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  OUR PRACTICE

A solutions oriented approach...

...to mass torts and complex litigation, grounded in integrity and fairness. Our practice spans four core areas: reaching resolution, administering large-scale aggregate settlements, overseeing common benefit administration, and managing complex pretrial proceedings.

When disputes appear unresolvable...

We step in as trusted neutrals to help parties find common ground. We strive to understand the interest and pressures on all sides in mass torts and complex litigation—defendants seeking certainty and finality, plaintiffs seeking fairness and justice, and courts seeking order. Our role is to listen, to identify what really matters to each stakeholder, and to develop settlement strategies that address those needs. By combining creativity, deep knowledge of the litigation, and our extensive experience, we help transform entrenched conflicts into workable resolutions.

Bard Hernia Mesh 
(MDL 2846, S.D. Ohio; R1 Super. Court)

Ms. Reisman and Ms. Theis, alongside Special Master John Jackson, successfully mediated a global resolution of tens of thousands of claims pending in both federal and state court, asserting personal injuries from the implantation of hernia mesh devices.

Hair Relaxers
(MDL 3060, N.D. Ill.)

Ms. Reisman was appointed Special Master to assist the Court in coordinating settlement negotiations and discussions among plaintiffs’ leadership and numerous defendants relating to allegations that various chemical hair straightening products caused certain reproductive cancers.

Covidien Hernia Mesh
(MDL 3029, D. Mass)

Ms. Reisman was appointed mediator in the MDL to facilitate settlement discussions relating to personal injury claims allegedly resulting from hernia mesh devices.

Bard TVM
(MDL 2187; S.D. W. Va.)

Ms. Reisman was appointed Special Master to facilitate settlement discussions between plaintiffs’ counsel and Bard in litigation alleging personal injuries due to Bard’s pelvic mesh products. In this role, Ms. Reisman has successfully mediated settlements of varying size, from individual claims to aggregate settlements.

Syngenta
(MDL 2591, D. Kan.; N.D. Ill.;
4th Judicial District Court, Hennepin Count, Minn.;
Circuit Court of Williamson County, Ill.)

Ms. Reisman was appointed by four judges in four jurisdictions and successfully mediated a nationwide $1.51 billion class action settlement to resolve economic loss claims by corn farmers and other plaintiffs alleging that Syngenta’s sale of corn with genetically modified traits that could not be sold to Chinese markets.

Social Media
(MDL 3407, N.D. Cal)

Ms. Reisman was selected by the parties to serve as mediator in litigation relating to harms allegedly caused by use of various social media platforms. Plaintiffs include state attorneys generals, school boards nationwide, and individuals asserting personal injury claims.

Proton Pump Inhibitors
(MDL 2789, D. N.J.)

Ms. Reisman was appointed Special Master and successfully mediated settlement discussions among plaintiffs and defendants who developed, manufactured, and sold PPIs. The class of drugs involved numerous products, including prescription, over-the-counter, branded, and generic.

Reaching a settlement is only the beginning.

What follows is the complex work of implementation. We design processes that are efficient and transparent, ensuring settlements are carried out smoothly and fairly. With a firm grounding in the litigation and the applicable science and medicine, we design frameworks to allocate funds fairly and equitably. We also speak directly with claimants facing extraordinary circumstances to ensure their voices are heard. At the same time, we work closely with key stakeholders—including counsel, claims vendors, lien administrators, and qualified settlement fund administrators—to ensure fair and efficient administration. Settlement administration demands flexibility, creativity, and a problem-solving mindset, qualities we bring to every engagement.

Bard Hernia Mesh 
(MDL 2846, S.D. Ohio; RI Super. Court)

Ms. Reisman was appointed Special Master in both the federal MDL and Rhode Island state court consolidated proceeding to administer a global settlement of tens of thousands of claims asserting personal injury from hernia mesh products. Ms. Reisman and Ms. Theis work daily with Administering Counsel and the claims vendor to create operational processes for the settlement. Ms. Reisman and Ms. Theis evaluate appeals where medical claims have been denied, communicate with plaintiffs’ counsel, defense counsel, and the courts as needed to resolve issues, and will conduct hearings for extraordinary injury claims.

Sexual Assault Claims

Ms. Reisman and Ms. Theis were chosen to develop processes for the submission, evaluation, and compensation of claims stemming from alleged sexual assault perpetrated in state juvenile facilities.

1983 Civil Rights

Ms. Theis was retained to allocate funds in a Section 1983 civil rights case where plaintiffs asserted they were arrested and unlawfully charged with gang-related felonies for participating in various Black Lives Matter protests. Ms. Theis evaluated each claim, developed and applied an allocation methodology, and also conducted hearings for plaintiffs requesting reconsideration.

GM Ignition Switch

Ms. Theis assisted the Master in Chancery with development of a framework, incorporating both medical and engineering components, for evaluating claims and used that framework to allocate settlement funds in an aggregate settlement involving personal injury and wrongful death claims from motor vehicle accidents.

Atrium Hernia Mesh
(MDL 2753, D. N.H.)

Ms. Reisman was appointed Special Master to administer a global aggregate settlement of thousands of claims asserting personal injury from hernia mesh products. Ms. Reisman and Ms. Theis evaluated the relevant medical information for each claim, heard and determined appeals, developed a methodology to allocate funds among the participating claimants, and conducted hearings and made compensation determinations for claimants asserting extraordinary injuries.

Zantac
(MDL 2924, S.D. Fla.; DE Super. Court)

Ms. Theis has been retained by several firms to develop methodologies to allocate settlement funds in aggregate settlements, and to hear appeals and requests for extraordinary injury from plaintiffs asserting that consumption of Zantac / ranitidine caused cancer.

Ethicon Hernia Mesh
(MDL 2782, N.D. Ga.)

Ms. Reisman was appointed Special Master to assist in the implementation of a global settlement of claims asserting personal injury allegedly resulting from hernia mesh devices. Ms. Reisman and Ms. Theis developed a framework for identifying compensable conditions and treatments and determined the value of each. Ms. Reisman also conducted hearings and determined compensation for plaintiffs asserting extraordinary injuries.

Syngenta
(MDL 2591, D. Kan.; N.D. Ill.;
4th Judicial District Court, Hennepin County, Minn.;
Circuit Court of Williamson County, Ill.)

Ms. Reisman and her team were responsible for overseeing all aspects of the implementation of the settlement and conducted first-hand evaluation and determination of appeals of claim determinations.

Large-scale Litigation requires thousands of hours of work and coordination among numerous firms.

We help ensure that the lawyers who undertake that effort are compensated fairly. Our role includes creating systems for the regular submission and review of time worked and expenses incurred for the common benefit, and assisting common benefit committees with developing litigation budgets and assessments to fund the work. After settlement, we review fee petitions, evaluate attorneys’ contributions to the common benefit, and prepare recommendations for fee allocations that parties and courts can rely on. We also work to build consensus among firms whenever possible, so that distributions are both equitable and accepted, avoiding the need for protracted fee disputes.

Abilify
(MDL 2734, N.D. Fla.)

Ms. Reisman was appointed Common Benefit Special Master and, with Ms. Theis, worked closely with the Common Benefit Committee to develop processes for regular common benefit time and expense submission, create and adhere to a budget for the litigation, and evaluated firms’ time and expense entries. After settlement, Ms. Reisman and Ms. Theis developed an application process for firms seeking common benefit compensation, reviewed and assessed the submissions. Ms. Reisman and Ms. Theis were able to achieve an agreed-upon common benefit allocation, which is set forth in a Report & Recommendation that was adopted by the Court.

Wells Fargo
(S.D. Ohio)

Ms. Reisman was appointed Special Master to recommend resolution of a fee dispute among Class Counsel in a class action settlement relating to claims that, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Defendant placed customers into mortgage forbearance without their consent.

Syngenta
(MDL 2591, D. Kan.; N.D. Ill.;
4th Judicial District Court, Hennepin County, Minn.;
Circuit Court of Williamson County, Ill.)

After settlement was reached, Ms. Reisman’s appointment in the Syngenta litigation was expanded to include determination of common benefit attorneys’ fees and expenses. Ms. Reisman and her team developed novel methods for allocating fees and Ms. Reisman’s Report & Recommendation as to fees and expenses were substantially adopted by the federal court supervising the settlement and by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on appeal.

Atrium Hernia Mesh
(MDL 2753, D. N.H.)

Ms. Reisman’s appointment was extended to include determination of common benefit attorney’s’ fees and expense awards. Together with Ms. Theis, Ms. Reisman undertook a review of the common benefit work performed over the course of the litigation by firms seeking compensation. Ms. Reisman submitted a Report & Recommendation to the Court with her recommended allocation of common benefit fees and expenses. No firms objected to Ms. Reisman’s Recommendations and so they were adopted by the Court.

Before resolution is possible...

Mass torts and complex litigation often involve managing thousands of cases simultaneously. We work with courts and the parties to design processes that bring order to that scale —coordinating bellwether and wave schedules, organizing case management procedures, and overseeing compliance with court orders. We address disputes as they arise, working with the parties to find workable solutions. Where an issue is best decided by the Court, we help narrow and frame the dispute for the Court and provide recommendations on complex legal issues.

3M Combat Arms Earplugs
(MDL 2734, N.D. Fla.)

Ms. Theis was appointed Special Master to oversee case-specific discovery for the “Wave” cases – groups of 500 cases concurrently moving through case-specific discovery. Ms. Theis coordinated closely with the parties to facilitate the orderly and efficient completion of discovery on the schedule established by the Court. Ms. Theis also mediated case-specific discovery disputes as they arose.

Proton Pump Inhibitors
(MDL 2789, D. N.J)

Ms. Reisman and her team assisted the Court with case-management of thousands of cases asserting kidney disease and other injuries resulting from the proton pump inhibitor class of drugs. Ms. Reisman issued Wave Orders and supervised pre-trial discovery, providing Reports & Recommendations to the Court on pre-trial motions, including preemption, expert admissibility, motions in limine, and motions to dismiss. Ms. Reisman and her team also assisted with docket clean-up.

© 2025 by Reisman & Theis LLP

Reisman & Theis LLP maintains this website to provide general information about the firm and the services it provides to its clients. The information on this website is not intended as legal advice, and anyone receiving this information should not act on it without consulting professional legal counsel.

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