Paul Napoli
Paul J. Napoli passed away leaving behind a legacy of love, courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to justice. He was a loving husband, devoted father, cherished son, brother, and a friend to countless people whose lives were forever changed by his generosity and kindness. While he became one of the nation’s most respected trial lawyers, those who knew him best will remember him first for the man he was a caregiver, a protector, and someone who simply could not walk away when another person needed help.
Paul’s wife was the love of his life and his partner in every sense of the word. Together they built not only an extraordinary legal career, but an extraordinary family. He was the proud and loving father whose children were the center of his world.
Paul’s greatest strength was that he never accepted injustice. He simply could not stand by when people were being harmed or taken advantage of. Whether the opponent was a multinational corporation, a government entity, or an institution with seemingly unlimited resources, Paul believed that no one was above accountability. Throughout his life, he fought tirelessly for ordinary people whose voices otherwise may never have been heard.
That commitment defined a remarkable legal career spanning more than three decades. Paul earned his Bachelor of Science from Fordham University, his Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law, and later received his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Environmental Law from Lewis & Clark Law School. He was admitted to practice before the courts of New York, Illinois, the District of Columbia, numerous United States District Courts, several United States Courts of Appeals, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the United States Supreme Court.
Respected throughout the legal profession for his brilliance, integrity, and relentless preparation, Paul earned the admiration not only of his clients but also of judges, opposing counsel, and fellow attorneys. He believed that the law was at its best when it protected the vulnerable and held the powerful accountable.
Throughout his distinguished career, Paul led many of the most significant environmental, mass tort, and complex litigation matters in the country. He helped secure justice for victims of the World Trade Center attacks, represented communities devastated by the Flint Water Crisis, fought on behalf of cities and states during the opioid epidemic, and became a national leader in litigation involving PFAS “forever chemicals” contaminating America’s drinking water. As Co-Lead Counsel in the AFFF multidistrict litigation, his leadership helped produce more than $15 billion in settlements for public water systems across the United States.
Earlier in his career, Paul played a groundbreaking role in pharmaceutical litigation involving the dangerous Fen-Phen diet drugs, helping hold manufacturers and prescribing physicians accountable after thousands of patients suffered devastating injuries. Throughout his career, the names of the cases changed, but his purpose never did: protect people, expose wrongdoing, and demand accountability from those who placed profits ahead of public safety.
Perhaps no chapter better reflected Paul’s heart than his work following September 11, 2001. Appointed by the United States District Court as Co-Liaison Counsel representing more than 11,000 first responders, rescue workers, and recovery personnel, Paul dedicated years to ensuring those who risked everything for others would not be forgotten themselves. He was instrumental in securing settlements exceeding $900 million and worked tirelessly to help enact Jimmy Nolan’s Law and the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, legislation that continues to provide healthcare and compensation to thousands of first responders and survivors.
His commitment to those affected by September 11 extended far beyond the courtroom. Paul proudly served on the Board of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, helping preserve the memory of those lost while honoring the courage of those who answered the call to serve.
His dedication to public service also extended internationally as a founding member of the Trial Lawyers of Puerto Rico, where he worked alongside fellow attorneys to strengthen legal advocacy and improve the lives of communities throughout Puerto Rico.
Paul’s passion for environmental justice reached beyond litigation as well. Together with his wife, he established the Environmental Justice Laboratory at NYU School of Law to partner with communities confronting environmental racism and to educate future lawyers dedicated to creating a healthier and more equitable world.
His accomplishments earned him countless honors, including recognition by Super Lawyers, Lawdragon, Best Lawyers in America, Law360, Martindale-Hubbell, and numerous national legal organizations. Yet accolades were never what motivated him. Winning awards mattered far less than winning justice for someone who had nowhere else to turn.
Despite his extraordinary professional success, Paul’s family remained his greatest achievement. His wife was his partner at work, his teammate in life, and his greatest source of strength. They met as law students at St. John’s University and spent decades building a life together rooted in love, shared purpose, and mutual respect. Together they raised their children, built an internationally respected law practice, supported charitable causes, and shared countless adventures. Whether skiing, playing tennis, watching basketball, traveling, or simply spending time with their family, they approached life as true partners. Paul often said there was no one else he would rather have beside him in life’s hardest moments. She was his rock, and he was her strength. Together, they made one another better.
Paul carried that same devotion into every relationship. He was the person family members called first when something went wrong because they knew he would answer. He never turned anyone away. Whether someone needed legal advice, financial help, encouragement, or simply someone willing to listen, Paul was there. He quietly took care of people because helping others was simply who he was.
Although known in court as a fierce and fearless advocate, at home he was remarkably gentle, thoughtful, and loving. Friends often remarked that the toughness he displayed in the courtroom disappeared the moment he was with his family. His children knew a father who celebrated every milestone, encouraged every dream, and taught by example that success means little unless it is used to lift others.
Those fortunate enough to know Paul understood that beneath the confident trial lawyer was a deeply compassionate man whose greatest joy came from seeing others succeed. His generosity extended to countless charitable organizations, educational institutions, first responder causes, healthcare initiatives, and community programs.
Following his successful initial battle with leukemia, Paul became an especially passionate supporter of organizations helping patients and families facing similar battles.
Paul J. Napoli’s legacy will not simply be measured in billions of dollars recovered for victims, historic verdicts, landmark legislation, or nationally recognized legal victories. His true legacy lives in the people he protected, the communities he strengthened, the family he adored, and the countless individuals who found hope because he refused to stop fighting for them.
He believed that injustice demanded action, that compassion required courage, and that every person deserved someone willing to stand beside them. He lived those beliefs every day.
Paul’s family was his heart. Justice was his calling. Service was his purpose.
His absence leaves an immeasurable void, but his example will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and never forgotten.
Donations in his memory may be made to Bonemarrow.org
New York Illinois
United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
United States District Court, Southern District of New York
United States District Court, Northern District of New York
United States District Court, Western District of New York
United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the District of Colorado
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Supreme Court
St. John’s University School of Law, J.D.
Fordham University, BS
Mr. Napoli’s dedication, success, and service to his clients is recognized throughout the legal community and he has been honored throughout his illustrious career to have received many awards from his peers and commendations from professional organizations. These include:
America’s Elite Trial Lawyers, 2014, which recognizes the major and notable victories attorneys have achieved for clients
America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators®, 2018
American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys (AIOPIA), Member
The American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Attorneys in the New York Metro Area, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014, which recognizes excellence in legal practice based on peer reviews and client feedback
The American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2008, 2016, 2017; Top 100 Trial Lawyers: New York, which recognizes a high degree of success in litigating cases
AV Preeminent ™Martindale-Hubbell® Top Rated Lawyers, a designation considered as the gold standard for peer and client reviews
Best of the Best Attorney’s Top 10 Personal Injury Law Attorney, 2020
Lawyers of Distinction, 2016
The Legal 500 United States, Top Tier 2014, which uses extensive background information and research to determine the top 500 lawyers and law firms each year
Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Senior Fellow
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
The National Association of Distinguished Counsel, 2016-2019
National Law Journal Top 50 Elite Trial Lawyer, a prestigious honor awarded to a select number of attorneys for having the highest total recoveries
National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys (NAOPIA), 2020
New York Super Lawyers® 2007-2019, which uses a multi-phase selection process to determine the best lawyers in the New York area
Trial Lawyers Board of Regents Litigator Awards, 2015 & 2016, Ranked Top 1% of Lawyers
As a recognized leader in the application and practice of law, Mr. Napoli shares his experience and skill with others in the legal field and uses his vast knowledge to further the pursuit of justice for victims. He was honored to have served on the Board of Directors of the New York Trial Lawyers Association, is active in numerous bar associations, has been interviewed on numerous television shows, in newspaper and magazine articles and is frequently consulted by attorneys around the country on a variety of legal issues.
National September 11th Memorial & Museum (Board Member)
American Bar Association
American Association for Justice
Diversity Law Institute, Member
Nassau County Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
Suffolk County Bar Association
Trial Law Institute, Member
St. John’s Loughlin Society (Benefactors’ Council)
St. John’s University School of Law Dean’s Advisory Counsel
Fordham University President Council
