Bill Jackson Named Law.com Litigator of the Week
Partner Bill Jackson was named Law.com’s Litigator of the Week, following the announcement that two landmark settlements with the State of New Jersey, represented by Kelley Drye, and chemical manufacturers DuPont and 3M were approved by federal judges. The settlements total $2.5 billion and represent the largest environmental recovery by a single state.
In the profile, Bill discusses the stakes of this litigation for the State of New Jersey, the process by which Kelley Drye’s team built a case, as well as challenges that the team faced.
“With well over a century of industrial discharges in New Jersey—and a 75-year history with PFAS in New Jersey and around the country—the breadth and scope of the issues were absolutely sweeping in nature,” said Bill.
Bill also spoke about the settlement as a model that states can use in future litigation involving PFAS or “forever chemicals.”
“I believe that the State of New Jersey’s unwavering commitment to protecting public health and restoring its water resources, in particular, provides a model for structural resolution nationally,” he said.
Bill concludes with his favorite memory of the matter--the summer the team spent in Camden, NJ, getting ready for a series of pre-trials before the companies settled.
“Although we were all working around the clock, the team was as cohesive as I have ever seen, all having fun and fighting for a common goal.”
Read the full profile here. Subscription required.