Partner
In 2007, together with firm partner, Simon Paris, Patrick Howard established the Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky’s Class Action Practice Group. Over the past decade, in courthouses around the country, Mr. Howard has successfully represented consumers, businesses, and municipal entities in class action litigation stemming from consumer fraud, false advertising, product liability and antitrust violations..
After successfully recovering more than $6 million for a group of elderly investors who were defrauded in a Ponzi scheme, United States District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello lauded Mr. Howard’s efforts in obtaining an outstanding recovery for the class in high risk litigation, stating “I will have to say that in this case, I really believe that Mr. Howard did an excellent job of representing the interests [of the class] and doing it efficiently.”
PRACTICE AREAS
Products Liability
Civil Rights
False Claims Act – Qui Tam Lawyers
Class Actions
In 2020, Mr. Howard achieved a one of its kind $7 million settlement on behalf of property owners who unknowingly had sewer lines beneath their homes and properties without a corresponding easement. The settlement obtained easements for the defendant, while providing just compensation to the property owners. The Hon. Mark Bernstein commented on the settlement that, “The result achieved in a remarkably short timeframe for extensive complex litigation can only be adequately described as creative excellence on the part of counsel.”
Mr. Howard also served amongst the leadership in the Pennsylvania Opioid Litigation related to the national opioid crisis. He represented Delaware County, a Pennsylvania trial bellwether, in active litigation against the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies for their alleged role in the opioid crisis. The litigation to date has resulted in excess of $55 million in recoveries for Delaware County.
Mr. Howard has been selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer every year between 2013 – 2023. Prior to that, he was named a Pennsylvania Rising Star in 2008, 2011 – 2012. Mr. Howard was also nominated and elected to The Melvin M. Bellli Society, an invitation only society of lawyers with the purpose of promoting the international exchange of ideas among lawyers through meetings and education. Mr. Howard is also a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers, an invitation only organization regulated by objective and uniformly applied standards.
Patrick has a proven track record of results:
Delaware County v. Purdue Pharma., No. 2017-008095 (served in leadership of the Pennsylvania Opioid Litigation while representing the first bellwether plaintiff, Delaware County. Recovered in excess of $55 million for the County)
Hadley, et al., v. The Sewer Authority of the City of Scranton, No. 2016-cv-6261 (Lackawanna Cty.) (obtained $7 million settlement on behalf of 600 property owners who were unaware of sewer lines on their property without a proper easement)
Underwood v. Kohl’s Dep’t Stores, Inc., No. CV 15-730, 2017 WL5261535, at *4 (E.D. Pa. Nov. 13, 2017) (defeated summary judgment and obtained class certification in favor of consumers who paid for worthless credit card add-on product; $1.8 million settlement)
Ajose v. Interline Brands, Inc., No. 14-cv-01707 (M.D. Tenn.) (Chair of lead counsel committee in product defect class action resulting in a $16.5 million settlement)
Standard Iron Works v. U.S. Steel, No. 08-cv-5214-JBZ (N.D. Ill.) (counsel to lead plaintiff, Standard Iron Works, in antitrust class action against world’s largest producers of raw steel; $166 million settlement)
Trabakoolas v. Watts Water Technologies, Inc., et al., No. 12-cv-01172 (N.D. Cal)(lead counsel in product defect class action resulting in $23 million settlement).
Touchstone Group, LLC v. Tatum, LLC, et al., No. 11-cv-02971 (D.Col.)(co-lead counsel in securities class action resulting in $6.05 million settlement on behalf of victims of the Mantria Corp. Ponzi Scheme)
In re Apple In-App Purchase Litig., 11-cv-01758 (N.D. Cal.)(co-lead counsel in highly publicized litigation against Apple for the sale of deceptive apps sold to children. Nationwide settlement achieved offering full refunds to consumers)
In re Riverwalk Fire Litigation: $36 million settlement in a class action suit involving a Conshohocken, Pa., apartment fire, including $9 million for tenants’ lost property claims ($36 Mil. Agreement Reached in Montco Apartment Fire – Riverwalk)
In re Optical Disk Drives Litigation, No. 10-md-2143-RS (N.D. Cal) (counsel to named plaintiff, JLK Systems, in antitrust litigation against manufactures of optical disk drives; $37.9 million settlement)
In re Blood Reagents Antitrust Litig., No. 09-md-2081 (E.D. Pa) (Counsel to lead plaintiff, Community Medical Center, in antitrust litigation against manufactures of traditional blood reagents; $44 million settlement)
Admissions
Pennsylvania, 2001
New Jersey, 2001
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Middle District of Pennsylvania
District of New Jersey
District of Colorado
Third Circuit
Honors & Awards
Named by Peers to the 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List
Prior Work Experience
Appellate Clerkship, 2001-2002, The Honorable Peter Paul
