Robert J. Drakulich Attorney

First Admitted: 2010, Nevada

Professional Webpage: https://www.draklaw.com/team/robert-j-drakulich/

Bar/Professional Activity:

Admitted to Practice Law in the State of Nevada, 2010
Admitted to Practice Law in the State of California, 2011
Admitted to Practice Law in the State of Minnesota, 2014
Admitted to Practice Law in the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.), 2014
Admitted to practice before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, 2019
Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, 2010
Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, 2011
Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern Districts of California, 2011
Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court of the Central District of California, 2011
Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, 2011

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

Together with his partner and co-counsel, Mr. Drakulich has helped attain hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his firm’s clients., 2023

Representative Clients:

As co-lead trial counsel, Mr. Drakulich successfully represented a woman who tragically developed rectal cancer from taking a prescription diet pill. This case reached a confidential settlement prior to going to trial., 2023
In January 2021, Mr. Drakulich was honored to be appointed to a leadership position as a member of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee (PSC) in the Elmiron (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium) Products Liability Litigation Multidistrict Litigation, MDL No. 2973., Case No. 2:20-md-0297 (BRM)(ESK) in the United States District Court of the District of New Jersey by the Honorable Judge Brian R. Martinotti. For almost two years following the PSC appointment, Mr. Drakulich was heavily involved in the case, including the liability depositions and working with experts, including regarding the efficacy of the drug and the underlying science. , 2022
As lead trial counsel, Mr. Drakulich successfully represented the family of a man who had a modular artificial hip implanted that disarticulated (i.e. came apart at the modular joint) on three different occasions. Each one of these disarticulations necessitated a full open revision surgery that was painful with a long recovery. On the last revision surgery, decedent acquired a severe infection that ultimately caused his death. One of the main defense arguments was that decedent had delayed almost a year in getting an infection surgery. Mr. Drakulich took the depositions of every treating physician who recommended an infection surgery and acquired testimony from each of them that not only was the delay reasonable, but the infection was contained and controlled at the time of their visits, including the day before his eventual infection surgery. As a result, a month before trial, this case reached a confidential settlement., 2020
Mr. Drakulich successfully defended one of the largest plaintiff law firms in the country in a hundred-million-dollar fraud case. After two years of jurisdictional discovery and three motions to dismiss, Mr. Drakulich was successful in getting the first action filed in the District of Nevada dismissed on personal jurisdiction grounds. The Plaintiff then filed a second action in the Southern District of New York to which Mr. Drakulich was successful in getting the case dismissed on a motion for judgment on the pleadings based on statute of limitations grounds. Finally, Mr. Drakulich won the appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, affirming the dismissal by the Southern District of New York and finding waiver of the plaintiff new appellate arguments., 2019
Together with firm partner and additional co-counsel, Mr. Drakulich successfully represented nearly two thousand individuals against the manufacturers of spinal implants that were alleged to have caused serious injuries. These cases ultimately resulted in a confidential settlement following several years of protracted and intensive litigation., 2018
At the request of MDL Leadership, Mr. Drakulich worked on depositions, discovery, and trial support in In Re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 11- 2299 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Following a 9 Billion Dollar verdict for the first bellwether, this case ultimately settled for 2.4 Billion Dollars., 2017
As lead trial counsel, Mr. Drakulich successfully represented the family of a disabled man who was living in a skilled nursing facility who developed stage four bedsores leading to an infection, uncontrolled weight loss, an above the knee leg amputation, and tragically his death. Two months before trial, this case reached a confidential settlement., 2016
As co-lead trial counsel, Mr. Drakulich successfully represented a railroad engineer who suffered a spinal injury and a mild traumatic brain injury in a slip and fall case when he slipped on a water bottle left on the floor in a dark chamber of the train. Not only did the defense dispute the debris, but also the injuries as there were no demonstrative evidence on any of them on the imaging. However, the jury was not persuaded by the defense tactics. At the end of the case, the jury returned a gross verdict of three quarters of a million dollars, which was over 10 times the final settlement offer made by the Defendant before trial., 2015
Mr. Drakulich was one of the lead lawyers who successfully represented a hotel guest who alleged to have been taken hostage and raped by the hotel’s security guard. Prior to being employed at the hotel, the security guard had posted sexually hostile messages on his publicly accessible social media accounts thereby creating a case of first impression as to the employer’s duties to investigate social media postings. The case settled for a confidential amount prior to the filing of the action., 2014
Mr. Drakulich was one of the core members of the trial team that successfully represented the families of five highly decorated and distinguished rescue soldiers who, during a nighttime training mission, tragically died in a helicopter crash after striking unmarked power lines. On the eve of trial, this case reached a confidential settlement., 2013
Mr. Drakulich was one of the core members of the trial team that successfully represented numerous patients who tragically contracted the deadly Hepatitis C virus after getting what they thought would be a routine colonoscopy at a local endoscopy center. The doctors at the endoscopy center were alleged to have recklessly double dipped their needles into extra-large vials of the anesthesia. These extra-large vials were only intended for use of a single patient when he or she had to be sedated overnight. However, it was cheaper to buy (and sell) the extra-large vials than multiple small ones. Patients were seriously harmed as a result. The manufacturer of the anesthesia was alleged to be aware of the doctors’ practice, yet nonetheless continued to sell to them anyway. This led to the largest outbreak of Hepatitis in the history of our country and the primary doctor being criminally prosecuted and convicted., 2012

Honors/Awards:

Recognized as one of the Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in the State of California by The National Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2023
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in the State of California by The National Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2022
Recognized as one of the "Top 40 under 40" Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in the State of California by The National Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2021
Recognized as one of the "Top 40 under 40" Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in the State of California by The National Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2020
Recognized as one of the "Top 40 under 40" Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in the State of California by The National Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2019
Recognized as one of the "Top 40 under 40" Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in the State of California by The National Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2018
Recognized as one of the "Top 40 under 40" Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in the State of California by The National Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers, 2017
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in the State of Nevada by America’s Top 100 Attorneys., America's Top 100 Attorneys, 2023
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in the State of Nevada by America’s Top 100 Attorneys., America's Top 100 Attorneys, 2022
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in the State of Nevada by America’s Top 100 Attorneys, America's Top 100 Attorneys, 2021
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in the State of Nevada by America’s Top 100 Attorneys, America's Top 100 Attorneys, 2020
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in the State of Nevada by America’s Top 100 Attorneys, America's Top 100 Attorneys, 2019
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in the State of Nevada by America’s Top 100 Attorneys, America's Top 100 Attorneys, 2018
Recognized as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in the State of Nevada by America’s Top 100 Attorneys, America's Top 100 Attorneys, 2017
Recipient of "Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney" Distinction in San Diego, CA and received San Diego, CA's Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2021
Recipient of "Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney" Distinction in San Diego, CA and received San Diego, CA's Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2020
Recipient of "Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney" Distinction in San Diego, CA and received San Diego, CA's Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2019
Recipient of "Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney" Distinction in San Diego, CA and received San Diego, CA's Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2018
Recipient of "Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney" Distinction in San Diego, CA and received San Diego, CA's Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2017
Recipient of "Top Rated Products Liability Attorney" Distinction in Reno, NV and received Mountain States Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2021
Recipient of "Top Rated Products Liability Attorney" Distinction in Reno, NV and received Mountain States Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2020
Recipient of "Top Rated Products Liability Attorney" Distinction in Reno, NV and received Mountain States Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2019
Recipient of "Top Rated Products Liability Attorney" Distinction in Reno, NV and received Mountain States Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2018
Recipient of "Top Rated Products Liability Attorney" Distinction in Reno, NV and received Mountain States Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2017
Recipient of "Top Rated Products Liability Attorney" Distinction in Reno, NV and received Mountain States Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2016
Awarded "Superb Rating" (10.0 out of 10.0) by AVVO's Lawyer Ranking System, AVVO, 2023
Awarded "Superb Rating" (10.0 out of 10.0) by AVVO's Lawyer Ranking System, AVVO, 2022
Awarded "Superb Rating" (10.0 out of 10.0) by AVVO's Lawyer Ranking System., AVVO, 2021
Awarded "Superb Rating" (10.0 out of 10.0) by AVVO's Lawyer Ranking System, AVVO, 2020
Awarded "Superb Rating" (10.0 out of 10.0) by AVVO's Lawyer Ranking System, AVVO, 2019
Awarded "Superb Rating" (10.0 out of 10.0) by AVVO's Lawyer Ranking System, AVVO, 2018
Awarded "Superb Rating" (10.0 out of 10.0) by AVVO's Lawyer Ranking System, AVVO, 2017
Awarded "Superb Rating" (10.0 out of 10.0) by AVVO's Lawyer Ranking System, AVVO, 2016
Awarded "Superb Rating" (9.9 out of 10.0) by AVVO's Lawyer Ranking System, AVVO, 2015

