She primarily handled the preparation work leading up to the trial.

About Exactech

Exactech produces implants, instruments, and technologies for joint replacement including knee and hip surgery. Since 2021, the company has voluntarily recalled over 140,000 ankle, knee, and hip implants because, according to its lawyers, “off-specification” device packaging may have caused polyethylene components to oxidize before the end of their stated shelf life. The recalled products included several models of the Optetrak and Truliant knee implants; the Connexion GXL and Acumatch, MCS, and Novation hip implants; and Vantage ankle implants.

About Hair Relaxing Products

Parabens, a preservative used in the majority of personal care products marketed to Black women, including hair straighteners, are classified as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC). EDCs interfere with hormone production and can lead to uterine fibroids, infertility in both men and women, early puberty, and other reproductive health issues. One study has found that women who frequently used chemical straighteners and relaxers were 30% more likely to develop breast cancer. In addition to EDCs, many hair-relaxing products contain lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, a highly caustic chemical that can cause severe burns, baldness, blindness, and lung irritation.