James J. Pizzirusso

Partner
Washington, DC

OVERVIEW

Experience

James has led Hausfeld’s consumer protection practice group since the firm’s inception and courts have personally appointed him to leadership positions in numerous successful consumer fraud class actions. He has a diverse practice centering on consumer protection and cybersecurity/privacy law, antitrust law (with an emphasis in agriculture), environmental torts, and sports and entertainment law. James’ practice also includes domestic and international environmental and public health litigation.

Clients

James has pursued justice on behalf of his clients, both domestically and abroad, in a wide variety of practice areas and on behalf of notable clients -- including musicians and professional athletes. He has successfully resolved the claims of numerous farmers and landowners in Barbados who suffered reduced crop yields and property damages as a result of a massive jet fuel spill. James has also represented farmers and other entities seeking damages related to unauthorized releases of genetically modified crops. Domestically, he has represented municipalities and individuals suffering harm related to lead paint and other toxic products.

James’ distinctive approach to litigation has resulted in recoveries of hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients and class members.

EVENTS

"Current Issues in Data Breach Class Actions," Mass Torts Made Perfect Seminar (Oct. 2020), Panelist
"Why Consumer Protection," ABA Antitrust Law Section (July 2020) Panelist
"Class Actions - Data Breach," Mass Torts Made Perfect (June 2020),
"Quantifying Violations Under US Privacy Laws," Sedona Conference Working Group 11 (June 2020), Panelist
"Law and Order In the Court," American Agricultural Law Association Education Symposium: Agricultural Antitrust Developments (March 2020)
"International Class Actions," Mass Torts Made Perfect Seminar (Oct. 2019),
"Hot Issues in Class Actions: Attorney-Client Privilege and More," NETDILIGENCE® Cyber Risk Summit, (Oct. 2019)
"Law and Order: How to Minimize Legal Risk and Litigate," Reducetarian Summit (Sept. 2019)
"The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): Defining and measuring statutory damages under U.S. privacy laws," Sedona Working Group 11 Midyear Meeting (Sept. 2019)
"Why Consumer Protection? A Panel on Careers in Consumer Protection," ABA Sal Consumer Protection Committee Telephonic Program (June 2019)
"Class Action Certifications," NETDILIGENCE® Cyber Risk Summit (June 2019)
"Know Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities," Plant Based World Expo (June 2019)
"Settlement Considerations Involving Recent Changes to Rules 23 and Local Rules Management of the Claims Administration Process," Class Action Roundtable (April 2019)
"Drafting a Reasonable Security Test," Sedona Working Group 11 Midyear Meeting (Sept. 2018)
"An Ethical Journey Through E-Discovery," American Bar Association Antitrust Law 2018 Spring Meeting (April 2018)
"Ethics and Pitfalls to Avoid in Class Action Litigation," Class Action Roundtable (April 2018)
"Litigating Multistate Class Actions," Cambridge - Plaintiffs' Class Action Forum (May 2017)
"Managing Class Action Cases," Cambridge - Plaintiffs' Class Action Forum (April 2016)
"Agricultural Antitrust: Cases and Issues," American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) Annual Symposium (Oct. 2016)
"The Capper Volstead Act - Recent Lessons from the Trenches," American Bar Association Antitrust Section's Agriculture and Food Committee (Dec. 2016)
"Transshipping and Neonics - Prospects for Litigation on Behalf of Honey Producers," North American Beekeeping Conference (Jan. 2014)
"Non-Traditional Approaches to Class Certification," Cambridge - Plaintiffs' Class Action Forum (April 2014)
"Class Action Settlements," Cambridge - Plaintiffs' Class Action Forum (April 2013)
"A Bumper Crop of Attacks on Capper Volstead," American Bar Association Antitrust Law 2013 Spring Meeting (April 2013)
"Ascertainability in Class Actions," Investor Educational Foundation Consumer Class Action Roundtable (Nov. 2013)
"Nationwide Certification of Class Actions; Managing Class Actions," Cambridge - Plaintiffs' Class Action Forum (April 2012)
"Ongoing Football Litigation," Independent Retired Football Players Summit & Conference (May 2012)
"Toxic Trespass and Other New and Emerging Toxic Torts," American Bar Association Committee Joint CLE Seminar (Jan. 2008)
"Outlook for Litigation," North Central Regional Conference on Eliminating Childhood Lead Poising (Sept. 2006)
"Developing Novel Theories of Recovery in Toxic Tort Litigation, Contamination Examination: A Workshop on the Changing Face of Chemical Contamination Litigation," American Bar Association CLE Program (Sept. 2006)
"Strategies for Pursuing Litigation Remedies," Northeast Regional Conference on Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning (Nov. 2006)
"Consumer Protection Law," D.C. BAR Animal Law Conference (April 2004)
"Public Interest Tort Litigation: Using Private Tort Actions to Further Environmental Justice & Public Ends," The Public Interest Enviornmental Law Conference (March 2003)

