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.