Nicholas J. Drakulich
Top rated Products Liability attorney in San Diego, California
The Drakulich Firm, APLC
Practice Areas: Products Liability, Class Action & Mass Torts, Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in California since: 1981
Education: California Western School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2015 - 2024 Call today:
877-653-1988
Free Consultation The Drakulich Firm, APLC
2727 Camino del Rio SouthSuite 322
San Diego, CA 92108 Visit website
Details
Nicholas J. Drakulich is the Founder of THE DRAKULICH FIRM, A Professional Law Corporation, with offices in California and Nevada. Mr. Drakulich has been uniquely honored to have been appointed by several Federal Courts across the nation to serve as a member of Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee or Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in nationally prominent Multi-District Litigations (MDL’s) against the world’s largest pharmaceutical and medical device corporations, recovering several billions of dollars on behalf of injured consumers. Mr. Drakulich was also selected to be the lead trial counsel in several of these cases.
Mr. Drakulich has earned a reputation as being a specialist in this field. Following a jury verdict against “the world’s largest medical technology company”, the trial counsel for this giant corporation, opined that Mr. Drakulich is an “exceptionally able, senior, seasoned litigator who was extremely well prepared and clearly spent considerable time and effort to ensure the best possible representation of his client.”
Mr. Drakulich has also been honored to be selected as a Super Lawyer, a member of the National Trial Lawyers, The Million Dollar Advocates Forum, The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. For many years, Mr. Drakulich has been consistently rated ("AV”) by Martindale Hubbell, America's preeminent peer-reviewed lawyer rating service. He has been an invited speaker at several dozen legal seminars across the United States, including those sponsored by the AAJ, HarrisMartin, Mealey's and numerous State Bar Associations.
Mr. Drakulich focuses his practice in catastrophic personal injury, products liability, and mass torts. He has enjoyed a diverse and rewarding trial practice for more than thirty-five years having recovered several hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of his injured clients. Mr. Drakulich is proud to be a trial lawyer and humbled to champion his clients’ quest for justice.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff, Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Asbestos, Brain Injury, Class Actions, Construction Accident, Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motor Vehicle Defects, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Pharmaceutical, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 30% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
- 40% Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff
- 30% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1979, Nevada
Professional Webpage: https://www.draklaw.com/team/nicholas-j-drakulich/
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Over $9 Billion Dollar Verdict; In Re: Actos [Pioglitazone] Product Liability Litigation, MDL Docket 2299, No. 6: 11-md-2299, Allen v. Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., et al., No. 12-64, E.D. La). Court appointed to the Plaintiffs Steering Committee and a core member of the Trial Team.
- $2.3 Billion Dollar Settlement; In Re: Actos [Pioglitazone] Product Liability Litigation, MDL Docket 2299, No. 6: 11-md-2299, Court appointed to the Plaintiffs Steering Committee and a core member of the Trial Team.
- $268 Million Dollar Settlement; In Re: Medtronic, Inc., Sprint Fidelis Leads Product Liability Litigation, MDL No 1905. Court appointed to the Plaintiffs Steering Committee
- $240 Million Dollar Settlement; In Re: Guidant Corp. Implantable Defibrillators Products Liability Litigation, MDL No 1706. Court appointed to the Plaintiffs Steering Committee and Leader of the Trial Team
- $114 Million Dollar Settlement; In Re: Medtronic, Inc., Implantable Defibrillators Product Liability Litigation, MDL 1726. Court appointed to the Plaintiffs Steering Committee and Leader of the Trial Team
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- In Re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 11- 2299 (United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana); appointed by U.S. District Judge Rebecca F. Doherty to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee.
- In Re: Incretin Mimetics Product Liability Litigation MDL No. 2452, (United States District Court, Southern District of California); appointed by U.S. District Judge Anthony P. Battaglia to the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee.
- In Re: Medtronic, Inc. Implantable Defibrillators Product liability litigation, MDL No. 05-1726 (United States District Court, District of Minnesota); appointed by U.S. District Judge James M. Rosenbaum to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee.
- In Re: Guidant Corp. Implantable Defibrillators Product liability litigation, MDL No. 05-1708 (United States District Court, District of Minnesota); appointed by U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee.
- In Re: Medtronic, Inc., Sprint Fidelis Leads Product Liability Litigation, MDL No. 08-1905 (United States District Court, District of Minnesota); appointed by U.S. District Judge Richard H. Kyle to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee.
Educational Background:
- California Western School of Law, J.D.,, 1978
- University of Southern California, B.A., Cum Laude, 1975
Bar/Professional Activity:
- The State Bar of Nevada, 1979
- The State Bar of California, 1981
- U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Central Districts of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
- Appointed by Federal Judges across the country to Plaintiffs' Steering Committees or Plaintiffs' Executive Committees in nationally prominent Multi-District Litigations (MDLs)
- Appointed by Federal Judges to Common Benefit Attorney's Fee & Costs Committee in nationally prominent Multi-District Litigations (MDLs)
- Best of the US, Member
- American Association for Justice, Member
- Consumer Attorneys of California, Member
- Nevada Justice Association, Member
- The Federal Bar Association, Sustaining member
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Invited Speaker at the MDL Judicial Summit, in connection with Baylor University, presenting on a panel regarding the Selection of Plaintiff and Defense Steering Committees – Aspen, CO, 2023
- 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 as well as on a panel re: Creating the Litigation Team – San Diego, CA, 2023
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Managing Mass Torts, Key Litigation Updates and Lessons Learned – 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 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 HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: An Analysis of Today’s Mass Tort Landscape re: the topic of High Stakes Issues: 2018 in Review, including Jurisdiction: Personal/Subject Matter, Preemption: Express/Implied, and Daubert: Keys to a Successful Challenge – Washington D.C., 2019
- Invited Speaker at 19th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium re: the topic of Game Changing Rulings – New Orleans, LA, 2019
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: HIV Drugs, Valsartan, 3M Earplugs and Litigating in a Post-Fosamax World on a panel with the Hon. David R. Herndon (Ret.) re: the topic of “Mass Tort ‘Death Penalty’ Issue – Preemption in a Post-Fosamax World” – Portland, OR, 2019
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: The Significance of Proposed Rule Changes in MDL Procedures & Valsartan re: the topic of Preemption Landscape – Waiting on Fosamax with the Hon. David R. Herndon – Miami, FL, 2019
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Critical Developments in Mass Torts, MDLs, and Game-Changing Jurisprudence re: the topic of Mass Tort “Death Penalty” Issues – Key Recent Developments, including Jurisdiction, Preemption, and Dauert – New Orleans, LA, 2019
- Invited Speaker and Moderator at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: The Mass Tort Litigation Landscape – A Critical Analysis, re: the topic of Navigating Game Changing Dynamics, including Jurisdictional Landscape Following BMS and Recent Preemption Rulings – Napa, CA, 2018
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Current Mass Torts from E-Discovery Through Exit Strategies – Navigating “Game-Changing” Dynamics re: the topic of Key Mass Tort Procedural Issues, including Recent FRCP Amendments, and Witnesses Appearing via Satellite Transmission – New York, NY, 2018
- Invited Speaker at 18th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium re: the topic of Plaintiffs’ Steering Committees: Views from the Bench and Trench on a panel with Mark Lanier, Mark Robinson, Kathryn Snapka, and Paul Pennock – New Orleans, LA, 2018
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: ‘Bet-the-Company’ Mass Tort Litigation re: the topic of Game-Changing Complex Litigation Developments, including Post BMS Jurisdictional Landscape, Multi-Plaintiff Trials, Preemption, Deposing CEOs, Spoliation, and Testimony via Satellite at Trial – Chicago, IL, 2018
- Invited Speaker at 17th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium re: the topic of Preemption – New Orleans, LA, 2017
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Opioid, Equifax & Talcum Powder re: the topic of Jurisdictional Landscape Post-SCOTUS Bristol-Myers Decision – St. Louis, MO, 2017
- Invited Speaker at 16th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium re: the topic of Recent Preemption Activity; Drugs, Devices, & Generics – New Orleans, LA, 2016
- Invited Speaker and Moderator at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: ‘Bet-the-Company’ Mass Tort Litigation re: the topic of Medtronic Infuse Litigation – Chicago, IL, 2016
- 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 15th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium re: the topic of Spoliation Game Changer in MDLs? – New Orleans, LA, 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: Morcellator, Fluoroquinolone (FLQ) and Invokana Litigation re: the topic of INFUSE – New York, NY, 2015
- Invited Speaker at the 2014 MDL Conference re: the topic of predictive Coding, ESI and Preservation Obligations, 2014
- Invited Speaker at the Kentucky Justice Association Annual Convention and Seminar re: the topic of Using E-Discovery to Expose Abhorrent Behavior – Cincinnati, OH, 2014
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s CLE Summit on Major Developments in Drug & Medical Device Litigation. On panel with fellow core members of the trial team from $9 Billion Dollar Verdict in the Actos MDL, entitled, “ACTOS – Trial Update, Litigation Landscape, and Settlement News” – New Orleans, LA, 2014
- Invited Speaker at 14th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium re: the topic of Recent Preemption Activity; Drugs, Devices, & Generics – New Orleans, LA, 2014
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s Complex Litigation Conference, on a panel with Judge Kenneth Starr and Professor Francis McGovern re: the topic of The Latest Preemption Battle – Chicago, IL, 2013
- Invited Speaker at the 13th Annual Class Action/Complex Litigation Symposium re: the topic of Recent Preemption Activity; Drugs, Devices, & Generics – New Orleans, LA, 2013
- Invited Speaker at the 12th Annual Class Action/Mass Tort Symposium re: the topic of Professionalism in the Complex Litigation Landscape: Perspectives from the Bench and Bar – New Orleans, LA, 2012
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Transvaginal Mesh and Actos Litigation, providing a solo presentation on the topic of Preemption of Devices & Drugs: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly – Miami, FL, 2012
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s Symposium: All Things Mass Tort re: the topic of Bard IVC Filter, 2012
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s MDL Conference: Fungal Meningitis, Stryker Hip, Mirena IUD and More re: the topic of Bard IVC Filter – Dallas, TX, 2012
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: Pradaxa, Zoloft, Actos, Yaz and Everything MDL re: the topic of The Cutting Edge of ESI Protocols - Predictive Coding & Concept Searching – Cleveland, OH, 2012
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: Hot Topics in the MDL and Class Action Litigation re: the topic of Who is Paying Your Doctor? - The Learned Intermediary Doctrine – San Diego, CA, 2012
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin's Darvon and Darvocet Recall Litigation Conference re: the topic of Past Claims and Pending Litigation including Porter v. Xanodyne Pharmacueticals, Inc., Differences/similarities to Other Pharceutical Torts, and Rulings on the Liability of Generic Drug Manufacturers – New Orleans, LA, 2011
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin MDL Conference: Transvaginal Mesh and Actos re: the topic of Actos Litigation Status, Claims and Defenses, Savannah, GA, 2011
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin's Darvon and Hip Implant Litigation Conference: New Developments in These Emerging Mass Torts re: the topic of Past Claims and Pending Litigation, including Porter v. Zanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Differences/Similarities to Other Pharmaceutical Torts, and Rulings on the Liability of Generic Drug Manufacturers in Pliva v. Mensing and Conte v. Wyeth, together with Mark E. Burton, Jr. and Mark P. Robinson, Jr. – San Diego, CA, 2011
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin's MDL Conference: Zimmer NexGen Knee and DePuy Hip Implant Litigation re: the topic of Preemption/Mensing – San Francisco, CA, 2011
- Invited Speaker at the 10th Annual Class Action/Mass Tort Symposium re: the topic of Preemption Presentation – New Orleans, LA, 2010
- Invited Speaker at Scientific Evidence: Daubert, DNA & More Conference re: the topic of Daubert's Application in Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation, 2010
- Invited Speaker at HarrisMartin’s Toyota Recall Litigation Conference Part II: Toyota Recall – Costa Mesa, CA, 2010
- Invited Speaker at the 9th Annual Class Action/Mass Tort Symposium re: the topic of Preemption: What Survives, Where are We Headed, and What's the Difference? – New Orleans, LA, 2009
- Invited Speaker at the 8th Annual Class Action/Mass Tort Symposium re: the topic of Preemption: What Survives and Where are We Headed? A Timely Jurisprudential and Legislative Update – New Orleans, LA, 2008
- Invited Speaker at Mealey's Drug and Medical Device Litigation Conference re: the topic of Heart Device Litigation - Guidant/Medtronic & St. Jude Heart Devices – San Diego, CA, 2007
Honors/Awards:
- For over 20 years, Mr. Drakulich has been consistently rated "AV" Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Reviewed Rated by Martindale-Hubbel, America's preeminent peer-reviewed lawyer rating service. This is the highest possible rating, indicating preeminent legal ability and the utmost ethical standards. , Martindale-Hubbel, 2023
- For years, been recognized as Top 100 Lawyers in California, Super Lawyers, 2023
- For years, been recognized as Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers - Martindale-Hubbell, Martindale-Hubbel, 2023
- For years, been recognized as Top 100 Trial Lawyers in California - National Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers, 2023
- For years, recognized as Million Dollar Advocate - Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 2023
- For years, recognized as a Multi-Million Dollar Advocate - Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 2023
- Lifetime Member - Strathmore's Who's Who, Strathmore's Who's Who, 2023
- Best of Class, Legal Profession - Best in the U.S., Best in the U.S.
Industry Groups:
- AAJ
- Consumer Attorneys Of California
- Federal Bar Assn.
- Nevada Justice Assn.
- The National Trial Lawyers
Office location for Nicholas J. Drakulich
2727 Camino del Rio South
Suite 322
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: 877-653-1988
Selections
10 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2015 - 2024
