Christopher A. Seeger

A native of New York City, Seeger is the son of a union carpenter and a homemaker. He pursued an amateur boxing career until he was 22. Seeger worked as a carpenter before beginning his undergraduate studies at Hunter College.{{cite news|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2005/09/14/attorney-ready-to-rumble/|title=Attorney ready to rumble|date=September 14, 2005|work=Orange County Register|last1=Johnson|first1=Linda A.|accessdate=July 9, 2020}}

Seeger graduated summa cum laude from Hunter in 1987, and magna cum laude from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1990. While in law school, he served as managing editor of the Cardozo Law Review.{{Cite web|url=http://www.seegerweiss.com/attorneys/partners/christopher-a-seeger#horizontalTab1|title=Christopher A. Seeger firm profile|website=seegerweiss.com|access-date=February 7, 2017}}

Seeger's first job out of law school was with a "white-shoe" firm that represented major corporations, which he left in 1993 to work instead on behalf of plaintiffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.yelp.com/biz/seeger-weiss-new-york|title=Yelp: Seeger Weiss LLP|accessdate=July 9, 2020}} In 1999 he co-founded with Stephen A. Weiss the plaintiffs’ law firm Seeger Weiss LLP. As of 2020, the firm maintains offices in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.{{Cite web|url=http://www.seegerweiss.com/our-firm/|title=Seeger Weiss: Our Firm|website=seegerweiss.com|access-date=July 9, 2020}}

In 2003, Seeger recovered a $2 million verdict following a six-week jury trial against drug maker Pfizer on behalf of a Brooklyn resident who sustained livery injury following her use of the diabetes medication Rezulin. The case was the first Rezulin matter to be tried in New York and represented a watershed result in the nationwide Rezulin litigation. Seeger subsequently reached a global settlement with Pfizer on behalf of his firm's clients.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seegerweiss.com/drug-injury/rezulin/liability/|title=Seeger Weiss: Rezulin|website=seegerweiss.com|access-date=July 9, 2020}}

In 2005, Seeger was appointed co-lead counsel of Vioxx-related MDL against Merck by U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2005/04/11/daily3.html|title=Alabama attorney appointed co-lead counsel in Vioxx lawsuits|date=April 11, 2005|work=Birmingham Business Journal|accessdate=July 10, 2020}} In 2007, Seeger won a $47.5 million verdict on behalf of an individual plaintiff, Idaho postal worker Frederick "Mike" Humeston, who suffered a heart attack after taking the drug.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117370956978834114|title=Jury Awards $47.5 Million To Man in Vioxx Retrial|date=March 13, 2007|work=Wall Street Journal|last1=Won Tesoriero|first1=Heather|accessdate=July 10, 2020}} In 2008, Seeger was a lead negotiator in the $4.85 billion Vioxx settlement on behalf of plaintiffs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/07/17/merck-will-fund-vioxx-settlement/|title=Merck will fund Vioxx settlement|date=July 8, 2020|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=July 9, 2020}} Seeger was one of the first lawyers to file a Vioxx-related injury lawsuit against Merck.{{cite news|url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/money/ex-boxer-attorney-takes-on-merck/article_b3a27e61-ebdb-52ad-91da-072023bce7ec.html|title=Ex-boxer, attorney takes on Merck|date=September 18, 2005|work=East Valley Tribune|accessdate=July 9, 2020}}

In 2009, Seeger represented homeowners who had defective Chinese-manufactured drywall installed in their homes. The drywall emitted noxious fumes which caused headaches and rashes, made breathing difficult,{{cite journal|date=May 4, 2009|title=Wallboard Woes|journal=Chemical & Engineering News|volume=87|issue=18|pages=50–51|last1=Halford|first1=Bethany|doi=10.1021/cen-v087n018.p050}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/drywall/guide_healthcare_providers.htm|title=Imported Drywall and Health: A Guide for Healthcare Providers|date=March 3, 2011|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|accessdate=February 7, 2017}} and damaged household wiring and plumbing.{{cite document|title=Seeger Weiss Wins Again for Plaintiffs in Chinese Drywall Verdict, as Federal Judge Awards New Orleans Family $164,000 in Damages|date=May 15, 2010|publisher=NewsRx.com|pages=107|id = {{ProQuest|215443435}}}} Seeger secured the initial trial victories against the companies that produced and distributed the drywall, paving the way for a subsequent $1 billion nationwide settlement.{{cite document|title=Seeger Weiss Prevails for Plaintiffs in First Chinese Drywall Verdict, as Federal Judge Awards Seven Virginia Families $2.6 Million for Remediation|publisher=NewsRx.com|id = {{ProQuest|195416548}}}}

In 2011, he was appointed to the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in the multidistrict litigation related to DePuy Orthopaedics' defective hip implants,{{cite web|title=Christopher A. Seeger Appointed to Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in Multidistrict Depuy Hip Implant Litigation|url=http://www.seegerweiss.com/news/christopher-seeger-plaintiffs-executive-committee-depuy|website=seegerweiss.com|accessdate=February 7, 2017|date=January 27, 2011}} which resulted in DePuy's parent company Johnson & Johnson agreeing to a global settlement of $2.5 billion.{{cite news|last1=Dye|first1=Jessica|title=J&J unit to pay $2.5 billion in U.S. hip implant settlement|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jj-hips-settlement-idUSBRE9AI1A820131120|accessdate=February 7, 2017|work=Reuters|date=November 19, 2013}}

Since 2012, Seeger served as lead counsel representing retired NFL players in a suit brought against the league for hiding the dangers of concussion injuries. He negotiated a settlement in which the NFL agreed to pay an uncapped amount, estimated to be over $1.5 billion,{{Cite news|url=http://www.thelegalintelligencer.com/id=1202774467740/Supreme-Court-Rejects-NFL-Settlement-Challenge?slreturn=20170107110725|title=Supreme Court Rejects NFL Settlement Challenge|last=Mitchell|first=Max|date=December 12, 2016|newspaper=The Legal Intelligencer|access-date=February 7, 2017}} to address the medical costs of over 20,000 former players who suffered traumatic brain injuries during their professional careers. The settlement was approved by a federal court and upheld by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in April 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/federal-appeals-court-denies-en-banc-hearing-concussion-suit-article-1.2657682|title=Federal appeals court denies en banc hearing in NFL concussion lawsuit|last=Red|first=Christian|date=June 1, 2016|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=February 7, 2017}} As of September 2023, more than $1.2 billion in claims have been approved.{{Cite web |title=Historic NFL Concussion Settlement's Benefits Critical for Retired Players and their Families |url=https://www.seegerweiss.com/historic-nfl-concussion-settlement-benefits/ |accessdate=September 15, 2023 |website=seegerweiss.com}}

In 2016, Seeger was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the “clean diesel” litigation against German automaker Volkswagen in connection to the company's project to game the emissions tests on their cars. He also served on the settlement committee, which negotiated an approximately $14 billion settlement with VW on behalf of plaintiffs.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/11/509318791/volkswagen-to-plead-guilty-pay-4-3-billion-in-emissions-scheme-settlement|title=Volkswagen To Plead Guilty, Pay $4.3 Billion In Emissions Scheme Settlement|date=January 11, 2017|work=NPR|last1=Kennedy|first1=Merrit|accessdate=February 7, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/06/volkswagen-settlement/488657/|title=Volkswagen's $10 Billion Settlement|date=June 24, 2016|work=The Atlantic|ref=VWAtlantic|last1=Lam|first1=Bourree|accessdate=February 7, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.law360.com/articles/1039867|title=Titan Of The Plaintiffs Bar: Seeger Weiss' Christopher Seeger|date=May 15, 2018|work=Law 360|last1=Archer|first1=Rick|accessdate=July 13, 2020}}

In 2017, Seeger served as lead negotiator in litigation against agrochemical giant Syngenta regarding Viptera genetically modified corn. The settlement, reached in 2018, totaled $1.5 billion for plaintiffs (primarily U.S. corn farmers).{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2020/03/18/syngenta-class-action-settlement-payments-approved.html|title=Payments from $1.5B Syngenta settlement led by KC firm will begin soon|date=March 18, 2020|work=Kansas City Business Journal|last1=Dornbrook|first1=James|accessdate=July 13, 2020}} It represents the largest agricultural litigation settlement in U.S. history.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2018/03/13/kc-law-firm-reaches-1-51b-settlement-in-corn-seed.html|title=KC law firm reaches $1.51B settlement in corn seed case|date=March 13, 2018|work=Kansas City Business Journal|last1=Dornbrook|first1=James|accessdate=July 13, 2020}}

In 2019, Seeger was appointed co-lead counsel in multidistrict litigation against 3M. The litigation includes over 250,000 veterans suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus after using earplugs 3M sold to the U.S. Department of Defense, which the suit claims the company knew to be faulty.{{cite news|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/judge-unseals-hundreds-of-pages-of-documents-in-veterans-lawsuit-against-3m-over-earplugs-1.627827|title=Judge unseals hundreds of pages of documents in veterans' lawsuit against 3M over earplugs|date=April 29, 2020|work=Stars and Stripes|last1=Thayer|first1=Rose L.|accessdate=July 13, 2020}} In 2023, he negotiated a $6.01 billion settlement to resolve the case.{{Cite news |last=Price |first=Jay |date=September 7, 2023 |title="3M agrees to pay $6 billion to service members for faulty earplugs" |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/09/07/1198301845/3m-agrees-to-pay-6-billion-to-service-members-for-faulty-earplugs |access-date=September 15, 2023}}

Since 2019, Seeger has served as interim co-lead counsel for a proposed "negotiation class" of local governments in the pursuit of a nationwide settlement against drug companies in multidistrict opioid litigation.{{cite news|url=https://www.law360.com/lifesciences/articles/1189998/lead-attys-approved-for-opioid-mdl-negotiation-class-|title=Lead Attys Approved For Opioid MDL 'Negotiation Class'|date=August 19, 2019|work=Law 360|last1=Overley|first1=Jeff|accessdate=July 9, 2020}} Over 90 percent of litigating local governments participated in global settlements with AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson, and Johnson & Johnson totaling $26 billion.

In 2021, it was announced that Seeger, along with civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, would be representing the family of Henrietta Lacks in a lawsuit against several pharmaceutical companies that have profited from the cell line HeLa, which is based on cervical cancer cells taken from Lacks without her knowledge in 1951.{{Cite journal|date=6 August 2021|title=Lack's family to sue over cells|journal=Science|volume=373|issue=6555|pages=602}} The first lawsuit was filed against ThermoFisher.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-04 |title=Henrietta Lacks estate sues company using her 'stolen' cells |url=https://apnews.com/article/business-thermo-fisher-scientific-inc-lawsuits-race-and-ethnicity-health-1b7942bb535b3656195d2347c9e676be |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}  

In 2022, Seeger was appointed Co-lead Counsel in an MDL prosecuting claims related to the disintegration or outgassing of foam in Philips CPAP sleep apnea machines and other Philips assisted breathing devices.{{Cite web |last=Bronstad |first=Amanda |date=February 16, 2022 |title='A Wealth of Talent.' Judge Appoints Diverse Team to Lead Philips CPAP MDL |url=https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2022/02/16/a-wealth-of-talent-judge-appoints-diverse-team-to-lead-philips-cpap-mdl/ |website=Law.com}} On September 7, 2023, a settlement to resolve economic claims, worth at least $479 million, was announced.{{Cite web |last=Maruf |first=Ramishah |date=2023-09-08 |title=CPAP maker Philips agrees to pay at least $479 million to users over recalled devices {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/08/business/philips-cpap-recall-settlement/index.html |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=CNN |language=en}} The settlement does not cover personal injury or medical monitoring claims, which are still pending.{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Seeger |date=2023-09-07 |title=Seeger Weiss Announces Settlement with Philips to Resolve Economic Loss Claims for Recalled CPAPs, Bi-PAPs, And Ventilators |url=https://www.seegerweiss.com/news/settlement-with-philips-to-resolve-economic-loss-claims-for-recalled-cpaps-bi-paps-and-ventilators/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=Seeger Weiss LLP |language=en-US}}

Since his time as an amateur boxer,{{cite news|last1=Akers|first1=W.M.|title=Judge Judo: Lawyer Chris Seeger Takes His Case Ringside|url=http://observer.com/2010/10/judge-judo-lawyer-chris-seeger-takes-his-case-ringside/|accessdate=February 7, 2017|work=New York Observer|date=October 20, 2010}} Seeger has also competed in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and was awarded first place for his age and weight class in the 2012 Pan American No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Championship.{{cite web|title=2012 Pan No-Gi Grappling Championships (New York)|url=http://www.bjjlegends.com/index.php/reviews/tournament/item/991-2012-pan-no-gi-grappling-championships-results|website=Jiu Jitsu BJJ Legends|accessdate=February 7, 2017|date=September 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208035457/http://www.bjjlegends.com/index.php/reviews/tournament/item/991-2012-pan-no-gi-grappling-championships-results|archive-date=February 8, 2017|url-status=dead}} He received his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2017.{{cite web|title=bio|url=https://www.seegerweiss.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Chris-Seeger-Bio-FINAL-5-31-18.pdf|website=seegerweiss.com|date=May 31, 2018|accessdate=July 13, 2020}}

Seeger is an elected member of the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers. He sits on the advisory board at the New York University Law School Civil Justice Center and on the Leadership Council at the Bolch Judicial Institute’s Leadership Council Duke Law School. He is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Round Table. Chris was recognized with The National Law Journal’s Elite Trial Lawyers Lifetime Achievement Award{{Cite web |title=2022 Honorees: Elite Trial Lawyers 2022 |url=https://www.event.law.com/nationallawjournal-etl/2022-honorees |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=www.event.law.com |language=en-AG}} in 2022. The award honors Chris for the indelible mark he has left on his community, clients, and practice throughout his accomplished career in the plaintiffs’ bar.

• Chinese drywall
• 2010 DePuy Hip Recall
• Volkswagen emissions scandal
• Federal NFL Concussion Litigation

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Category:Living people

Category:Hunter College alumni

Category:Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law alumni

Category:New York (state) lawyers

Category:1960 births