Overview
Hunter J. Shkolnik leads the discovery and trial teams of various mass tort litigations, including Environmental, pharmaceutical and medical device litigations for Napoli Shkolnik. He is also active in managing national litigation and plaintiff litigation groups including for the American Association for Justice. Most recently over the past two years and also scheduled for 2025, an invited lecturer on such topics as Recusals, Motions to Disqualify, Mandamus, Impeachment and the Related Professionalism Issues at the Baylor and Texas Tech MDL Judicial Summits held in Aspen Colorado.
He has most recently served on settlement committees in the Johnson & Johnson Talc/ Red River Bankruptcy Torts Creditors Committee; National Opioid Litigation; New York State Opioid Litigation; Kidde AFFF Bankruptcy Unsecured Creditors Committee alongside MDL Lead Counsel; Flint Water Litigation helping achieve and papering settlements exceeding $60 Billion dollars.
Mr. Shkolnik is currently serving as a chairman, leader, or court-appointed representative on Plaintiff Steering Committees in various drug and other mass torts. Additionally, he has also held officer positions in the New York State Trial Lawyers, Nassau County Bar Association and Committee Chair positions in ATLA Health Care Finance Litigation Group, Orthopedic Implant Litigation Group, AAJ Breast Cancer Litigation Group, Co-Chair AAJ Heart Device Litigation Group, and the Chair of the Medtronic ICD and CRTD Litigation Subgroup.
Hunter is a founding board member of the Trial Lawyers of Puerto Rico (TLPR), a trade association bringing together top trial lawyers to share expertise, build partnerships, and to add value to the local Puerto Rico community.
Mr. Shkolnik has also lectured and organized seminars on issues involving Guidant, Medtronic, and St. Jude pacemakers; ICD and lead wire recall science and litigation; cardiac device product liability litigation; class action topics such as Ethics of Mass Tort Settlements, Lone Pine, State Federal Coordination and Preemption; and has — on multiple occasions — lectured on the science related to various pharmaceuticals. He also returned as a featured speak at the 3rd Annual Mass Torts Puerto Rico (MTPR) Conference.
He is a legal and political news analyst with extensive experience in areas such as civil and criminal law as well as election-related issues.
Other Experience
- Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik LLP
- Rheingold, Valet, Rheingold, Shkolnik & McCartney
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
$600 Million Settlement in the Flint Water Litigation
Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, as co-liaison and negotiating counsel in the Flint Water Litigation, along with interim class counsel and representatives of the State of Michigan Attorney General’s office, reached a landmark wide- reaching $600 million settlement with the State of Michigan, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (now the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy), City of Flint, former Governor Richard Snyder, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and several other State and City employees in the Flint Water Crisis Litigation on behalf of the citizens of Flint, Michigan.
$320 Million Opioid Settlement
This landmark settlement was reached on behalf of Cuyahoga County (Ohio), one of the bellwether plaintiffs in the National Opioid Litigation, against four of the key players responsible for the opioid epidemic.
$650 Million Ruling in National Pharmacy Chain Opioid Trial
U.S. District Court for Northern Ohio Judge Dan Aaron Polster ruled that CVS, Walgreens and Walmart must pay over $650 million over 15 years and set up an abatement program to Lake and Trumbull counties. The ruling is the first by a federal judge that assigns a monetary amount against pharmacy chains for their role in the opioid epidemic.
The funds will be used in programs to address the fallout from opioid abuse the defendant’s marketing of opioids caused.
Jury Verdict in New York Opioid Jury Trial
The jury held Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Cephalon, Inc., Actavis, LLC, Actavis Pharma, Inc., Watson Laboratories, Inc., and Anda, Inc. responsible for causing a public nuisance.
(Napoli Shkolnik is Counsel to Nassau County.)
$1.1 Billion Settlement: New York Opioid Jury Trial
This settlement was reached with the three largest drug distributors, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson, in the first opioid jury trial.
(Napoli Shkolnik is Counsel to Nassau County.)
$50 Million Settlement: New York Opioid Jury Trial
Endo Pharmaceutical agreed to this settlement to end their involvement in the NY opioid jury trial, where the company was accused of its role in the opioid epidemic.
(Napoli Shkolnik is Counsel to Nassau County.)
Jeffrey Boatman, et ano. v. Uniflight, LLC
$24.1 Million Verdict in favor of helicopter crash victim
$650 Million Pharmaceutical Settlement
In re: Pradaxa (Dabigatran Etexilate) Products Liability Litigation: clients participated in the $650 Million Pradaxa Master Settlement Program for compensation for their bleeding injuries caused by the blood thinner Pradaxa.
Awards & Honors
American Association for Justice – Leaders Forum
Best Law Firms in New York, U.S. News & World Report, 2019
The Best Lawyers in America: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
The Best Lawyers in America©
The Best Lawyers in America: Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
El Toro Award, Trial Lawyers of Puerto Rico
The Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2023 & 2024
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow Marquis Who’s Who®, 2018
The National Trial Lawyers, Aviation Trial Lawyers – Top 10
New York Metro Super Lawyers®, 2006 – 2024
Professional Affiliations
• American Association of Justice (AAJ), PFC Water Contamination Group, Co-Chair
• American Association of Justice (AAJ), The Actos Bladder Cancer Litigation Group, Co-Chair
• American Association of Justice (AAJ), Past Vice-Chairman, Healthcare Finance Litigation Group
• American Association of Justice (AAJ) Health Orthopedic Implant Litigation Group, Past Vice-Chairman, Science Committee Director
• American Association of Justice (AAJ), Past Chairman, Health Breast Cancer Litigation Group
• American Association of Justice (AAJ), Co-Chair, Health Heart Device Litigation Group
• Law360’s 2020 Editorial Advisory Boards: Trials
• Law360’s 2021 Product Liability Advisory Board
• Long Island Affiliate of the NYSTLA, Past President
• Nassau County Bar Association, Past Vice-Chairman, Medical-Legal Committee
• New York State Trial Lawyers (NYSTLA), Board of Directors; Past Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, and Treasurer
• Suffolk County Bar Association
• Trial Lawyers of Puerto Rico (Founding Board Member)
