Partner

Joseph L. Ciaccio

Mr. Ciaccio is the Partner in charge of the firm’s Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Litigation Departments.

Contact Joseph L. Ciaccio

I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to help people who are facing unimaginable challenges due to the negligence of others.

Partner Joe Ciaccio

Joseph is the managing partner of Napoli Shkolnik’s Personal Injury Practice. Joseph has focused on a wide variety of personal injury cases, with a focus on medical malpractice litigation. Since joining the firm, Joseph has been personally responsible for recovering tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our personal injury clients. This includes a recent $4,000,000 medical malpractice verdict obtained in Suffolk County, New York.

He successfully litigates a wide variety of birth-related injuries including fetal distress, hypoxia, and Erb’s palsy injuries as well as a range of medical malpractice actions, including failures to diagnose cancer, infections, orthopedic negligence, and more.

In 2019, Joseph was recognized by TopVerdict as achieving of the largest settlements in the State of New York for that year, as well as a Top 50 settlement for the entire Country.

In addition to his work with our personal injury department, Joseph has been part of our team representing municipalities across the Country related to the opioid epidemic against opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies. This includes serving as co-trial counsel with partners Hunter Shkolnik and Salvatore Badala in a successful 2021 trial on behalf of our local County client.

The risks of unregulated regenerative medicine

Joseph is also overseeing COVID nursing home cases, having recently filed a class action complaint against the Long Island Veterans Home, which had the second-highest death rate in the state of New York.

Contact Joseph Ciaccio with your Medical Malpractice Referral

Medical Malpractice Managing Partner

With over $300 million paid in referral fees, our nationally recognized firm is available to assist your clients. We evaluate new cases daily and would be happy to discuss litigations that may be of interest to you.

Bar Admissions

  • New York
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Court, Southern District of New York

Education

Hofstra University School of Law, J.D.

Long Island University, B.S.

Awards and Honors

America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators®, 2018

2019 Leading Adviser Awards Winner, “Leading Medical Device and Malpractice Attorney of the Year, New York”

Attorney and Practice Magazine, New York’s Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys

Lawyers of Distinction, 2020

National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys: Top 40 Under 40

New York Metro Super Lawyers, Rising Stars®, 2017- 2023

The National Trial Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40, 2017 – 2019

Top Verdict Top 20 Settlements in New York, 2019

Professional affiliations

  • American Association of Justice (AAJ)
  • Columbian Lawyers’ Association of Suffolk County, Inc.
  • Long Term Care Community Coalition (LTCCC) Member
  • Director, Class of 2025, New York Trial Lawyers Association’s Board of Directors
  • New York Academy of Trial Lawyers

Publications

Disciplinary Action Against Pathologist Highlights Patient Risks, Medium (December 19, 2023)

The Risks of Unregulated Regenerative Medicine, Medium (October 5, 2023)

Diagnostic Errors Claim Nearly 800,000 American Lives Per Year, Study Finds, Medium (August 9, 2023)

Hospital-Shopping: A Band-Aid for a Broken System, Medium (September 29, 2022)

How Nursing Homes Failed Long Island Veterans, Medium (September 8, 2022)

Speaking Engagements

Panelist, “Practioner Voices: Medical Malpractice“, Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center (October 2, 2019)

Presenter, “Trial Theme Options”, Opioid Litigation Seminar, American Association for Justice (AAJ) Education (December 6, 2018)

 

Media Appearances

Bone Marrow Mix-Up Led to Leukemia Patient’s ‘Horrific’ Death: Lawsuit, The Daily Beast (March 19, 2024)

Walmart Confirms $3B Deal Over Pharmacies’ Opioid Sales, Law360 (November 15, 2022)

Teva Pharmaceuticals settles New York opioid lawsuits for $523M, Top Class Actions, (November 4, 2022)

NY Reaches $523M Opioid Deal With Teva, Law360, (November 3, 2022)

CVS, Walgreens Offer $10B To End Nationwide Opioid Suits, Law360, (November 2, 2022)

NY AG Says Teva’s Parent Belongs Back In Opioid Case, Law360 (July 11, 2022)

Napoli Shkolnik Files a Class Action Complaint Against the Long Island Veterans Home, One News Page (May 24, 2022)

‘No Legitimate Basis’ For New Opioid Trial, NY AG Insists, Law360 (May 9, 2022)

NY Opioid Deliberations Delayed After Rancorous Closing Day, Law360 (December 13, 2021)

Drug Companies in Long Island Opioid Trial Move for Mistrial, Citing State’s Error During Closing Argument, Law.com (December 13, 2021)

Allergan Opioid Settlement Leaves Teva Alone in N.Y. Trial, msn.com (December 9, 2021)

Attorneys in New York Opioid Trial Prepare Jurors to Consider Six Months of Testimony, Law.com (December 9, 2021)

Teva, affiliates ignored safety to boost opioid sales, jury told, Reuters (December 9, 2021)

Allergan Finance Reaches $200 Million Settlement in New York Opioid Trial on Eve of Closing Arguments, Law.com (December 8, 2021)

Ohio Counties Deride Pharmacies’ Opioid Mistrial Bid, Law360 (November 17, 2021)

Giant Eagle Strikes Deal To Leave Ohio Opioid Bellwether, Law360 (October 27, 2021)

Skadden Strives To Tame Flames In Endo’s Opioid Imbroglio, Law360 (October 26, 2021)

Walmart, CVS Seek Opioid Mistrial After Juror Does Own Research, Bloomberg Law (October 25, 2021)

Pharmacies’ Mistrial Bid Shot Down In Opioid Bellwether, Law360 (October 25, 2021)

Arnold & Porter Tries To ‘Slip’ One Past The Goalie, Gets Benchslapped For Its Efforts, AbovetheLaw.com (October 20, 2021)

Teva Fears ‘Incredibly Damaging’ Parody Videos in Opioid Trial, Law360 (October 19, 2021)

Newsday Report: Law firm in opioids case should be sanctioned, Newsday (October 18, 2021)

Walmart Blasts Ohio Counties’ Sanctions Bid in Opioid Trial, Law360 (October 18, 2021)

Referee recommends sanction for Arnold & Porter in N.Y. opioid case, Reuters (October 16, 2021)

Referee in NY Opioid Litigation Recommends Award of Costs, Monetary Sanctions Against Arnold & Porter for Discovery Failures, Law.com (October 15, 2021)

NY Counties Sound Alarm Over Doctor As Opioid Trial Witness, Law360 (October 15, 2021)

CVS, Walmart Opioid Trial Defense Hazy on Pharmacists’ Role, Law360 (October 5, 2021)

Palm Beach County moves toward settlement with major opioid distributors, manufacturer, The Palm Beach Post (October 7, 2021)

Legislator: Prioritize Genesee County departments when it comes to spending opioid settlement funds, The Batavian (October 7, 2021)

St. Peter’s nursing home sued over COVID death, Times Union (September 24, 2021)

Endo Pharmaceuticals Reaches Settlement in New York Opioid Trial, New York Law Journal/Law.com (September 10, 2021)

Pharmaceutical Company Endo Settles Opioid Claims by New York, Lawyer Monthly (September 10, 2021)

Drugmaker Endo settles opioid claims by New York, counties for $50 mln, Reuters (September 9, 2021)

Schuyler County to receive $121,000 through opioid epidemic lawsuit settlement

As covered by WENY (September 8, 2021), MyTwinTiers.com (September 8, 2021)

Yates, Schuyler consider opioid settlement, observer-review.com (September 7, 2021)

Genesee County may approve opioid settlement pact, The Daily News (August 31, 2021)

Rite Aid Strikes Deal To Avert Opioid MDL’s 1st Pharmacy Trial, Law360 (August 26, 2021)

Grocery Chain Wants Out Of Ohio Counties’ Opioid Bellwether, Law360 (August 18, 2021)

Endo now faces contempt as well as default in N.Y. opioid trial, Reuters (August 12, 2021)

Bid by Lawyers for NY State to Hold Arnold & Porter, Endo Pharma in Contempt Complicates Long Island Opioid Trial, New York Law Journal/Law.com (August 12, 2021)

Atty Fees Capped At 15% In $26B Opioid MDL Settlement, Law360 (August 9, 2021)

