James Murdica

Jim Murdica is chairman of the Product Liability and Mass Torts practice for Barnes & Thornburg. Since 2016, Jim has been recognized by Chambers USA for his work in product liability and mass tort in the nationwide category.

Jim’s practice focuses on the defense of pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer product litigation in state and federal courts nationwide, particularly consolidated mass torts and multi-district litigations.

He serves as national coordinating counsel and MDL counsel for consolidated litigations across the U.S. involving thousands of plaintiffs as well as in numerous single-plaintiff cases involving pharmaceuticals, consumer products and medical devices. In conjunction with those roles, Jim emphasizes efficient discovery and manages significant mass tort e-discovery undertakings for his clients.

Experience

Regarding pharmaceutical and biologic manufacturers:

• Coordinating the national defense of a prescription diabetes drug alleged to have caused a multitude of injuries
• Coordinating the national defense and acting as MDL counsel for the defense of several thousand litigations and claims alleging serious nervous system and vascular injuries from the use of a prescription antibiotic
• Coordinating the national defense of hundreds of consolidated litigations alleging birth defects from exposure to an anticonvulsant medication in the Philadelphia Mass Torts Division
• Coordinating the defense of consolidated state litigations in California alleging a life-threatening skin condition and tendon injuries from the use of a prescription antibiotic
• Defending or assisting in the defense of consolidated and single plaintiff litigations regarding: anticoagulant medication, antidiabetic mediation, antipsychotic medications, antiepileptic medication, antibiotic medications, and various biologics that inhibit factors and bind proteins

Regarding medical device and consumer products manufacturers:

• Coordinating the national defense and serving as MDL counsel in the defense of a laparoscopic gynecologic surgical instrument for a medical device manufacturer
• Coordinating the national defense of more than a thousand litigants and serving as lead counsel in a consolidated state proceeding regarding vena cava filters for a medical device manufacturer
• Coordinating the national defense of contact lenses and vision devices for multiple medical device manufacturers
• Coordinating the national defense of personal injury litigations for a cardiac catheter manufacturer
• Defending the manufacturer of cardiac stents in a nationwide litigation alleging personal injuries from use of the device

Education

• University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., Senior Editor of Journal of Constitutional Law
• Cornell University, B.A., Chemistry