Partner Coral M. Odiot-Rivera

Coral M. Odiot-Rivera

PARTNER

Coral Odiot-Rivera is a Partner in the firm’s Environmental Litigation Department, working out of the Puerto Rico office.

Education

Law School
Inter American University, School of Law, J.D., cum laude

Undergraduate Degree
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, B.A. in Social Science/Major: Political Science, magna cum laude

London School of Economics and Political Science
Visiting Student taking the course: “Conflict, the State and the Global Community: An Introduction to Political Thought”

Communications University of China (Beijing)
International Law School Program

Bar Admissions

Puerto Rico State Bar
Puerto Rico Federal Bar
Puerto Rico Notary Bar Approved
Bar of District of Columbia

Overview

Ms. Odiot-Rivera’s practice primarily focuses on environmental class actions and mass tort litigations. As a Partner, she plays an integral role in the ongoing, landmark negotiations in the AFFF Multi-District  Litigation, which Coral M. Odiot Rivera Law30 Rising Stars 2024-have resulted in multi-billion-dollar settlements with several defendants to date. She also leads several environmental litigations representing individuals and entities nationwide affected by air, soil, and/or water contamination encompassing a wide spectrum of hazardous substances, including lead, per- and polyfluoroakyl substances (PFAS), 1,4-CIO Women Trailblazers in Law Dioxane, and smelter plant by-products.

Coral graduated cum laude from the Interamerican University School of Law where she also was Editor in Chief of the school’s Law Review. She began her career clerking for the Hon. Anabelle Rodríguez Rodríguez, Associate Justice for the Puerto Rico Supreme Court (2012). After clerking for the Supreme Court, she worked as a legal advisor for the Civil Rights, Democratic Participation and Social Economy Committee of the Senate of Puerto Rico.

Prior to joining her current firm, Coral was a legal advisor for the Independent Consumer Protection Office (“ICPO”) representing the Puerto Rico energy consumer in matters before the Puerto Rico Energy Commission and Puerto Rico courts. As a legal advisor for the ICPO, Coral became knowledgeable in matters of Energy and Environmental Law and was given a scholarship by the National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys for a Georgetown Law Course about Regulating Public Utility Performance.

 

Other Experience

Assistant Professor for María Dolores Fernós, Esq. at Inter American University, School of Law

 

Recent Cases

*Results May Vary Depending On Your Particular Facts and Legal Circumstances*

$12.5 Billion Settlement with 3M Company
Napoli Shkolnik, along with other members of the PFAS Settlement Steering Committee, is proud to announce a $12.5 billion settlement with 3M Company in the ongoing multi-district litigation over the contamination of drinking water with toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) resulting from the widespread use of aqueous film-forming foam (“AFFF”). This historic class action settlement agreement resolves the claims of Public Water Systems across the country that have been impacted by actual or threatened contamination of their water systems with PFAS.
Judge Approves Historic $12.5 Billion 3M Settlement to Clean America’s Water Supplies

$1.185 Billion Settlement with Dupont, Chemours, Corteva
On June 22, 2023, Paul Napoli, along with the co-leads of the AFFF MDL reached a $1.185 billion settlement with DuPont, Chemours, Corteva to address PFAS contamination in public water systems’ drinking water supplies. This settlement was given preliminary approval on February 9, 2024. Once the court issues a final judgement, a 60-day period will begin during which class members can submit their claims forms to participate in the settlement.
Historic $1.18 Billion Settlement Approved with DuPont to Clean America’s Water Supplies

$750 Million Settlement with Tyco Fire Products LP
In a monumental stride towards addressing the nation’s PFAS water contamination crisis, Paul Napoli, along with the co-leads of the AFFF Multi-District Litigation, have achieved a groundbreaking $750 million settlement with Tyco Fire Products LP. This significant legal triumph will facilitate the remediation of drinking water sources for public water systems impacted by PFAS, a group of harmful chemicals found in AFFF. The agreement with Tyco was given preliminary Court approval by the Honorable Richard Gergel in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Napoli Shkolnik’s Paul Napoli and AFFF MDL Co-Leads Secure $750 Million Settlement with Tyco Fire Products LP in AFFF MDL

$316.5 Million Settlement with BASF Corporation
Napoli Shkolnik, along with Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead and Interim Class Counsel, is proud to announce a $316.5 million settlement with BASF Corporation (“BASF”) in the ongoing multi-district litigation (“MDL”) over the contamination of drinking water with toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) resulting from the widespread use of aqueous film-forming foam (“AFFF”). The settlement was negotiated by Partner Paul J. Napoli and the other Co-Lead Counsel in the AFFF MDL and resolves BASF’s liability for claims held by Public Water Systems across the country that have been impacted by actual or threatened contamination of their water systems with PFAS.
Napoli Shkolnik Announces $316.5 Million Settlement with BASF Corporation in AFFF MDL

EPA Announces Final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for 6 PFAS
As a law firm at the forefront of litigation against PFAS manufacturers, Napoli Shkolnik applauds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) for its landmark decision to establish regulatory limits on per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in drinking water. As legal representatives of thousands of public water systems in the Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (“AFFF”) Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”), the firm views this action as a pivotal moment in ensuring the safety and cleanliness of drinking water for the American people.
Napoli Shkolnik Applauds EPA’s Historic Action on PFAS Regulation in Drinking Water

Clerkships

Puerto Rico Supreme Court Justice Anabelle Rodríguez Rodríguez

Awards & Honors

  • Empowering Stories of Female Trailblazers in Law-2024
    CIO women Trailblazers in Law Badge
  • Law360 Rising Stars of 2024, Environmental
    • Ms. Odiot-Rivera is only 1 of 5 honorees in the Environmental category nationwide.
  • Scholarship granted by the National Conference of Regulatory Attorneys Semester Course: “Regulating Public Utility Performance: Bringing Competition to Historically Monopolistic Industries by Attorney Scott Hempling (Georgetown University Law School)
  • Scholarship granted by the University of Pennsylvania. Robert J. Thompson Leadership Academy Council of State Governments
  • Editor in Chief of the Inter-American University Law Review, Vol. XLVI
  • Scholarship granted by the Puerto Rico Legislature. Córdova and Fernós Legislative Internship: Hon. Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Intern

 

Pro Bono

Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico

Publications

Media Appearances

Speaking Engagements

  • Panelist, Environmental Justice Litigation, Shades of Mass Conference (September 21, 2024)
  • Faculty Member, Litigation to Protect Our Environment, AAJ International Practice Section CLE Program (July 21, 2024)
  • Panelist, Dirty Water and The Proliferation of Mass Tort Environmental Litigation, Mass Torts Puerto Rico (May 2, 2024)
  • Speaker, Access to Justice: Government Structure/Legislative Processes in PR, SOMOS PR (November 9, 2023)
  • Speaker, Access to Justice: How Laws Are Enacted in PR, SOMOS PR (November 9, 2023)
  • Presenter, PFAS Settlement Briefing: Award For Your Utility, NRWA Webinar Trainings (September 6, 2023)

Professional Affiliations

American Association for Justice (AAJ)

Federal Bar Association – Hon. Raymond L. Acosta Puerto Rico Chapter

Hispanic National Bar Association

Trial Lawyers of Puerto Rico