Motley Rice LLC, one of the nation's largest plaintiffs' firms, is proud to announce new members. The class of new member attorneys possesses experience throughout the firm's practice areas, including occupational disease, securities fraud, consumer fraud, whistleblower, defective medical devices, anti-terrorism and opioid litigation.
Attorneys selected for membership include: John M. Eubanks (MD, SC), John D. Hurst (NC, PA, SC, WV), Josh Littlejohn (SC), William S. Norton (MA, NY, SC), Jonathan D. Orent (MA, RI, WI), Michael G. Rousseau (CA, MA, RI, WI), and Elizabeth Smith (DC, SC).
"Each of these attorneys was chosen for membership based on their knowledge, experience and commitment to seeking justice for our clients," said Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice. "I look forward to working with this talented group as they continue to grow and be part of leading our firm into the future."
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C., OFFICE
John Eubanks has been instrumental in the firm's anti-terrorism and human rights practice, representing victims and families in litigation aimed at bankrupting financiers of terror. John was a key member of the litigation team prosecuting Linde et al. v. Arab Bank Plc, the first litigation against a financial institution brought to trial under the Anti-Terrorism Act. John has also pursued litigation for people under the Alien Tort Statute, including victims of terrorism in Israel, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom, and victims of international human trafficking from Southeast Asia who were exploited by the camel-racing industry in Dubai. He has also played a significant role in litigation filed against the financiers and supporters of al Qaeda related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and, has pursued litigation against Libya for allegedly providing material resources to the Provisional Irish Republican Army, resulting in the death and injury of U.S. and U.K. citizens. John represented victims of a 2010 tour bus crash near Aswan, Egypt, that killed eight passengers and injured numerous others. John is a graduate of Georgetown University, and holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a published author on counterterrorism and security and was a central contributor to the non-fiction work American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us (Free Press 2002), which details the activities of organizations and individuals within the U.S. who provide material support and/or resources to Middle Eastern and Islamic terrorist organizations abroad.
Josh Littlejohn has a key role on the firm's securities litigation team and has represented people and institutions in securities fraud, corporate governance, SEC whistleblower, medical malpractice and catastrophic injury cases in state and federal courts. Josh has been involved in litigation against 3D Systems Corporation, St. Jude Medical, Pharmacia Corporation and NPS Pharmaceuticals, in addition to working on securities fraud cases against NASDAQ, the New York Stock Exchange and other defendants involved in high-frequency trading. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville and holds a J.D. from Charleston School of Law.
William Norton represents individuals and institutions in securities fraud, corporate governance, and other complex class actions and commercial litigations. Bill also represents SEC and qui tamwhistleblowers. He has litigated on behalf of public retirement systems, union pension funds, investment companies, banks and other institutional and individual investors before federal, state and appellate courts. He is a part of the litigation teams representing institutional investors as lead counsel in cases involving Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Investment Technology Group, Inc., GNC Holdings, Inc., and Medtronic, Inc. Previously, Bill practiced securities and commercial litigation in the New Yorkoffice of an international law firm. A graduate of the University of South Carolina Honors College with a J.D. from Boston University School of Law, Bill served as an Editor of the Boston University Law Reviewand was a G. Joseph Tauro Distinguished Scholar. During law school, he served as a law clerk in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts and represented asylum seekers at Greater Boston Legal Services.
PROVIDENCE, R.I., OFFICE
Jonathan Orent focuses his practice on representing people harmed by dangerous and defective medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs, including representing thousands of women who suffered painful and debilitating side effects associated with pelvic mesh and sling products, as well as hernia mesh patients. Jonathan currently serves as lead counsel of hernia mesh litigation In re Atrium Medical Corp. C-QUR Mesh Products Liability Litigation, MDL #2753. He serves as co-liaison counsel in transvaginal mesh litigation In re C.R. Bard Inc. in New Jersey state court and as state court liaison counsel in Massachusetts. He was part of the trial team for Barba v. Boston Scientific Corp., a transvaginal mesh case that resulted in a $10 million award. A graduate of the University of Rochesterwith a J.D. from Washington University School of Law, Jonathan served as a law clerk with the Missouri State Public Defender Youth Advocacy Unity and as a legal intern for Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinoisprior to joining Motley Rice.
Michael Rousseau focuses his practice on representing people harmed by defective medical devices and workers, families and others impacted by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related lung diseases. Most recently, Michael has played a key role in assisting thousands of women harmed by defective transvaginal mesh, including working on discovery and settlements. Previously, he spent five years heavily involved in Composix® Kugel® Mesh litigation, including defendant liability, discovery and trials. Additionally, he is also a member of the legal team that successfully advocated for an extension of the risk contribution theory of liability in Wisconsin, enabling lead-poisoned children and families to seek compensation from former manufacturers of lead paint. A graduate of Bentley College with a J.D. from Pepperdine University, Michael provided volunteer representation to autistic children to help them obtain special education services and physical therapy pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) prior to joining Motley Rice.
MORGANTOWN, W.V., OFFICE
As a central member of Motley Rice's occupational disease team, John Hurst represents people and families harmed by corporate misconduct, including asbestos, toxic exposure, catastrophic injury, defective medical devices and product liability cases. He practices in federal, state and bankruptcy courts at both the trial and appellate levels. John represents merchant mariners with Jones Act claims against their shipowner employers and has presented on this topic. In 2014, he was a key member of the Lydon v. T&N Limited (12-10013-FDS) trial team that obtained a compensatory and punitive damages verdict in Massachusetts federal court against a manufacturer of asbestos-containing fireproofing. John is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He co-authored "Premises Liability Update: Employee Cases," for Emerging Trends in Asbestos Litigation, (March 9-11, 2009).
WASHINGTON, D.C., OFFICE
Elizabeth Smith advocates for clients harmed by corporate wrongdoing, as well as representing people in cases related to anti-terrorism, human rights, tobacco, and public client litigation. She currently represents government entities in litigation targeting the alleged deceptive marketing and overprescribing of highly addictive opioid painkillers, as well as people impacted by tobacco products. She also represents the 9/11 Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism multidistrict litigation aiming to bankrupt financiers of al Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Elizabeth holds additional experience in personal injury and consumer protection litigation, including vehicle defect cases, asbestos litigation, medical device cases, and lead paint poisoning. A graduate of Furman University with a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law, Elizabeth served on the editorial board of the ABA Real Property, Probate & Trust Journal, and was a law clerk for the Honorable Diane S. Goodstein, Circuit Court Judge of the First Judicial Circuit for South Carolina.
About Motley Rice LLC Motley Rice is one of the nation's largest plaintiffs' litigation firms. With a tradition of representing those whose rights have been violated, Motley Rice attorneys gained recognition for their pioneering asbestos lawsuits, their work with the State Attorneys General in the landmark litigation against Big Tobacco, and their representation of 9/11 families in the ongoing lawsuit against terrorist financiers. The firm continues to handle complex litigation in numerous areas, including securities fraud; antitrust; consumer protection; mesothelioma; environmental contamination; prescription and over-the-counter drugs; other medical devices; human rights; aviation disasters; and wrongful death. Motley Rice is headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and has additional offices in Connecticut; Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; New York; Missouri; Rhode Island; and West Virginia. For more information call 1.800.768.4026 or visit www.motleyrice.com, or contact Motley Rice attorney Joe Rice (DC, SC). Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
