Matt began his career with Pogust Braslow & Millrood, LLC in 2005, as an associate with the firm. As a result of his accomplishments and contributions to the firm, Matt was named a partner at PBM in 2011.
After law school and before going into practice, Matt Leckman spent two years clerking for the Honorable Ronald D. Castille (now Chief Justice) of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Since joining PBM in 2005, he has focused his practice on mass torts and complex pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. He handles all facets of litigation, including case evaluation, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, trial, settlement negotiations, and appellate work.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2011-2016 - Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, Rising Star
2011 - The National Trial Lawyers Association, Top 40 Under 40
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Mock Trial Competition, Champion (2002, 2003), Best Advocate (2003)
2003 - Temple University Beasley School of Law, Barrister Award
2003 - Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, James J. Manderino Award for Trial Advocacy
2003 - Center for Forensic Economic Studies, Most Promising Litigator Award
In his early years at the firm, Matt focused his practice on the litigation of antidepressant suicide injury cases. Matt's extensive work in cases such as In re: Paxil Litigation (Phila. Ct. Comm. Pls.) and In re: Celexa and Lexapro Products Liability Litigation (MDL. 1736) helped lead to resolution of dozens of claims involving antidepressants and suicidality. Matt was also central in the trial court and appellate briefing for the plaintiff in Colacicco v. Apotex, et al., which involved the question of federal preemption in pharmaceutical drug cases and in which the United States Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of the plaintiff.
In 2009, Matt began working on cases involving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in both Philadelphia and in federal courts across the country. Matt represented hundreds of HRT clients, with injuries ranging from blood clots to breast cancer. He represented these clients in every facet of litigation, including successful trials. In November 2009, Matt assisted as trial counsel in Kendall v. Wyeth, et al., where a woman claimed that her use of combination HRT drugs caused her breast cancer. After a five-week trial, the jury found in the plaintiff's favor, awarding her $6.3 million in compensatory damages and $28 million in punitive damages. After the trial court reduced the punitive award, Matt chaired the briefing of the appeal that successfully resulted in reinstatement of the entire award by the Pennsylvania Superior Court.
In December 2011, Matt served as co-lead trial counsel in the trial of Mulderig, et al. v. Wyeth, et al. In that case, three separate women brought claims against Wyeth for their breast cancers. Following the first phase of the trial on medical causation and damages, the jury awarded an aggregate of $72.6 million in compensatory damages, which represented the largest personal injury verdict in Philadelphia in 2011 and one of the highest in the history of the court.
More recently, Matt has spent time litigating on behalf of clients in cases involving the dialysis products GranuFlo and NaturaLyte; prescription testosterone replacement therapy (TRT); the antidepressant drug Cymbalta; internal injuries from Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters; and bleeding problems from the prescription blood thinner, Xarelto. Since 2014, Matt has served on the Plaintiff's Steering Committee (PSC) in In re: Testosterone Replacement Therapy Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2545) before the Honorable Matthew F. Kennelly in the Northern District of Illinois. Matt continues his practice as an active trial attorney, and in 2015 served as lead trial counsel in two consecutive jury trials involving Cymbalta withdrawal? injuries in federal court in California.
Matt works relentlessly on behalf of his clients, and devotes his zeal to ensuring successful resolution whether by way of settlement or verdict no matter the litigation.
Matt was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and he and his family make their home in suburban Philadelphia. Matt has been privileged to serve as a speaker and lecturer on a variety of topics for the American Association of Justice and the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association. In past years, he also served as both an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy and mock trial coach at the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law.
EDUCATION
JD, Temple University Beasley School of Law (2003)
BA, University of Pittsburgh, magna cum laude (2000)
ADMISSIONS
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court, District of Nebraska
United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Federal Claims
United States Supreme Court
MEMBERSHIPS
Montgomery County Bar Association
Philadelphia County Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association
Pennsylvania Association for Justice
American Association for Justice