Speaker, “PFAS & Your Local Landfill: Managing Risk and Preparing for Regulations,” New York State of Associations (NYSAC) (November 14, 2019)
Speaker, “PFOAS and PFOS Contamination in NYS,” New York State City/County Management Association (NYSCMA), (May 29, 2019)
Panelist, “Avoiding Surprise: Unregulated Chemicals and Risk,” Perrin Conferences, (May 14, 2019)
Speaker, “PFAS Water Contamination,” National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO), (May 1-4, 2019)
Speaker, “PFOA – The Hot Documents,” HarrisMartin’s Water Contamination Litigation Conference, 2018
Faculty Member, “Groundwater Contamination Litigation: Proving and Defending Against Liability: Demonstrating Nexus, Causation and Injury to Recover Damages,” Strafford Webinars (June 5, 2018)
Speaker, “Opioids – The Latest Information and Strategies,” Masters of Mass Tort Seminar (January 17-19, 2018)
Speaker, “Flint Water Crisis: Get in the Know about Lead Poisoning and How It’s Litigated,” Perrin Conferences
Purdue’s Sacklers Shifted $1B Amid Opioid Fight, NY AG Says, Law360 (September 13, 2019)
More than 100 firefighting foam cases combined in complex litigation, ChemicalWatch Global Risk & Regulation News (August 15, 2019)
Purdue’s Sackler Family Must Face Opioid Suits in New York, Bloomberg (June 24, 2019)
NY Judge Allows Opioid Claims to Go Forward Against Sacklers, New York Law Journal (June 24, 2019)
Sacklers Can’t Escape NY Opioid MDL, Law360 (June 24, 2019)
NY Counties Join Battle Over 911 Fees Against Telecoms, Law360 (May 2, 2019)
Maine cities’ lawsuits against opioid makers moved to federal courts in Ohio, Bangor Daily News (December 24, 2018)
Five more counties file lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies for opioid epidemic, West Virginia Record (December 17, 2018)
Tucson, Marana file suit over contaminated water supply, NBC News 4 Tucson (November 8, 2018)
Ohio city seeks damages from 3M, others over alleged water well contamination, Legal NewsLine (October 12, 2018)
City of Dayton Press Conference: Regional Water Supply Contamination
City of Dayton files lawsuit against companies related to PFAS contamination, ABC-22 NOW (October 3, 2018)
Tyco, 3M, Others Want Out of Foam-Contaminated Water Suit, Law360 (September 11, 2018)
Marie Napoli’s Defamation Claim Proceeds Against Husband’s Ex-Partner, Attorney, New York Law Journal (August 16, 2018)
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Carmen Victoria St. George allows Marie Napoli’s defamation and tort claims against Napoli’s former Partner, his attorney and publicist to continue.
Portland (ME) opioid lawsuit may end up in Ohio federal court, the Forecaster (July 30, 2018)
Drug companies want to move Portland’s opioid lawsuit to Ohio, CBS Local Affiliate WGME-13 (July 28, 2018)
Suffolk judge rules counties’ suit against opioid makers can go forward, Newsday (July 18, 2018)
NY Opioid Litigation on Fast Track as Judge Rules Counties May Press Claims Against Distributors, New York Law Journal (July 17, 2018)
Counties move forward with opioid lawsuit, Rockland/Westchester Journal News, part of the USA Today Network (June 26, 2018)
Judge Refuses Drugmakers’ Bid to Dismiss New York Opioid Cases, New York Law Journal (June 18, 2018)
2nd Circuit Revives 9/11 Workers’ Suit Against Battery Park City Authority, New York Law Journal (June 6, 2018)
Exclusive: Are Love Canal chemicals still making people sick?, The Buffalo News (June 1, 2018)
Priest alleges minor children harmed by lead exposure in Peru, St. Louis Record (May 28, 2018)
Study predicts most new cases of mesothelioma will not be related to occupational exposure after 2040, Madison-St. ClairRecord (May 7, 2018)
Opioid Watch, The Opioid Research Institute (April 17, 2018)
Damages sought from owners of metallurgical complex in Peru over minor childrens’ alleged injuries, St. Louis Record (April 5, 2018)
Nation’s top pain doctors face scores of opioid lawsuits, YAHOO! Finance (April 3, 2018)
New York Opioid Litigation Won’t Be Stayed; Lawyers Seeking 1,000 More County-Plaintiffs, Forbes.com (March 15, 2018)
Palm Beach County picks legal team to pursue opioid litigation, Sun Sentinel (March 13, 2018)
Opioid Judge Allows Some Discovery, Motions to Go Forward in MDL, The National Law Journal (March 7, 2018)
City of Gary files lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors, Chicago Crusader February 8, 2018)
Westchester County Sues Drug Makers Over Opioid Crisis, CBS New York Local (February 6, 2018)
Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead Counsel in In Re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2:18-mn-2873-RMG) by United States District Court Judge Richard Mark Gergel for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division
Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel in the West Virginia Opioid Litigation (Civil Action No. 17-C-248) by Honorable David W. Hummel, Jr. of the Second Judicial Circuit Court, Division 2 of Marshall County, West Virginia
Liaison Counsel in the Colorado PFOA / PFOS Toxic Tort Litigation (Bell, et al. v. The 3M Company, et al., No. 1:16-cv-02351-RBJ) by Honorable R. Brooke Jackson of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.
