Andrew J. Scholz

Partner

Experience

Andrew J. Scholz, vice chair of Goldberg Segalla’s Toxic Tort practice, is a trial lawyer with nearly 20 years of experience defending companies and individuals in mass tort, toxic tort, and environmental litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts. His toxic tort experience includes defending cases involving exposure to asbestos, Legionella bacteria, adulterated food, spray foam, mold, benzene, barium, and other chemicals.

Andrew has played a leading role in the discovery phases of multi-defendant, complex tort litigations, and has experience handling complex cases involving Daubert challenges to expert witness testimony. He has defended numerous companies in Legionnaires’ Disease related litigation, including the defense of property damage and personal injury litigation. Andrew’s previous experience includes defending certain property owners and commercial lessees of the World Trade Center against thousands of catastrophic injury, property damage, and death claims arising out of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001.

Previously, Andrew served as co-chair of the Toxic Tort Subcommittee within the American Bar Association’s Mass Torts Committee. He frequently authors articles on mass tort, toxic tort, and environmental law issues, and regularly contributes to Goldberg Segalla blogs. Andrew’s recent blog pieces can be found on Asbestos Case Tracker, which in 2016 and 2018 was named to the ABA Journal‘s prestigious Blawg 100 and named the Best Litigation Blog for the last three years by the Expert Institute in its annual legal blog contest.

Related Areas

Environmental Law Toxic Tort Product Liability Asbestos Legionnaires’ Disease

Industries

Life Sciences Food and Beverage

Experience Highlights

Representative Matters
- Prevailing on a motion for summary judgment in a personal injury claim arising out of exposure to tear gas
- Defending premises owners and lessees against Legionella-related claims
- Defending food manufacturers in foodborne illness litigation
- Defending manufacturers and premises owners in asbestos litigation

Representative Matters
- Defending clients in hydraulic fracturing litigation involving claims of alleged groundwater contamination

Representative Matters
- Prevailing on motions in limine to exclude design defects and warning experts, and simultaneously obtaining summary judgment in catastrophic product liability cases

Honors & Awards

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent

New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2014–20

Background

Admissions

New York
New Jersey
U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of New York
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Education

Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 2001
- Richardson Scholar
University of South Florida, B.A., 1995

Professional Affiliations

DRI: Toxic Tort and Environmental Committee
American Bar Association: Mass Torts Committee; Past Co-Chair, Toxic Torts Subcommittee

Community Involvement

Volunteer to American Bar Association’s BP Oil Spill Task Force (2011)

News & Knowledge

Publications & Events

“Microplastics: The Looming Challenges, Pitfalls, and Uncertainties Facing the Regulated Community and Beyond,” (Co-Author), DRI For the Defense, June 2021
“A Review of the Science and Current Litigation Regarding Glyphosate,” (Co-Author) DRI’s For The Defense, June 2019
“Asbestos Litigation: Alive and Strong” (Co-Author), DRI Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Compendium, Spring 2017
“Hydraulic Fracturing: A Retrospective of Key Legal Disputes in 2014 and Predictions for the Future” (Co-Author), AIRROC Matters, Spring 2015
Featured in “And The Defense Wins,” Defense Research Institute, May 28, 2014
“Decisions Limiting Toxic-Tort Claims: Aberration or Potential Trend?” American Bar Association Mass Torts Litigation, Spring 2014, Vol. 12, No. 3
“Asbestos Litigation: Alive and Strong in 2014” (Co-Author), For the Defense, Defense Research Institute, April 2014
“Going Global: Navigating Import and Export Safety Regulations” (Co-Author), Food Manufacturing, February 10, 2014
“The New Wave of Food Labeling Litigation: Primary Defenses and Practical Considerations” (Co-Author), NYSBA Torts, Insurance, and Compensation Law Journal, Winter 2013
“Will the FDA Kill the Caffeine Buzz?” (Co-Author), Food Processing, September 27, 2013
“The New Food Fight: Defending Against Labeling Litigation” (Co-Author), Food Manufacturing, May 21, 2013
“Simple Steps Can Protect Drillers: In Fracking, Practical Coverage and Risk-Shifting Can Ease Litigation Threats” (Co-Author), National Driller, March 2013
“Hydraulic Fracturing Holds Litigation Risks” (Co-Author), National Driller, January 2013
“Fifty States Of Mold Claims: A Comprehensive Survey of Defense Strategies, Coverage Exclusions, and Liability Implications Across the U.S.” (Co-Author), Mealey’s Litigation Report: Mold, January 2013
“Proposed Class Plaintiffs to Pay Pre-Certified Discovery Cost,” American Bar Association Mass Torts Litigation: News & Developments, September 20, 2012
“Environmental Groups Seek to Expand Public Trust,” American Bar Association Mass Torts Litigation: News & Developments, August 14, 2012
Quoted in “Attorneys Say Fracking Could Happen This Year,” Business First, May 25, 2012
“A First Look at the Coverage Implications of Hydraulic Fracturing” (Co-Author), Thomson Reuters News and Insight, May 16, 2012; Westlaw Journal Insurance Coverage, June 2012
“Welding Fume MDL Settlement Shows Increased Use of QSFs,” American Bar Association Mass Torts Litigation: News & Developments, May 15, 2012
Quoted in “Analysis: Insurers Find It Tough to Price Fracking Risk,” Reuters, May 11, 2012
“New York Appeals Court: Mold Case Can Go Forward,” American Bar Association Mass Torts Litigation: News & Developments, April 6, 2012
“Arranger Liability Under CERCLA After Burlington Northern” (Co-Author), American Bar Association Mass Torts Litigation, Winter 2012
“State ‘Preemption’ Arguments Asserted in Ongoing Fracking Debate,” American Bar Association Mass Torts Committee Website, October 2011
“Divisibility of Damages Under CERCLA, Two Years of Case Law After Burlington Northern” (Co-Author), American Bar Association Mass Torts Newsletter, Summer 2011
“Think a Spouse’s Individual Credit Card Debt Cannot Result in the Foreclosure of the Marital Home? Think Again,” NYLitigator, Journal of the Commercial & Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar Association, Summer 2011
“World Trade Center Disaster Recovery Workers Claims Questioned in Litigation,” American Bar Association Mass Torts Committee Website, 2008

“Water In Buildings: Mold and Bacteria, Proactive Strategies for Adjustment of Mold and Legionella Claims,” (Co-presenter), Client Presentation, October 28, 2024
“Microplastics,” (Co-presenter), Client Presentation, July 27, 2023
“Legionella – Overview and Personal Injury and Premises Liability Risk,” Panelist, Ramboll Seminar: Updates on Health Science Topics, May 4, 2023
“Latent Injury Claims: Tips and Pitfalls to Avoid,” August 01, 2022
“Reckoning with Microplastics: The Looming Challenges, Pitfalls, and Uncertainties,” Panelist, 36th Environmental and Emerging Claim Manager Association Annual Conference, April 21, 2022
“Glyphosate and Pesticide Litigation,” (Co-Presenter), Emerging Risks CE/CLE, March 15, 2022
“Microplastics: The Looming Challenges, Pitfalls and Uncertainties Facing the Regulated Community, and Beyond,” (Panelist), Perrin Conferences Environmental Risk and Litigation Conference, New York, NY, October 18, 2021
“Glyphosate & Pesticide Litigation: An Update on Personal Injury and Other Litigation, Science, and Future Considerations,” Client CLE, October 5, 2021
“Legionnaires’ Disease: Science, Litigation Risks, and Mitigation Considerations,” (Co-Presenter), GS Webinar Series, June 1, 2021
“Glyphosate: Getting into the Weeds on the Science, the Litigation and the Analysis of Future Claim Risk” (Co-Presenter) FETTI Conference, Chicago, IL, September 25, 2019
“Glyphosate: Science, Personal Injury and Class Action Litigation, and Present and Future Considerations” (Co-Presenter), GS 2019 TTEL Roundup: Glyphosate, Superfund Mega-Sites, and Emerging Problems with the Cannabis Industry and the Opioid Epidemic, New York, NY, May 21, 2019
“Crisis Management: Balancing Public Messaging Against Litigation Risks,” GMA Legal Conference, Palm Beach, FL, March 5, 2019
“Mitigating Damages Even When Seeking a Defense Verdict,” Perrin Food and Beverage Litigation Conference, Chicago, IL, October 16, 2018
“Crisis Management: Food, Beverage, and Hospitality Industries,” Perrin Food and Beverage Litigation Conference, Chicago, IL, October 25, 2017
Panelist, “Emerging Legal Issues Impacting Wineries, Breweries, and Distilleries: What You Need to Know,” Food Law Basics and Beyond, Texas Bar Association, October 12, 2017
Panelist, “Fueling the World: The Risks Associated with Energy,” Perrin’s Environmental & Risk Litigation Conference, New York City, June 20, 2017
“Recipes for Success: Management and Defense Strategies for Litigating Foodborne Illness Claims” (Co-Presenter), Goldberg Segalla Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Seminar, May 23, 2017
“Game-Changing Asbestos Developments: This Past Year’s Most Significant Verdicts and Decisions” (Co-Presenter), Goldberg Segalla Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Seminar, May 23, 2017
“Defending Foodborne Illness Claims” (Co-Presenter), Client presentation, Dover, NH, March 21, 2017
“Hydraulic Fracturing — Emerging Regulatory & Litigation Issues and Trends,” Toxic Tort/Environmental Scouting Report Seminar, Chicago, IL, October 18, 2016
Conference Chair and Presenter, “Effective Strategies in Defending an Adulterated Food Claim,” First Annual Food Litigation ExecuSummit, Uncasville, CT, February 2-3, 2016
Panelist, “Defending Damages, Including Considering Life Care Plans and Economic Loss,” 2015 DRI Asbestos Medicine Conference, Las Vegas, NV, November 5, 2015
Panelist, “Food-Safety Best Practices,” CPCU Society Webinar, March 20, 2014
“In-House and Law Firm Management/Technology — Galvanizing Your Practice Through Social Media,” 2014 IADC Mid-Year Conference, February 10, 2014
“Apportioning Liability in Jurisdictions with Fault Allocation: Sorting Out Verdict Form and Other Complexities Given That Today’s Cases Name Dozens of Parties as Liable for Exposure,” American Conference Institute’s 15th National Advanced Forum on Asbestos Claims & Litigation, New York, NY, October 8, 2013
“Fracking: The Personal Injury Case” and “Legal Ethics and Fracking Law,” Fracking Injury Cases Webinar, National Business Institute, January 2012
Moderator, Hydraulic Fracturing Panel: Annual Chemical Products and Toxic Tort Regional Seminar, American Bar Association, New York, October 29, 2012
Moderator, “Liaison Counsel v. Non-Liaison Counsel, Zealous Representation in the Mass Tort Setting: Can’t We All Get Along?” American Bar Association Mass Torts and Products Liability Sixth Annual Chemical and Industrial Products Regional CLE Workshop, October 13, 2011

“Legionnaires’ Disease: Science, Litigation Risks and Mitigation Considerations,” (Co-Presenter), GS Webinar Series, December 11, 2024
“Jurisdiction Update: Asbestos Litigation in New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania,” (Co-Presenter), GS Webinar Series, February 28, 2023
“Microplastics: An Overview of the Emerging Risks,” (Co-Presenter), GS Webinar Series, October 19, 2021
“Legionnaires’ Disease: Science, Litigation Risks, and Mitigation Considerations,” (Co-Presenter), GS Webinar Series, March 24, 2021
“Legionnaires’ Disease: Legal Risks and Claims Management Strategies” (Co-Presenter), May 15, 2020
“Glyphosate: Science, Personal Injury and Class Action Litigation, and Future Considerations” (Co-Presenter), GS Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Webinar, April 18, 2019