Epiq’s Mass and Class Summit

27 févr. 2023

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Chambers

USA:

Band 3, Privacy and Data Security: Litigation since 2021

Global Guide:

Privacy & Data Security: Litigation - USA (2023)

"A highly experienced litigator, noted for his successful track record acting for plaintiffs in high-stakes cybersecurity and privacy law class actions. A source reported that 'he is a thoughtful and strategic advocate who generates exceptional work product and results.' Another source noted that James 'is one of the leading plaintiffs' side class action litigators in the USA.'" (Chambers US, Privacy and Data Security: Litigation, 2021)

Sources stated, "He is a great lawyer and a big-picture thinker. He litigates a case from all perspectives. He is incredibly experienced, great to work with and a good professional." "He is unquestionably one of the leading plaintiff lawyers in the field. I found him to be a very smart lawyer, but also someone who is reasonable to work with and professional." (Chambers US, Privacy and Data Security: Litigation, 2021)

Law360

Cybersecurity & Privacy MVP in 2021

Lawdragon

Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers 2022
Leading Environmental & Energy Lawyer in 2021
Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer since 2019

National Law Journal

Washington, D.C. Trailblazer in 2020
Cybersecurity Trailblazer in 2017

Super Lawyers

Super Lawyer, Consumer Law in Washington, DC since 2016

Who's Who Legal

Global Leader, Competition: Plaintiff in 2020
International Who's Who of Competition Lawyers & Economists by the Global Competition Review and Who's Who Legal in 2014.

Other

DC Local Litigation Star from 2013-2015 and Antitrust Litigation Star in 2012 by Benchmark Litigation.
One of just four Rising Stars under 40, Consumer Protection and Privacy Law in 2012 by Law360.
James is regularly asked to appear as a speaker at conferences around the country and has presented on topics including antitrust, consumer protection, toxic torts, and public interest litigation.

- In re Processed Egg Products Antitrust Litig. – $136 million in settlements reached on behalf of direct purchasers of shell eggs.
- In re Fresh and Process Potatoes Antitrust Litig. – $19.5 million settlement reached on behalf of purchasers of potatoes.
- In re New Jersey Tax Sale Certificates Antitrust Litig. – $9.5 million settlement on behalf of victims of bid-rigging conspiracy related to tax sale certificates.
- Morris v. Bank of America, N.A. – Appointed co-lead, settlement pending.
- In re Sony PS3 “Other OS” Litig. – Appointed co-lead counsel in case involving falsely advertised PlayStations; $4 million settlement.
- Radosti v. Envision EMI, LLC – $17.5 million nationwide settlement.
- In re Tyson Foods, Inc., Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics Consumer Litig. – $8 million nationwide settlement.
- Brown v. Transurban (USA), Inc. – Appointed co-lead counsel; nationwide settlement in this case involving excessive toll lane fees.
- In re Honey Transshipping Litig. – $4 million nationwide Lanham Act settlement on behalf of honey producers.
- Represented Vital Farms in Lanham Act litigation against competitor resulting in confidential settlement.
- Bhatia v. 3M Company – Appointed Chair of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee; $32.5 million settlement for dentists who purchased defective Lava crown material.
- Wolph v. Acer America Corp. – Appointed co-lead counsel; disputed class involving defective computers certified on a nationwide basis; $22.7 million settlement later achieved.
- Pelletz v. Weyerhaeuser Company – Case involving defective decking product; nationwide settlement.
- In re Monsanto Company Genetically-Engineered Wheat Litig. – Chair of lead counsel group; settled claims for individual wheat farmers impacted by contamination from genetically engineered wheat.
- Represented numerous farmers and landowners in Barbados related to jet fuel contamination claims, confidential settlement achieved.