Arnold & Porter Atty Opioid Trial Remarks ‘Crazy,’ Court Told, Law360 (August 9, 2021)

Sault urged to join lawsuit against opioid makers, distributors, sootoday.com (August 6, 2021)

“We cannot go on in this condition” N.Y. AG tells opioid trial judge, Reuters (August 6, 2021)

Endo, Arnold & Porter deny deliberately withholding opioid evidence, Reuters (August 5, 2021)

Endo Calls Out Fiery ‘Rhetoric’ In NY Opioid Trial, Law360 (August 5, 2021)

Endo faces default over hiding ‘smoking gun’ opioid evidence (again), Reuters (August 3, 2021)

NY Judge Rips Endo On Lagging Discovery In Opioid Trial, Law360 (August 2, 2021)

Drug Makers To Pay For Treatment, Prevention, Great Neck Record (July 29, 2021)

AGs Unveil $26B Global Opioid Deal With J&J, Distributors, Law360 (July 21, 2021)

New York, Drug Distributors Reach $1.18 Billion Opioid Settlement as National Deal Looms, One1News (July 21, 2021)

New York Attorney General Announces Settlement With Three Opioid Distributors Amid Long Island Trial, Law.com/New York Law Journal (July 20, 2021)

New York, drug distributors reach $1.18 billion opioid settlement as national deal looms, Reuters (July 20, 2021)

Nassau, Suffolk Reach Opioid Crisis Settlements With ‘Big Three’ Drug Companies, Long Island Press (July 20, 2021)

Drug distributors to pay up to $1.1 bln to settle New York opioid case, Financial Post (July 20, 2021)

New York, drug distributors reach $1.18 billion opioid settlement as national deal looms, Express Pharma (July 20, 2021)

GCASA director: Multimillion dollar deal with opioid distributors would ‘stabilize’ treatment system, The Batavian (July 20, 2021)

AG: State reaches $1.1 billion settlement with opioid distributors, Newsday (July 20, 2021)

Drug Distributors Strike $1.1B Opioid Deal, Exit NY Trial, Law360 (July 20, 2021)

Landmark Opioid Trial Opens in New York, Courtroom View Network (CVN) (July 2, 2021)

‘Honesty Was In Short Supply’: N.Y. Trial Starts With Arguments Against Opioid Makers, WBFO npr (June 30, 2021)

Opioid Suppliers Rebut Claims in First Jury Trial Over Epidemic, Bloomberg (June 30, 2021)

Heroin Needle and Cereal Box Figure in Plaintiffs’ NY Opioid Trial Opening, New York Law Journal/Law.com (June 30, 2021)

Suffolk’s Lawyer Urges Jurors to Hold Drugmakers Liable for Opioid Crisis, Long Island Press (June 30, 2021)

Facing 1st Jury Opioid Attys Turn to Instagram, ‘Wizard of Oz’, Law360 (June 29, 2021)

Landmark opioid trial opens as lawyers address jurors for first time, Newsday (June 29, 2021)

Drug Cos. Share Blame For Opioid Crisis, NY Jury Told, Law360 (June 29, 2021)

‘Calculated Decision in Boardrooms’ Led to Crisis, Lawyers Say in Opening NY Opioid Suit, New York Law Journal/Law.com (June 29, 2021)

Jury in New York opioids lawsuit gets instructions, Newsday (June 28, 2021)

Nation’s Eyes On New York As Unprecedented Opioid Trial Begins On Long Island, CBS-2 New York (June 28, 2021)

A Look At A Lawsuit Filed By NY Municipalities Over Opioid Crisis, WSKG npr PBS (June 23, 2021)

3 Pharmacies Cut From NY Opioid Trial, CVS Reaches Deal, Law360 (June 25, 2021)

New  York Opioid Trial Delayed Again As Jury Selection Lags, Law360 (June 16, 2021)

Unhappy AGs Have Options In Latest Purdue Ch. 11 Plan, Law360 (March 16, 2020)

McKinsey Opioid Deal With NY AG Approved Amid Objections, Law360 (March 16, 2020)

Landmark NY Opioid Trial Delayed Amid Virus Concerns, Law360 (March 5, 2021)

NY AG’s Opioid Epidemic Jury Trial Set For Early 2021, Law360 (October 28, 2020)

Pharmacies Can’t Slip Opioid Nuisance Claims, Counties  Say, Law360 (July 6, 2020)

City of Grande Prairie files proposed $10B class-action lawsuit against opioid companies

Man sues Brooklyn nursing home for failing to protect dead father from COVID, New York Post (May 26, 2020)

NYC woman sues Harlem nursing home after dad dies from coronavirus, New York Post (May 25, 2020)

Purdue Says Ch. 11 Stay Can’t Be Lifted For NY Opioid Trial, Law360 (April 16,2020)

Some Public Nuisance Claims Cut In NY Opioid Suit, Law360 (April 10,2020)

Law360 Names Attys Who Moved Up The Firm Ranks In Q3, Law360 (November 15, 2019)

Napoli Shkolnik PLLC and Team Obtain Landmark Opioid Settlement in Federal Opioid Litigation, Olean Times Herald (October 22, 2019)

Purdue’s Sacklers Shifted $1B Amid Opioid Fight, NY AG Says, Law360 (September 13, 2019)

Five more counties file lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for opioid epidemic, West Virginia Record (December 17, 2018)

County mulls suing opioid drug makers, Adirondack Daily Enterprise (February 19, 2018)

Niagara legislature will declare opioids a ‘public nuisance’, Niagara Gazette (February 12, 2018)

County sues big pharmacy in opioid crisis, Osceola News-Gazette (February 9, 2018)

Alachua, Osceola counties take aim at opioid manufacturers, Gainesville.com (February 8, 2018)

Alachua County Sues Pharmaceutical Companies Over Opioid Epidemic, Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM (February 5, 2018)

At least 14 NY counties and NYC suing opioid companies, pressconnects, Part of the USA TODAY Network (January 30, 2018)

Nashua Becomes Second N.H. City to Take Opioid Companies to Court, New Hampshire Public Radio (December 22, 2017)

York County sues opioid companies, TribLIVE (December 14, 2017)

York County goes after drug makers, distributors, blaming them for opioid epidemic, York Daily Record (Part of the USA Today Network) (December 8, 2017)

Opioid lawsuits may become a trend for local governments, The Anniston Start (October 19, 2017)

Niagara County moves forward with opioid lawsuit, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal (October 17, 2017)

Mora County Joins Lawsuit Suing Opioid Makers Over Damages Caused By Prescription Drugs, Santa Fe New Mexican (September 1, 2017)

Broome will coordinate opioid lawsuit with eight counties, Press & Sun-Bulletin [Part of The USA Today Network] (August 25, 2017)

Two New Hampshire cities may sue big pharma to recoup opioid overdose costs, MassLive.com (August 22, 2017)

Manchester Likely to File Its Own Lawsuit Against Opioid Companies, New Hampshire Public Radio (August 16, 2017)

County considers drug company lawsuit, Observer-Review.com (August 16, 2017)

Parma Suing Opioid Makers, FoxNews8  Cleveland (August 11, 2017)

Nassau County Sues Pharma Companies and Doctors, Verizon FiOS News 1 (June 19, 2017)

Court Appointments

  • Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel in the West Virginia Opioid Litigation (Civil Action No. 17-C-248) by the Honorable Judge David W. Hummel, Jr. of the Second Judicial Circuit Court, Division 2 of Marshall County, West Virginia

Representative Cases and Settlements of Note

*Results May Vary Depending On Your Particular Facts and Legal Circumstances*

Mr. Ciaccio has successfully negotiated millions of dollars’ worth of settlements for his clients throughout his career. He has also successfully argued cases before the Appellate Division, First and Second Departments.

$4,000,000 Medical Malpractice Verdict in Suffolk County

This jury verdict was obtained on behalf of a 13-year-old child who suffered birth defects, including a cleft lip and cleft palate, due to a drug his mother was improperly prescribed before and while she was pregnant.

He is currently working on the opioid lawsuits that Napoli Shkolnik PLLC has filed across the country.

