James D. Gotz

  • Partner
  • Boston
  • jgotz@hausfeld.com
  • +1 617 207 0601
James Gotz

Experience

Environmental & Product Liability

  • Dodge v. Tezel – James has tried to verdict, as first chair, over a dozen jury cases in Massachusetts state and federal courts, including Dodge v. Tezel (Suffolk Superior Court), which remains the largest state verdict in a pedestrian versus vehicle negligence case, in excess of sixteen million dollars.
  • In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Product Liability Litigation – James managed, oversaw the strategy and actively participated in the scientific evidentiary hearing for in re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Product Liability Litigation, which resulted in one of the most oft-cited Daubert decisions in pharmaceutical MDL litigation. 

Public Entity

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.

OVERVIEW

Experience

For twenty-five years, James has represented clients both locally in Massachusetts and nationally in complex tort litigation, ranging from standalone catastrophic injury due to negligence and medical malpractice, to individual product liability actions and pharmaceutical/medical device mass torts.

Whether representing the families and victims of catastrophic injury, leading other plaintiff counsel in mass tort Multi-District Litigations (MDLs), engaging with opposing counsel or interacting with judges, James is known for, and takes pride in doing each with all his attention. No matter how challenging or adversarial the situation, James remains mindful, calm and considerate to secure the greatest possible success in his cases. His consistent winning results prove the value of his uniquely attentive approach. James seeks out the most challenging of situations in which to contribute his complex tort and mass tort experience.

In addition to his stand-alone complex tort practice, James has been a leader in pharmaceutical and medical device mass torts, starting with the Fen-Phen Diet Drug MDL in Philadelphia and most recently with his successful management to conclusion in the GranuFlo MDL litigation in Boston. James has been judicially appointed or invited to accept leadership roles in multiple drug and device MDLs, contributing his experience and skills relating to such matters as legal challenges to the admissibility of expert opinions (so-called Daubert challenges), litigation strategy, litigation management, and global resolution.

Clients

James represents individuals who have suffered catastrophic injury caused by the negligence or misconduct of corporations, whether that be pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, or other corporations threatening the health of surrounding communities.

James’ clients currently include: mothers whose children suffered birth defects due to anti-nausea medication taken during pregnancy; women who suffered internal organ damage from permanent birth control devices; women who developed ovarian cancer after long-term use of Talc powder; and lifelong smokers who developed lung cancer. 

EDUCATION

Suffolk University Law School, J.D. (with honors), 1994

University of Michigan, B.A., 1991

BAR ADMISSIONS

Massachusetts (State and Federal)

AFFILIATIONS

Massachusetts Bar Association (Former Member, Civil Litigation Section Council)

Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys (Former Member, Board of Governors)

Boston Bar Association (Former Co-Chair, Tort Committee)

American Association for Justice (Past Chair, Section on Toxic, Environment and Pharmaceutical Torts)

Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop (Faculty Member, 2009-2011, 2014-2015)

NEWS

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

  • Antitrust / Competition
  • Environmental & Product Liability
  • Technology & Data Breach
  • United States
  • Apr 28 2022

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

  • Commercial & Financial Disputes
  • United States
  • Jun 01 2021

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

  • Commercial & Financial Disputes
  • United States
  • Apr 16 2020

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

  • Commercial & Financial Disputes
  • United States
  • Jul 26 2019

Hausfeld expands to Boston, welcoming mass tort leaders James Gotz and Steve Rotman

  • Environmental & Product Liability
  • United States
  • Sep 05 2016

EVENTS

  • "The State of Daubert Law and Strategies for Overcoming Expert Challenges," American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Section on Toxic, Environmental and Pharmaceutical Litigation ( July 2020), Speaker

PUBLICATIONS

Lawdragon lawyer limelight: James D. Gotz

  • Environmental & Product Liability
  • United States
  • Dec 01 2019

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Lawdragon

  • Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers 2022
  • Top Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer since 2019

Other

  • Invited to participate as a faculty member for Harvard Law School’s Annual Trial Advocacy Workshop from 2009-2011 and 2014-2015, in recognition of his skills as a trial lawyer.
  • Frequently invited as a thought leader to speak about current issues in mass torts and drug/device MDLs at academic forums including the Duke Law School’s Bolch Judicial Institute and Emory Law School’s Institute for Complex Litigation and Mass Claims.