We have extensive experience representing public and governmental entities, including state Attorneys General Offices, municipal utility boards, and counties in high-stakes investigations and litigation involving a variety of legal practice areas, including antitrust, consumer protection, financial services, and environmental law. The firm’s public entity portfolio includes:
- Retention by state Attorneys General Offices for antitrust litigation against Big Tech platforms.
- Retention by the largest public water supplier in the country relating to environmental contamination.
- Retention by public entities to pursue antitrust claims relating to fraud in financial markets; and
- Retention by the state of West Virginia in one of the earliest cases against the pharmaceutical industry relating to the opioid crisis, filed decades before the current wave of opioid litigation.
- In re Warner Music Group Corp. Digital Downloads Litig. – Nationwide settlement of royalty dispute involving $11.5 million in past damages and future royalty increases in perpetuity.
- James v. UMG Recordings, Inc. - Nationwide settlement of royalty dispute involving $11.5 million in past damages and future royalty increases in perpetuity.
- Dryer v. Nat’l Football League – $50 million settlement on behalf asserting copyright and publicity rights claims from the NFL’s use of retired players’ images and likenesses.
- In re Equifax, Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litig. – Appointed to Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and Settlement Committee; $1.5 billion settlement.
- In re Target Corporation Customer Data Security Breach Litig. – Appointed to Steering Committee on behalf of financial institutions, nationwide class certification granted, $60 million settlement.
- First Choice Federal Credit Union v. Wendy’s – Appointed to Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee); $50 million settlement.
- In re The Home Depot, Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litig. – Chair of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee; $40 million settlement.
- In re Premera Blue Cross Customer Data Sec. Breach Litig. – Appointed to Executive Leadership Committee; $74 million settlement.
- In re Arby’s Rest. Group, Inc. Data Security Litig. – Appointed as Co-Lead; $3 million settlement.
- Greater Chautauqua Federal Credit Union v. Kmart Corp. – Appointed as co- lead; $18.5 million settlement.
- In re Marriott International Inc., Customer Data Security Breach Litig. – Appointed as co-lead; motion to dismiss denied, case pending.
- In re TikTok, Inc. Consumer Privacy Litig. – $92 million settlement for BIPA and privacy violations pending.

James J. Pizzirusso

OVERVIEW

EDUCATION

BAR ADMISSIONS

AFFILIATIONS

NEWS

Nine Hausfeld Lawyers Honored by Lawdragon as among the 500 Leading Consumer Plaintiff Lawyers for 2023

Hausfeld Lawyers Ranked by Chambers in their "Chambers Global Guide 2023"

Hausfeld renews numerous Tier 1 rankings in Chambers and Partners USA 2022

Federal judge rules massive data breach class action against Marriott may proceed

Lawdragon recognizes nine Hausfeld lawyers in its 2022 Lawdragon '500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers' and one in its 'Hall of Fame'

Hausfeld Partner James Pizzirusso named a 2021 Cybersecurity and Privacy MVP by Law360

Seven Hausfeld lawyers named to Lawdragon's 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers Guide 2021

Chambers and Partners USA (2021) recognizes Hausfeld and its lawyers in its highest tier

$393 million preliminary settlement reached with Bank of America on behalf of consumers

Four Hausfeld lawyers named to the inaugural 2021 Lawdragon ‘500 Leading Environmental & Energy Lawyers’ guide

The National Law Journal names Hausfeld Partner James Pizzirusso a "Washington, D.C. Trailblazer"

WWL 2020 counts 9 Hausfeld lawyers among world's top competition plaintiff lawyers

Seven Hausfeld lawyers named to Lawdragon's 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers Guide 2020

Five Hausfeld lawyers named to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers Guide 2019

Five Hausfeld lawyers recognised as 'Thought Leaders' for Competition by Who's Who Legal

16 Hausfeld lawyers recognized in 'Who's Who' of competition in the US and Europe

EVENTS

Epiq’s Mass and Class Summit

PUBLICATIONS

WHAT OTHERS SAY

EXPERIENCE

US

EUROPE

LEGAL NOTICES

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