$650 Million Ruling in National Pharmacy Chain Opioid Trial
U.S. District Court for Northern Ohio Judge Dan Aaron Polster ruled that CVS, Walgreens and Walmart must pay over $650 million over 15 years and set up an abatement program to Lake and Trumbull counties. The ruling is the first by a federal judge that assigns a monetary amount against pharmacy chains for their role in the opioid epidemic.

The funds will be used in programs to address the fallout from opioid abuse the defendant’s marketing of opioids caused.

Jury Verdict in New York Opioid Jury Trial
The jury held Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Cephalon, Inc., Actavis, LLC, Actavis Pharma, Inc., Watson Laboratories, Inc., and Anda, Inc. responsible for causing a public nuisance.
(Napoli Shkolnik is Counsel to Nassau County.)

$1.1 Billion Settlement: New York Opioid Jury Trial
This settlement was reached with the three largest drug distributors, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson, in the first opioid jury trial.
(Napoli Shkolnik is Counsel to Nassau County.)

$50 Million Settlement: New York Opioid Jury Trial
Endo Pharmaceutical agreed to this settlement to end their involvement in the NY opioid jury trial, where the company was accused of its role in the opioid epidemic.
(Napoli Shkolnik is Counsel to Nassau County.)

$320 Million Opioid Settlement
This landmark settlement was reached on behalf of Cuyahoga County (Ohio), one of the bellwether plaintiffs in the National Opioid Litigation, against four of the key players responsible for the opioid epidemic.

Below are additional examples of Mr. Ciaccio’s results:

  • $6 Million medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a man who suffered a severed thyroid artery which led to a blocked airway and hypoxic brain damage.
  • $4.8 Million medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a child who suffered an anoxic brain injury leading to significant developmental delays
  • $4.5 Million Settlement on behalf of a child who suffered significant brain damage following the administration of anesthesia for an MRI
  • $1.6 Million medical malpractice settlement involving negligence related to an IVF patient.
  • $1.3 Million medical malpractice settlement for our client, after a failure to diagnose a tumor on a MRI.
  • $1.2 Million medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a woman who suffered an infection and epidural abscess after undergoing back surgery, leading to a spinal fracture.
  • $1.1 Million Settlement on behalf of a child who suffered Erb’s Palsy as a result of negligent delivery
  • $1 Million + Settlement for the family of a young mother who passed away after being discharged from the hospital with a brain aneurysm
  • $950,000 medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a family whose 63-year-old family member died after a delayed Hepatocellular Carcinoma diagnosis.
  • $900,000 pharmaceutical settlement was obtained on behalf of a child who suffered a birth defect due to a pharmaceutical drug.
  • $875,000 settlement for a client who suffered a knee and hip injury after a broken stair caused him to fall.
  • $800,000 medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a family of a Seattle man who passed away from an overdose after being prescribed an excessive amount of opioids following surgery.
  • $750,000 Medical Malpractice settlement on behalf of a woman whose brain tumor was misdiagnosed as a stroke.
  • $450,000 Nursing Home Settlement involving a Syracuse- area nursing home whose resident (our client) suffered from Stage IV Bed Sores.
  • $450,000 Medical Malpractice Settlement reached on behalf of our client for a delayed diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • $200,000 against a Nursing Home after a dementia patient hit his head and died at the nursing home
  • $785,000 Settlement on behalf of a young woman who lost sight in one eye due to an infection she developed as result of dental work
  • $750,000 Settlement on behalf of a client administered bupivacaine (general anesthesia) who then fell into cardiac arrest and then a coma
  • $700,000 medical malpractice settlement on behalf of a man who was forced to undergo additional surgeries after a spine surgery was performed improperly.
  • $700, 000 medical malpractice settlement for a client who suffered a dural tear while undergoing back surgery. Our client continues to suffer from ongoing spinal headaches.
  • $650,000 Settlement on behalf of the client who suffered from Tardive Dyskinesia after being prescribed Geodon (a psychiatric medication)
  • $525,000 Settlement on behalf of the family of a Queens man who passed away due to a post-surgical hematoma of the neck

Areas of Practice

9.1Joseph Leonard Ciaccio
Top 40 Trial Lawyers Under 40 Badge
American Academy of Attorneys Top 40 under 40
Napoli Shkolnik Super Lawyers Badge

Our Locations

Please Contact Us for an In-Person Appointment