Best Lawyers in America for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
State
A leader within the plaintiffs’ bar, Lexi J. Hazam Chairs the firm’s Mass Torts Practice group and represents clients in mass tort cases and environmental class actions, as well as whistleblower/false claims act actions. In November 2022, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the Northern District of California appointed Lexi as Co-Lead Counsel of MDL 3047, In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation , the nationwide multi-district litigation ag...
Joe King was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, and returned to practice law in his hometown after earning his B.S. in biology and J.D. from the University of Alabama, where he studied on a full academic scholarship. Known for his honesty with clients, King believes in building trust by clearly sharing both the strengths and weaknesses of each case. His straightforward approach has helped him secure numerous verdicts and settlements, including one of Alabama’s largest wrongful deat...
Levin Papantonio shareholder Timothy O'Brien is a board-certified civil trial attorney who concentrates his practice in the areas of mass tort litigation, product liability, personal injury, wrongful death, and transactional liability. Mr. O'Brien is rated "A-V Preeminent" by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell lawyer peer-rating service (the "A-V Preeminent" rating is the highest rating an attorney can receive). In September 2018, Mr. O’Brien was appointed by the United States Southern ...
I am a husband, father, and trial attorney—though not necessarily in that order. I began my legal career representing large international corporations in New Mexico. For more than three years, I worked alongside some of the most skilled and aggressive defense attorneys in both the state and the nation. The experience was invaluable, but I quickly realized that my passion did not lie in defending powerful corporations. I identified more with David than Goliath and felt drawn toward helpi...
Gary Jackson* is a name many attorneys in North Carolina know. He has been president of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and has held leadership positions in several other national and state organizations. He is frequently asked to speak throughout the country at educational programs for lawyers and he regularly authors articles addressing current legal trends and developments. His 40+ year career is marked by many awards, with 24 of those years spent fighting for plaintiffs in numero...
Steven L. Bloch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. Steven L., who practices law in Stamford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David Langfitt is a trial lawyer based in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania and the founder of Langfitt PLLC. For more than 30 years, he has practiced complex commercial litigation and mass personal injury litigation, with a focus on matters involving numerous parties, claims, and courts in both state and federal jurisdictions. His practice includes Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, as well as litigation involving federal securities laws, professional liability, legal malpractice, Penns...
John Edwards is a skilled personal injury attorney in North Carolina and the founder of Edwards Kirby, LLP. With a background as a U.S. Senator for North Carolina, the 2004 Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, and a U.S. presidential candidate, John has long been a proponent for civil rights and protecting those who cannot stand up for themselves. He has been practicing law since 1978 and is an established trial attorney. At Edwards Kirby, LLP, he strives to provide clients with the dedicate...
Brian M. Vines is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Brian M. practices law in Lexington, Kentucky Best Lawyers has recognized Brian M. Vines since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in...
PERSONAL INJURY & INSURANCE LAW After graduating from Case Western Reserve University Law School in 1996, Margaret first worked for the Erie County Prosecutor’s Office before joining Murray & Murray. She works to be an advocate for her clients and help them in the best and most meaningful way possible. Presenting a case to the court and having the clients understand just how much the firm cares about their very personal and individual claims is very important to her. Margaret is...
Peter W. Burg J.D. is one of America’s leading trial lawyers and one of the country’s foremost legal experts handling claims for persons with traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injuries. Mr. Burg is a senior shareholder at Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, a national trial firm known for fighting for victims of negligence, malfeasance, malpractice, and abuse that has secured over $1 billion in verdicts, settlements, and judgments on behalf of its clients. Over the course ...
Dominick R. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Dominick R., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dominick R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Melinda R. Coolidge is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. Melinda R. practices law in Washington, District of Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized Melinda R. Coolidge since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Melinda R. Coolidge is held by other lawyers.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
