Shayna E. Sacks
Partner
As a partner in the Napoli Shkolnik PLLC law firm, Shayna E. Sacks has extensive experience in pharmaceutical litigation. As a distinguished attorney, she focuses her nationwide practice on obtaining the best results for clients in the areas of mass tort litigation, including pharmaceutical products liability, personal injury, medical malpractice, and medical device liability cases. She served as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel in the In Re: Plavix Product Liability and Marketing Litigation, appointed by the Honorable Freda L. Wolfson of the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. She currently serves as a member of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in the In Re: Proton-Pump Inhibitor Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2789), appointed by the Honorable Claire C. Cecchi of the United States District Court, District of New Jersey.
Ms. Sacks is also an advocate for stronger policies and procedures regarding food allergies in all aspects of our community. As her husband and son are allergic to peanuts and other foods, she personally understands how dangerous the mislabeling and mishandling of food can be.
Prior to joining Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, Ms. Sacks worked at Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik LLP, with a concentration in pharmaceutical products liability litigation. Previously, she worked at Baker Sanders Barshay Grossman Fass Muhlstock & Neuwirth, LLC, in their no-fault litigation department. Earlier in her career, Ms. Sacks worked at Rheingold, Valet, Rheingold, Shkolnik & McCartney, LLP, and Lewis Saul & Associates, focusing on pharmaceutical products liability, automobile, medical device, and medical malpractice litigation. While attending law school, she interned with the Legal Aid Society, Federal Defenders Division, Southern District of New York.
- Bar Admissions
- New York
- United States District Court, Southern District of New York
- United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
- New Jersey
- United States District Court, District of New Jersey
- Connecticut
- Education
- New York Law School, J.D.
- American University, B.A.
- Awards and Honors
- Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- American Association of Justice (AAJ), The Toxic, Environmental, and Pharmaceutical Torts (STEPS) Group
- Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association (BWBA)
- New York Women’s Bar Association (NYWBA)
- Speaking Engagements
- Panelist, “New Technology, New Liability: Product Liability Risks in the Digital Age”, American Bar Association: 2019 Section of Litigation & Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division CLE Conference (May 1-3, 2019)
- Speaker, “The Appropriateness of Nuisance as a Remedy”, Perrin Conferences: The Opioid Litigation Conference (June 28, 2018)
- Speaker, “Opioids: Science, Medicine & Litigation”, HB Litigation Conferences presents Mass Tort Med School: Emerging medical & litigation issues for plaintiff attorneys (May 9 -11, 2018)
- Featured Speaker, “The Opioid Crisis: Where Are We?”, Safe America Foundation’s 2018 World Spring Symposium (April 2018)
- Speaker, “State Court Opioid Litigation Updates & Liability Theories”, HarrisMartin’s Opioid Litigation Conference (March 2, 2018)
- Speaker, “Onglyza and Kombiglyze: Venue and Case Selection Criteria”, HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Onglyza, Opioid & Sorin 3T Heater-Cooler System Litigation (January 24, 2018)
- Faculty Member, “Opioid Crisis: Claims, Damages & Science”, HB Litigation Conferences (January 2018)
- Conference Co-Chair, “Plaintiff Opioid MDL Conference”, HarrisMartin Publishing (January 2018)
- Featured Panelist, “Mass Torts on State and Federal Cooperation” & “Litigation Group Update: Opioids,” Mass Tort Seminar 2017 presented by the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA)
- Featured Speaker, “The Opioid Epidemic,” Safe America Foundation’s 2017 World Safe Summit (October 2017)
- Featured Speaker, “The Judiciary & MDL and the State Court Consolidations: A Delicate Balance”. Plaintiffs’ Forum on Mass Tort Litigation by Cambridge Forums
- Featured Panelist, “Current Landscape of Opioid Litigation”, National Opioid Litigation Conference: HarrisMartin Publishing
- Speaker, “The History of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Superior Court: How Did It Get Here So Fast,” HarrisMartin California Mass Tort and Class Action Litigation Conference: The Impact of Daimler and BMS-Plavix
- Media Appearances
- City of Grande Prairie files proposed $10B class-action lawsuit against opioid companies
- As covered By CBC News Canada (June 3, 2020), Everything Grand Prairie (June 3, 2020), Daily Herald Tribune (June 4, 2020)
- Napoli Shkolnik PLLC and Team Obtain Landmark Opioid Settlement in Federal Opioid Litigation, Olean Times Herald (October 22, 2019)
- What a judge’s decision in a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors means for Forsyth County, Forsyth County News (September 29, 2019)
- New York Metro-Top Women 2019 Super Lawyers® Magazine (March 2019)
- New York Metro-Top Women 2018 Super Lawyers® Magazine (March 2018)
- Five more counties file lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for opioid epidemic, West Virginia Record (December 17, 2018)
- NJ Justices Centralize Taxotere Hair-Loss Suits, Law360 (August 21, 2018)
- Court Grants Mass Tort Status to Suits Over Breast Cancer Drug Taxotere, New Jersey Law Journal, (August 21, 2018)
- County files lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, The Champion (1/11/18)
WSBTV-2 Georgia
University of Georgia, WUGA Live Radio
- Georgia County One of Growing Number Suing Opioid Manufacturers (12/22/17)
- DeKalb County sues opioid makers over costs of addiction, deaths, AJC.com (12/21/17)
- Forsyth County joins lawsuit against opioid industry, Forsyth Herald (12/6/17)
- 2 More NJ Towns Bring Suits Against Makers of Opioids, New Jersey Law Journal (12/5/17)
- Forsyth County considers joining lawsuit against opioid industry, Forsyth Herald (11/15/17)
- Forsyth County may join opioid suits, AJC.com (11/14/17)
- County commissioners consider opioid lawsuit, Forsyth County News (11/12/17)
- BOCA hears opioid lawsuit pitch, The Covington News (11/12/17)
- City of Grande Prairie files proposed $10B class-action lawsuit against opioid companies
- Publications
- Law Firm of the Month: Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, Attorney at Law Magazine (October 31, 2019)
- Court Appointments
- Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, In Re: Proton-Pump Inhibitor Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2789)
- Member, Taxotere – Privilege, Confidentiality and Protective Orders Committee (MDL 2740)
- Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel, In Re: Plavix Product Liability and Marketing Litigation (MDL 2418)
- Representative Cases and Settlements of Note
*Results May Vary Depending On Your Particular Facts and Legal Circumstances*
$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.In re: Pradaxa (Dabigatran Etexilate) Products Liability Litigation: Ms. Sacks’ clients participated in the $650 Million Pradaxa Master Settlement Program for compensation for their bleeding injuries caused by the blood thinner Pradaxa.
- Other Experience
- Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik LLP
- Baker Sanders, LLC, formerly known as, Baker Sanders Barshay Grossman Fass Muhlstock & Neuwirth, LLC
- Rheingold, Valet, Rheingold, McCartney & Giuffra LLP, formerly known as Rheingold, Valet, Rheingold, Shkolnik & McCartney LLP