Educational Background:

JD - Juris Doctor (cum laude) from the University of San Diego, School of Law, 2010
BA - Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from the University of California - Santa Barbara, 2004

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Invited Speaker at the 6th Annual Western Alliance Bank Class Action Law Forum In Collaboration with the University of San Diego School of Law on a panel re: Recusals, Motions to Disqualify, Mandamus and the Related Professionalism Issues – San Diego, CA, 2024
Invited Speaker at the MDL Judicial Summit in collaboration with Texas Tech University on a panel re: Collateral Offensive Estoppel and its Impact on Bellwether Trials - Aspen, CO, 2024
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: Ozempic and Suboxone Litigation presenting on a panel re: MDL Mass Tort Discovery – Artificial Intelligence Intersection - Santa Barbara, CA, 2024
Invited Speaker at Mass Torts Puerto Rico, presenting on a panel re: 6th Circuit Offensive Collateral Estoppel (Lead Paint and Hair Straightener) – San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2024
Invited Speaker at the 5th Annual Western Alliance Bank Class Action Law Forum In Collaboration with the University of San Diego School of Law on a panel re: Assessing the Viability off a Mass Tort Litigation, including the topics scope of damages, number of claimants, causation and confounders, the science and Daubert, Preemption, Jurisdiction and venue selection, and state versus federal court – San Diego, CA, 2023
Invited Speaker at Mass Torts Puerto Rico, presenting on a panel re: Navigating “Game Over” Developments, including Daubert, Preemption, Lone Pine Orders, Statute of Limitations and Statutes of Repose – San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2023
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Updates and Challenges Facing Current High Stakes Mass Tort Litigation, presenting on a panel re: Selection of Plaintiff and Defense Steering Committees, including judicial drilldown on financial arrangements, diversity, and Checking All of The Skill Set Boxes from Discovery to Appeal – Philadelphia, PA, 2023
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Managing Mass Torts, Key Litigation Updates and Lessons Learned, presenting on the recent developments in the Elmiron MDL – Tucson, AZ, 2023
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: The Current Mass Tort Landscape, presenting on a panel re: Game Changing Rules, including Jurisdiction, Preemption, Lone Pine Orders, and Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules – St. Louis, MO, 2022
Invited Speaker at 20th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium sponsored by the Louisiana State Bar Association – New Orleans, LA, 2021, 2021
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: ‘Bet-the-Company’ Mass Tort Litigation, Current Activity and Developing Trends, (postponed due to Covid-19), San Francisco, CA, 2020
Invited Speaker at 19th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium sponsored by the Louisiana State Bar Association re: on a panel discussing the topic of Game Changing Rules as well as a panel discussing the topic of Managing MDLs and Mass Torts with the Assistance of Special Masters – New Orleans, LA, 2019
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Critical Developments in Mass Torts, MDLs, and Game-Changing Jurisprudence re: the topic of Instructive Guidance for Navigating Today’s Mass Tort Landscape II, including ESI (Artificial Intelligence/Predictive Coding, Digital Production, Litigation Funding, Proposed Disclosure Requirements and Ethical Rules – New Orleans, LA, 2019
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: The Significance of Proposed Rule Changes in MDL Procedures & Valsartan, presenting on a panel regarding the Rule 30(b)(6) Proposed Changes as well as a panel regarding Personal Jurisdiction in the Post-BMS World – Miami, FL, 2019
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: An Analysis of Today’s Mass Tort Landscape, presenting on Bellwether Selection Process, Mock Trials and Focus Groups – Washington D.C., 2019
Invited Speaker at 18th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium sponsored by the Louisiana State Bar Association re: the topic of Vanishing MDLs and Procedural Modifications – New Orleans, LA, 2018
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: ‘Bet-the-Company’ Mass Tort Litigation, presenting on Ethics Associated with Complex Litigation, including Aggregate Settlements, Competing Allegiances, Loyalties Owed to the Court, and Developing Social Media Rules – Chicago, IL, 2018
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Current Mass Torts from E-Discovery Through Exit Strategies – Navigating “Game-Changing” Dynamics, presenting on Recent Developments in Game Changing Dynamics including Jurisdiction, Preemption, Daubert, as well as presenting on Interacting with Special Masters & Complex Litigation: Ethical Conundrums – New York, NY, 2018
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: The Mass Tort Litigation Landscape – A Critical Analysis, presenting on Complex Litigation: Ethical Conundrums, including Aggregate Settlements, Technology Skills, Reasonable Cyber Security Steps, Social Media, Litigating Outside the Court, the Chilling Impacts of Blogs and Identification of Alleged “Judicial Hell Holes” – Napa, CA, 2018
Invited Speaker at 17th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium sponsored by the Louisiana State Bar Association re: the topic of Recent Preemption Activity; Drugs, Devices, & Generics – New Orleans, LA, 2017
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Personal Jurisdiction and PPI Litigation Agenda, on a panel discussing BMS – Personal Jurisdiction: How Did We Get Here, Where Are We Now and What Do We Do Next? With Plaintiff and Defense Perspectives – Marina Del Rey – Los Angeles, CA, 2017
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Opioid, Equifax & Talcum Powder, presenting on the Jurisdictional Landscape Post-SCOTUS Bristol-Myers Decision – St. Louis, MO, 2017
Invited Speaker at the 16th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium re: Bellwether Selection Process, Multi-Plaintiff Trials, Apex Depositions, and Satellite Testimony – New Orleans, LA, 2016
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: ‘Bet-the-Company’ Mass Tort Litigation, on a panel discussing Complex Litigation Gumbo including: Preemption, Deposing CEOs and Addressing Apex Defenses, Spoliation, Satellite Testimony at Trial, and Confidentiality and the Associated De-Designation of Documents – Chicago, IL, 2016
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference, on a panel discussing State of Preemption in Drug Cases: Levine, Mensing and Beyond – Seattle, WA, 2016
Invited Speaker at 15th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium sponsored by the Louisiana State Bar Association re: the Intersection of Science and Law – New Orleans, LA, 2015
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Morcellator, Fluoroquinolone (FLQ) and Invokana Litigation re: the topic of INFUSE – New York, NY, 2015
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Xarelto, Morcellators and Emerging Torts re: the topic of INFUSE Bone Graft – San Diego, CA, 2015
Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Zofran, Bard IVC and Zimmer Persona Knee Litigation re: the topic of Medtronic Infuse Litigation Update – San Francisco, CA, 2015
Invited Speaker at 14th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium sponsored by the Louisiana State Bar Association re: the topic of Recent Preemption Activity; Drugs, Devices, & Generics – New Orleans, LA, 2014

Other Outstanding Achievements:

Recipient of a Certificate of Achievement at TIPS/ABOTA National Trial Academy, 2015
Recipient of the Outstanding Contributor Award for the California Regulatory Law Reporter at the University of San Diego, School of Law, 2010
Recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Art Law at the University of San Diego, School of Law, 2009
Recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Evidence at the University of San Diego, School of Law, 2008
Recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Torts at the University of San Diego, School of Law, 2007

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