Co-Lead Counsel in the New York Opioid Cost Recovery Litigation by Justice Jerry Garguilo of the Supreme Court of the State of New York for Suffolk County
Appointed by the Supreme Court of the State of New York as a Liaison Counsel for the New York State Consolidated Diet Drug litigations In re: Diet Drug (Phentermine, fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine) Products Liability Litigation
Plaintiffs’ Discovery Committee for In re: MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) Products Liability Litigation (MDL-1358), United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Judge Shira Scheindlin) on Environmental Contamination of Municipal Water Supplies of MTBE by Petroleum Refiners and Retailers
New York Court Appointed Member of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for In re Rezulin Products Liability Litigation (removed from the US market 3/21/2000)
Plaintiff’s Co-Liaison Counsel for In re: World Trade Center Disaster Site Litigation, 21 MC 100 (AKH) settled in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein
Litigation Combats Hazards of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam Products, American Water Works Association (AWWA) Opflow Magazine (August 2019)
PFAS: A New Frontier for Waste Management and Landfill Leachate, New York State Association for Solid Waste Management (NYSASWM) (Volume 24 | Number 2 | Summer 2019)
Litigation Combats Hazards of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam Products, American Water Works Association (AWWA) Opflow Magazine (August 2019)
PFAS and Their Implications for Landfills
Talk of the Towns & Topics Vo. 33 No. 3 May/June 2019
NYSASWM Newsletter (March 1, 2019)
Statute of Limitations in Toxic Tort Cases: CPLR 214-f and Beyond, Paul Napoli and Michelle Greene, New York Law Journal (January 9, 2019)
September 11th, the Zadroga Act and World Trade Center Health Program, China Press (September 11, 2018)
*This article is in Mandarin-Chinese.
Opioid Crisis Costs: Is There a Cause of Action?, The New York Law Journal (November 16, 2017)
The Emerging Crisis of PFAS Exposure, The New York Law Journal (October 6, 2017)
“The Cost of Contamination,” American Water Works Association Journal, What’s New in Water and Waste Water, November 2012
Compensation through legislation for 9/11 responders and victims: An analysis of Zadroga (Co-Author Brian Crosby), Westlaw Journal – Toxic Torts, Volume 29, Issue 8 / June 2011
“Physician Liability In Diet Drug Litigation,” New York Law Journal (April 20, 1998)
Profiled in:
Mundy, Alicia, Dispensing with the Truth: The Victims, The Drug Companies, and the Dramatic Story Behind the Battle Over Fen-Phen, St. Martin’s Press, 2001.
Depalma, Anthony, CITY OF DUST: ILLNESS, ARROGANCE AND 9/11, FT Press, 2010
In re: World Trade Center Disaster Site Litigation, 21 MC 100 (AKH), United States District Court, Southern District of New York. Appointed Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel. Napoli negotiated a historic settlement of more than ten thousand workers’ claims against the City of New York, its contractors and other defendants in the mass tort litigation where first responders, construction workers, and laborers became ill as a result of toxic exposures suffered during the debris removal and clean-up operations at the World Trade Center and related sites following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
In re: MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1358, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Napoli attained more than $50 million in the settlement with ExxonMobil Corporation and other defendants on behalf of numerous municipalities and municipal water districts whose potable drinking water sources were endangered and contaminated by leaks of petroleum additive.
In Re: Nassau County Consolidated MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) Products Liability Litigation, Master Docket No.: 601516/09
Theodore Garille, Exec. Dir. for the Pascoag Util. Dist. v. Exxon Mobil Corp., et al. Providence Superior Ct., Case No. 02-2437 (Janice St. Ours v. Exxon Mobil Corp., et al. Providence Superior Ct., Case No. PC03-0079);
Gladys Marshall, et al., v. CSX Transportation, Inc., et al.;
In re: Diet Drug (Phentermine, fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine) Products Liability Litigation, United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Achieved a half-billion-dollar settlement on behalf of thousands of plaintiffs injured as a result of their ingestion of defective diet medications.
$52 Million Dollar Settlement for Environmental Contamination of Municipal Water Supplies of MTBE By Petroleum Refiners and Retailers
$875 Million Dollar Settlement on Behalf of Users of a Pharmaceutical That Caused Heart Defects
$118 Million Dollar Settlement on Behalf of Users of a Pharmaceutical that Caused Heart Defects
$220 Million Dollar Settlement on Behalf of Users of a Pharmaceutical that Caused Heart Defects
$712.5 Million Dollar Settlement of Injuries Sustained by Rescue and Recovery Workers at Ground Zero from Toxic Dust.
$24.5 Million Dollar Settlement of Injuries Sustained by Rescue and Recovery Workers at Ground Zero from Toxic Dust at Fresh Kills Landfill
$28 Million Dollar Settlement of Injuries Sustained by Rescue and Recovery Workers at Ground Zero from Toxic Dust While Working on the Barges and Piers
$47.5 Million Dollar Settlement of Injuries Sustained by Rescue and Recovery Workers at Ground Zero from Toxic Dust Recovered from The Port Authority Of New York and New Jersey
Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik LLP