Jonah Shacknai

Shacknai earned a BS from Colgate University and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.{{Cite web|url=https://www.illustris.com/leadership|title=Leadership|website=Illustris|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/1426585|title=Jonah Shacknai, Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp: Profile and Biography|website=Bloomberg.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-16}}

From 1977 until the end of 1982 Shacknai worked as the Chief Aide to the committee on health policy in the US House of Representatives. He also served on the Commission on the Federal Drug Approval Process and the National Council on Drugs.{{Cite book|title=Hoover's Handbook of Emerging Companies 2004|last=Hoover's, Incorporated|publisher=Hoover's, Incorporated|year=2004|isbn=9781573110914|pages=239, 502}}{{Cite book|title=The role of R.& D. in improving the quality in urban life|last=United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Technology. Subcommittee on Domestic and International Scientific Planning, Analysis, and Cooperation|publisher=U.S. Govt. Print. Office|year=1978|pages=429}}

Shacknai was a member of the National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council and on the US-Israel Science and Technology Commission.{{Cite book|title=CQ Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report|publisher=Congressional Quarterly, Incorporated|year=1986|volume=44|pages=2099}}{{Cite book|title=Robotics: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight of the Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, Second Session|last=United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Technology. Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|year=1982|pages=1, 112}}

He was a senior partner at the law firm Royer, Shacknai and Mehle from 1982 until 1988. The firm represented multinational pharmaceutical companies, medical device makers and four major industry trade associations.

Shacknai founded Medicis Pharmaceuticals in 1988.{{Cite web|url=https://www.twst.com/interview/jonah-shacknai-medicis-pharmaceutical-corporation-mrx|title=Jonah Shacknai – Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (mrx)|date=2001-01-10|website=The Wall Street Transcript|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-16}} In 2012 he left his positions as CEO and chairman when Valeant Pharmaceuticals purchased Medicis for $2.6 billion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2012/12/11/valeant-medicis-complete-26b.html|title=Valeant, Medicis complete $2.6B merger; Shacknai out|last=Gonzales|first=Angela|date=11 December 2012|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2019-07-16}}

Shacknai has been married three times, and is the father of five children. One of his children, Max, was injured in July 2011, two days before Shacknai's then-girlfriend Rebecca Zahau died.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-zahau-day6-story.html|title=Parents of 6-year-old boy initially believed Rebecca Zahau saved their injured son|date=2018-03-08|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-16}} Max died in the hospital soon afterwards. San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore announced on September 2, 2011, that Zahau's death was a suicide while the younger Shacknai's death had been ruled an accident, and that neither was the result of foul play.{{cite web |last=Loftus |first=Peter |date=2011-09-02 |title=Health industry: Death Of Medicis CEO's Girlfriend Ruled a Suicide |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904583204576546913634082134?mod=googlenews_wsj |work=Wall Street Journal |accessdate=2011-09-09}} Members of Zahau's family disputed this finding and filed a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit against Jonah Shacknai's brother Adam.{{cite web |last1=Welch |first1=William M. |last2=Leger |first2=Donna Leinwand |date=2011-09-02 |title=Coronado mansion death called suicide; family objects |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-09-02/Coronado-mansion-death-ruled-suicide-family-objects/50233234/1 |work=USA Today |accessdate=2011-09-09}} The jury in that civil trial found Adam Shacknai responsible for Zahau's death and granted her family a $5 million judgment for loss of love and companionship as well as an additional $167,000 for the loss of financial support Zahau would have provided her mother and siblings.{{cite web |last=Anglen |first=Robert |title=Jury finds Adam Shacknai responsible for Rebecca Zahau's hanging death |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-investigations/2018/04/04/rebecca-zahau-verdict-adam-shacknai-responsible-coronado-mansion-death/486598002/ |website=AZ Central |accessdate=14 April 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Associated Press |title=Civil jury says man responsible for woman's 2011 death at California mansion |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rebecca-zahau-case-adam-shacknai-responsible-for-2011-death-at-california-mansion-civil-jury-finds/ |website=CBS News |date=5 April 2018 |accessdate=14 April 2018}} In February 2019, Adam Shacknai appealed the judgment with the defense arguing procedural errors and juror misconduct. Prior to final arguments being presented to the judge, Shacknai's insurance company and the Zahau family reached a settlement of $600,000 resulting in the civil case being dismissed with prejudice, and vacating the original $5 million judgment.

Shacknai hired public relations firm Sitrick and Company to represent him the week after Zahau's death.{{citation |last=Edwards |first=Jim |title=CEO Shacknai Wields Small Army Against Speculation on Death of His Girlfriend |date=2011-09-08 |url=http://www.bnet.com/blog/drug-business/ceo-shacknai-wields-small-army-against-speculation-on-death-of-his-girlfriend/9609 |periodical=CBS Bnet |accessdate=2011-09-09}} In response to media inquiries, a Sitrick and Company employee stated that he had hired the firm to handle his large volume of incoming calls in the days after the deaths, to give him time to grieve and make arrangements for the funerals.{{citation |title=Coronado Mansion Owner Hires PR Firm |date=2011-07-20 |url=http://www.10news.com/news/28617230/detail.html |periodical=10 News |accessdate=2011-09-10}}

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Category:1957 births

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:American corporate directors

Category:Living people

Category:American pharmaceutical industry businesspeople

Category:Colgate University alumni

Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni