Leslie Kroeger
Ms. Kroeger is a highly accomplished trial attorney who began her legal career in the courtroom as an Assistant Public Defender for the 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida and later became an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County, Florida. She then moved into private practice where she continues to handle a variety of complex civil litigation before state and federal courts in Florida and nationwide.
Ms. Kroeger is a Past President of the Council of Presidents for the American Association for Justice (AAJ), and is honored to represent the Council on the AAJ Executive Committee. She is also a Past-President of the Florida Justice Association (FJA), one of the nation’s premier plaintiffs trial associations. She was the second female President in the history of the association.
Currently, Ms. Kroeger is litigating the following notable matters:
- In re Flint Water Cases (E.D. Mich.): Cohen Milstein was court-appointed Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel to oversee a group of toxic tort class actions filed on behalf of Flint, Michigan residents and businesses harmed by exposure to toxic levels of lead and other contaminants in the city’s drinking water. On November 10, 2021, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan granted final approval of a landmark $626.25 million settlement against the State of Michigan. Litigation against two private engineering firms, Veolia North America (VNA) and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam (LAN), both charged with professional negligence, and separate litigation against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, continues before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. On August 11, 2021, Judge Levy granted class certification on liability claims in the ongoing litigation against LAN and VNA.
- Underwood v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook) (Sup. Crt. Cal., Alameda Cnty): On January 6, 2022, Cohen Milstein filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Angela Underwood Jacobs, the sister of Dave Patrick Underwood, against Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly Facebook, Inc., alleging that by connecting users to extremist groups and promoting inflammatory, divisive, and untrue content, the company bears responsibility for the tragic murder of Mr. Underwood.
- Edwards v. Tesla (Sup. Crt. Cal., Alameda Cnty.): On June 25, 2020, Cohen Milstein filed a product liability lawsuit against Tesla, Inc. on behalf of Kristian and Jason Edwards. Ms. Edwards sustained catastrophic injuries as a result of the failure of the airbags to deploy in her Tesla Model 3 during an accident.
- Edenville and Sanford Dam Failure Litigation (Mich. Crt. of Claims; Cir. Crt., Cty. Saginaw, Mich.): On June 24, 2020, Cohen Milstein filed two separate property damage lawsuits against Michigan State Government agencies, including the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy and Michigan Department of Natural Resources for blatantly mismanaging and failing to properly maintain the Edenville and Sandford dams, which catastrophically failed on May 19, 2020. Cohen Milstein is representing more than 300 residents and businesses in Midland County and Saginaw County, Michigan and the surrounding areas, including, Arenac, Gladwin, and Iosco counties.
- Bernardo, et al. v. Pfizer, Inc., et al. (S.D. Fla.): On February 20, 2020, Cohen Milstein filed a false advertising, medical monitoring, and personal injury class action against Pfizer, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi, and other pharmaceutical companies on behalf of multiple plaintiffs and putative class members across the United States who, as a result of taking Zantac (ranitidine), may have been afflicted with cancer or may now be subjected to an increased risk of developing cancer.
- United States ex rel. Long v. Janssen Biotech, Inc. (D. Mass.): Cohen Milstein represents the plaintiff-relator in a whistleblower/qui tam lawsuit against Janssen Biotech (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson), alleging that the manufacturer of the rheumatoid arthritis drugs Remicade and Simponi ARIA violated federal law by engaging in a scheme through which it provided physicians free practice management and infusion business consulting services over an extended period to induce the physicians to purchase Remicade and Simponi ARIA and administer these drugs to patients, including Medicare beneficiaries, via infusions performed in their offices.
MORELESS
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Assistant Public Defender, 18th Judicial Circuit for Brevard and Seminole Counties, Florida
- Assistant State Attorney, 11th Judicial Circuit for Miami-Dade County, Florida
CURRENT CASES
Cape Fear River, NC Water Contamination Litigation: Carey v. The Chemours Company FC, LLC et al.
Edenville and Sanford Dam Failure Litigation
Edwards v. Tesla, Inc.
Edwards, et al. v. CSX Transportation, et al.
Flint Water Crisis Class Action Litigation
In re Chiquita Brands International Inc. Litigation
Janssen Biotech FCA/Anti-Kickback Statute Violation Lawsuit
Underwood v. Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook)
Wal-Mart
RECENT SUCCESSES
Caterpillar, Inc. Engine Products Liability Litigation
DynCorp International - Ecuadorian Farmer Litigation
Flint Water Crisis Class Action Litigation
Herrera et al v. JFK Medical Center Limited Partnership and HCA, Inc.
Lindsay X-LITE Guardrail End Terminal Litigation: Beuttel and Davison
Lindsay X-LITE Guardrail End Terminal Litigation: Blankenship
Lindsay X-LITE Guardrail End Terminal Litigation: Byrd
Lindsay X-LITE Guardrail End Terminal Litigation: Moyer
Mincey v. Takata
Paz-Orjales v. Ford Motor Company
Saori Yamauchi, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Nine Cohen Milstein Attorneys Named to the 2023 Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America List
17 Cohen Milstein Attorneys Named 2022 Super Lawyers; Seven Attorneys Named Rising Stars
Six Cohen Milstein Attorneys Named to Palm Beach Illustrated’s 2022 “Top Lawyers” List
Seventeen Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized by “The Best Lawyers in America”
Four Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
Legal500 Recognizes Cohen Milstein Product Liability, Mass Tort & Class Action Attorneys as 2022 “Leading Lawyers”
Legal 500 Names Cohen Milstein “Leading Firm” for Plaintiffs in Antitrust; Labor and Employment Disputes; Products Liability, Mass Torts & Class Action; and Securities Litigation
Chambers USA Ranks Cohen Milstein “Leading Firm” in Four Categories – Antitrust, ERISA Litigation, Product Liability & Mass Torts, and Securities Litigation
Flint Water Cases Featured in Video -- Named Finalist for Public Justice’s 2022 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award
Eight Cohen Milstein Attorneys Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers 2022
Twelve Cohen Milstein Lawyers Recognized Among the 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
“History in the Making,” FJA Journal
Cohen Milstein’s Leslie M. Kroeger Receives FJA’s 2021 B.J. and Tom Masterson Award for Professionalism
Six Cohen Milstein Attorneys Named to Palm Beach Illustrated’s 2021 “Top Lawyers” List
Thirteen Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized by “The Best Lawyers in America”
Three Cohen Milstein Attorneys Named to Florida Trend’s 2021 “Florida Legal Elite”
Five Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized in 2021 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
Legal 500 Names Cohen Milstein “Leading Firm” in Antitrust Litigation: Plaintiff; Labor and Employment Disputes: Plaintiff; Products Liability, Mass Torts & Class Action: Plaintiff; and Securities Litigation: Plaintiff
Seven Cohen Milstein Lawyers Recognized Among the 2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
Cohen Milstein Recognized as a “Leading Firm” by Chambers USA in Three Categories – Antitrust: Plaintiff; Product Liability: Plaintiff; and Securities Litigation: Plaintiff
Twelve Cohen Milstein Lawyers Recognized Among the 2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
“2020 Environmental Group of the Year: Cohen Milstein,” Law360
Five Cohen Milstein Attorneys Named to Palm Beach Illustrated’s 2020 “Top Lawyers” List
Twelve Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Cohen Milstein’s Antitrust, Civil Rights & Employment, Products Liability, and Securities Litigation Groups Recognized as “Leading Practices” by The Legal 500
Three Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized in 2020 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
Cohen Milstein’s Leslie M. Kroeger Recognized as a 2020 Distinguished Leader by Daily Business Review
Seven Cohen Milstein Lawyers Recognized Among the 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
Twelve Cohen Milstein Lawyers Recognized Among the 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America
Five Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized in 2020 Edition of Best Lawyers South Florida
Eight Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized in the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Six Cohen Milstein Lawyers Recognized Among the 2019 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
Two Cohen Milstein Complex Tort Litigation Attorneys Named to Palm Beach Illustrated 2019 “Top Lawyers” List
Cohen Milstein’s Antitrust, Civil Rights & Employment, Products Liability, and Securities Litigation Groups Recognized as “Leading Practices” by The Legal 500
Seventeen Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized as 2019 Super Lawyers; Eight Recognized as 2019 Rising Stars
“Environmental Group of the Year: Cohen Milstein,” Law360
Five Cohen Milstein Attorneys Named to Palm Beach Illustrated 2018 “Top Lawyers” List
Cohen Milstein’s Leslie M. Kroeger Recognized as Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America
Nine Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized in the 2019 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Florida Trend Recognizes Four Cohen Milstein Attorneys as 2018 Legal Elite
Cohen Milstein's Leslie M. Kroeger Sworn In as President - Elect to the Florida Justice Association
Sixteen Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized as 2018 Super Lawyers; Eleven Recognized as 2018 Rising Stars
Cohen Milstein’s Leslie M. Kroeger Recognized as a 2018 “Distinguished Leader” by the Daily Business Review
Four Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized in the 2018 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America; Ted Leopold Named Product Liability “Lawyer of the Year”
Three Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized as 2017 Florida Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
Three Cohen Milstein Attorneys Named to the 2017 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized as 2016 Florida Trend Legal Elite
Cohen Milstein's Leslie M. Kroeger Elected Secretary to the Florida Justice Association
Three Cohen Milstein Attorneys Recognized as 2016 Florida Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
Leslie M. Kroeger Receives Champion of Consumer Safety Award
Three Cohen Milstein Attorneys Named to the 2016 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Leslie Kroeger Re-Elected to Florida Justice Association Executive Committee and Board of Directors
Leslie Kroeger Receives 2011 Leaders in the Law Distinction
AV Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
PROFESSIONAL/COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
- Board of Directors, Communities Connected for Kids, 2020-Present
- Past Board of Directors, Guardians for New Futures
- Past-President, Founder, Martin County Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers
