Abbie Eliasberg Fuchs
Abbie concentrates in the areas of toxic and mass tort litigation matters, construction labor law and property damage cases, product liability, and pharmaceutical defense on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, insurers and their insureds. She is national coordinating counsel for asbestos litigation, DES litigation, maintenance service companies, a national inspection and audit company and represents manufacturers and distributors of asbestos containing products and major drug manufacturers and distributors on national defense counsel committees. She also has extensive experience in managing pre-litigation issues on behalf of environmental and construction companies. Additionally, she is settlement coordinating counsel for major litigation on behalf of insurance carriers. Abbie developed innovative methodologies and processes for communication to clients and other stakeholders which convey information in a consistent and reliable manner, facilitating and solidifying relationships between clients, insureds and other stakeholders. This approach has benefited clients in formulating and carrying out their litigation philosophy, whether it is based upon early dispositive motions, nominal settlement, mediation or trial-readiness. Additionally she is skilled in post-verdict settlements.
Abbie is the Settlement Coordinator for the In Re: World Trade Center (WTC) Lower Manhattan Disaster Site Litigation, in the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York managing the distribution of settlement funds to over 1,200 plaintiffs involving 400 defendants. She is responsible for negotiating, and finalizing 6000 settlement documents, resolving Medicare and Medicaid issues, addressing the Qualified Settlement Trusts and indemnification. She developed methodology for assessment and approval of individual settlements now employed by Judge Hellerstein in granting motions to approve settlements. Further, she was recognized in Law 360, March and June 2015, and other legal journals for her role in the coordination and approval of settlements in the In Re: World Trade Center (WTC) Lower Manhattan Disaster Site Litigation.
Abbie also represented several environmental consultants and construction companies in actions filed by thousands of rescue and recovery workers who allegedly developed respiratory illnesses as a result of exposure to nanoparticles, heavy metals, asbestos, dusts, fuel oil and other toxins at and around Ground Zero. World Trade Center Disaster Site Litigation (S.D.N.Y. Dockets 21-MC-100, 102, 103). She served as a defense counsel representative on several key, select committees in the WTC litigation.
In the construction labor law area, Abbie has experience handling construction labor law matters on behalf of premises owners in which it is alleged that construction workers have been injured due to violations of Sections 200, 240 and 241 of the Labor Law of New York. She has handled numerous matters in which workers and the general public claimed injury due to construction related debris and exposure, as well as property damage cases.
Abbie defends personal injury matters involving electrocution and property damage claims on behalf of a nonprofit organization that acts as a communications link between utility companies and individuals planning digging or excavation activity in the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. She has also represented clients in fire and explosion matters.
Abbie defends claims involving chemical and toxic exposures, including indoor air pollution, sick building syndrome, Legionella, silica, asbestos, personal insect repellants (DEET containing pesticides), and liquid drain cleaners. Specific areas of pharmaceutical experience include pregnancy preservation drugs (DES, Ritodrine), diet drugs (Fen-Phen), and nutritional supplements (LTryptophan). Abbie defends complex, high value bodily injury cases involving breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, mesothelioma, respiratory illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivities, and infertility and reproductive health problems. Over the past decade, Abbie has successfully mediated hundreds of serious injury and/or wrongful death cases.
- Inside Jersey, named among New Jersey’s top lawyers
- The New Jersey Law Journal, named among New Jersey’s top lawyers
- Avenue magazine, named among New York’s top litigation attorneys
- Selected as one of New York Area’s Top Rated Lawyers, an ALM multi-media resource
- Corporate Counsel, named one of the Top Rated Lawyers in Insurance in 2015 and every year since 2012
- The National Law Journal, named one of the Top Rated Lawyers in Insurance in 2015 and every year since 2012
- The Wall Street Journal, Best Lawyer in New York City, 2015
- Business Who’s Who Registry among Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs, named as a legal representative in 2011/2012
- New Jersey’s Women Leaders in the Law, 2015 and every year since 2011
- Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, 2015 and every year since 2009
- Martindale-Hubbell, Rated AV Preeminent in Insurance Law, 2015 and every year since 2009
- Martindale-Hubbell, Top Rated Lawyer, 2015 and every year since 2012
- American Lawyer Media, Top Rated Lawyer, 2015 and every year since 2012
- www.law.com, named among the 2015, 2014 and 2013 Top Rated Lawyers in Commercial Litigation and Legal Leaders: Mass Torts
- The National Law Journal, named among the 2015, 2014 and 2013 Top Rated Lawyers in Commercial Litigation and Legal Leaders: Mass Torts
- Corporate Counsel, named among the 2015, 2014 and 2013 Top Rated Lawyers in Commercial Litigation and Legal Leaders: Mass Torts
- The American Lawyer, named among the 2015, 2014 and 2013 Top Rated Lawyers in Commercial Litigation and Legal Leaders: Mass Torts
- Global Who’s Who, 2015, 2014 and 2013
- International Who’s Who of Professionals, 2015, 2014 and 2013
- New York’s Best Lawyers, 2015, 2014 and 2013
- Fortune Legal Marketplace special section, named among Women Leaders in the Law in October 6, 2014 and October 28, 2013
- The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel, named one of the Top Rated Lawyers in Insurance in August 2015 and every year since 2013
- Expert Network, Distinguished Lawyer Designation
- New York Metro Super Lawyers, Personal Injury -Products: Defense, Personal Injury - General: Defense and Class Action/Mass Torts, 2014 and 2015
- New York’s Women Leaders in the Law, 2015
- Martindale-Hubbell, Rated AV Preeminent, 2015 and every year since 2009
- Litigation Counsel of America, fellow
- Corporate America, 2016 Legal Elite
New York, New York 10005