Attorney Jennifer L. Orendi contributes several years of experience in law and science to serve individuals adversely affected by dangerous products, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Her background in neuroscience research, understanding of neurologic injuries, and laboratory experience prior to law school compliment her aptitude for helping to build cases based upon scientific data and analyses. Prior to law school, Ms. Orendi graduated with honors from Carnegie Mellon University, where she was awarded one of the first undergraduate fellowships by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). She continued her research at laboratories at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and at the University of Wisconsin, and then attended Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree with a Certificate in Intellectual Property Law.
Ms. Orendi is especially interested in legal issues regarding products marketed and sold specifically to women and girls, and in injuries based in neurologic, endocrine and psychiatric manifestations. The firm’s focus on helping women is what led her to Estey & Bomberger to collaborate on sexual assault cases. Ms. Orendi further augments our team by leading the firm’s efforts on behalf of injured individuals in dangerous and defective product liability cases, including Hernia Mesh, Transvaginal Mesh, Zantac, Depo-Provera, Paragard and others. In this capacity, she invokes her reputation for excellence and relationships with an array of attorneys and law firms across the country to partner on these cases and help guide them toward successful outcomes.
Before joining Estey & Bomberger, Ms. Orendi most recently was counsel for a large global consumer products company where she focused on legal issues at the juncture of FDA and FTC law with product development, testing, and consumer advertising. Prior to this, she worked on behalf of injured individuals at two nationally-acclaimed law firms, including one of the pioneers of Mass Tort practice, and for a large law firm specializing FDA regulatory law pertaining to the food industry. Originally from a small town in western Pennsylvania, Ms. Orendi is the first in her family to attend college and law school. An amateur artist and avid Pittsburgh sports fan, she enjoys hiking and running at San Diego’s beautiful beaches and is also a live music enthusiast.
Relevant leadership and mass tort experience:
- Substantial experience assisting and serving on Discovery and Science Committees for large complex matters in MDLs and in state court consolidated cases, including:
- In re: Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 1407)
- In re: Vioxx Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 1657)
- In re: Ortho Evra Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 1742)
- In re: Pradaxa (Dabigatran Etexilate) Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2385)
- In re: Cook Medical, Inc., IVC Filters Marketing, Sales Practice and Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2570)
- Appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee by the Federal Judge in the Southern District of New York who oversaw In Re: Mirena IUS Levonorgestrel-Related Products Liability Litigation (No. II), MDL No. 2767.
- Leverages science background and experience in FDA regulations, enforcement, and compliance programs to formulate theories of causation and liability and to direct fact and expert discovery regarding manufacturing, quality systems, packaging, labeling, promotional activities, pharmacovigilance efforts and post-market reporting obligations.
- Monitors and reports on pending legislation regarding prescription and over-the-counter drugs, medical devices and cosmetics and personal care products. Collaborates with senior partners and experts in various medical disciplines and regulatory science.
- Experience as independent counsel to a wide array of plaintiffs’ and other law firms regarding mass tort and intellectual property matters, working with internationally-renown experts in science and medicine, including various surgical disciplines, and parlaying knowledge of case-specific facts to forge settlement negotiations with manufacturers, distributors, and their insurers.