Profile
Rodney M. Hudson represents global pharmaceutical, medical device, health care and technology clients and manages complex litigation nationwide, including products liability, mass torts, consumer fraud, false advertising, class actions, and commercial litigation. With more than 20 years of experience, Rodney has represented clients in eight federal multidistrict litigation proceedings and seven state coordinated proceedings involving thousands of cases, including serving as lead, co-lead, and liaison counsel in proceedings.
Rodney’s recent trial experience spans courtrooms in multiple jurisdictions across the country, from California to Pennsylvania, and includes bellwether trials. His effective advice and legal strategies have helped clients secure numerous significant victories through dispositive motions before trial, at trial and on appeal. In a recent coordinated proceeding, Rodney successfully guided early and aggressive motion practice, forcing the dismissal of thousands of cases after favorable rulings granting summary judgment motions based on federal law preemption and under the laws of various states. Rodney has successfully represented pharmaceutical and medical clients on appeal and has obtained numerous appellate rulings affirming dismissals of cases in favor of clients.
Rodney also represents clients in commercial and business disputes involving alleged breach of contract, trade libel, and trade secret misappropriation. He has represented clients in state and federal class actions, defeating class certification and obtaining dismissals of claims brought on behalf of putative classes.
When his client recently faced suspension of certain business activities because of a state regulation, Rodney successfully argued that federal law preempted the state’s regulation, allowing his client to continue to do business.
Beyond litigation, Rodney advises clients on regulatory compliance, risk management, privacy, First Amendment, and related matters, as well as liability exposure of target companies during merger and acquisition due diligence.
Concentrations
- Pharmaceutical, medical device and health care litigation
- Products liability
- Mass tort litigation and settlement strategies
Capabilities
Experience
- Counsel for numerous pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in federal MDL and state coordinated proceedings involving thousands of plaintiffs alleging injuries from prescription and over-the-counter medications and medical devices.°
- Secured milestone trial court rulings in a mass tort proceeding that the claims of more than one thousand plaintiffs alleging that the label on a brand name prescription medicine was inadequate were preempted as a matter of federal law.°
- Led legal strategy in coordinated proceeding that resulted in the filing of 35 motions for summary judgment, with only two cases proceeding to pre-trial work up.°
- Lead or liaison counsel in four California statewide coordinated proceedings for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers involving thousands of plaintiffs.°
- Over a period of a few years, member of nine trial teams for cases pending in jurisdictions throughout the country, including California, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi and Pennsylvania.°
- Argued and won significant appellate rulings affirming that claims of thousands of plaintiffs in a coordinated proceeding were preempted as a matter of federal law.°
- Prevailed on numerous summary judgments dismissing claims of plaintiffs alleging that the label on a prescription medicine was inadequate under various state laws.°
- Won summary judgment in favor of a pharmaceutical manufacturer against claims that plaintiffs were injured from off label use of prescription medicine.°
- Secured dismissals of class action allegations, defeated class certification and secured dismissal of claims of putative class members in several cases.°
- Defended global manufacturer of notebook computers against class allegations and claims brought under the laws of various states.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Hudson prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Fellow, Georgetown University Law Center, 1999-2001
Recognition & Leadership
- Team Member, a Law360 “Product Liability Practice Group of the Year,” 2021-2022
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Defense Research Institute
Credentials
- LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, 2001
- J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, 1996
- M.A., Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, 1996
- B.A., summa cum laude, Campbell University, 1993
- California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit