Joanne Cicala

Joanne Cicala

Managing Partner

The Cicala Law Firm PLLC
31 S. Finley Ave.
Suite 103
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

office  / 512.275.6550

cell  /  917.860.6566

fax  /  512.858.1801

email  /  joanne@cicalapllc.com

Representative Cases

Commonwealth of Kentucky v. Novo Nordisk Inc, et al, Case No 19-CI-475 (48th Judicial Circuit, Franklin Circuit Court)

State of Montana v. Eli Lilly and Company, et al, Case No. 6:22-cv-00087 (D. Mont.)

State of Kansas v. Eli Lilly and Company, et al, Case No. 5:23-cv-04002 (D. Kan.)

State of Illinois v. Eli Lilly and Company, et al, Case No. 1:23-cv-000170 (N.D. Ill.)

State of Arkansas v. Eli Lilly and Company, et al, Case No. 4:22-cv-549-JM (E.D. Ark.)

State of Mississippi v. Eli Lilly and Company, et al, Case No. 3:21-CV00674 (S.D. Miss.)

County of Harris, Texas v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., et al, Case No. 4:20-cv-00733 (S.D. Texas)

County of Harris, Texas v. Eli Lilly and Company, et al, Case No. 2019-83863 (61st District Court, Harris County, Texas)

Jefferson County and Franklin County, Missouri v. Dannie E. Williams, M.D., et al, Case No. 1922-CC00203-01 (22nd Judicial Circuit Court, St. Louis City, Missouri)

County of Webb, Texas v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, MDL No. 2804, Master File No. 17-MD-2804, Individual Case No. 18-OP-45175 (N.D. Ohio)

City of Alexandria, Virginia  v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-1627 (18th Judicial Circuit Court, City of Alexandria, Virginia)

City of Galax, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-148 (27th Judicial Circuit Court, Grayson County, Virginia)

Dickenson County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-155 (29th Judicial Circuit Court, Dickenson County, Virginia)

Giles County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-572 (27th Judicial Circuit Court, Giles County, Virginia)

Washington County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-1769 (28th Judicial Circuit Court, Washington County, Virginia)

Page County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-605 (26th Judicial Circuit Court, Page County, Virginia)

Pittsylvania County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-1844 (22nd Judicial Circuit Court, Pittsylvania County, Virginia)

City of Martinsville, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-240 (21stJudicial Circuit Court, City of Martinsville, Virginia)

Henry County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-1465 (21st Judicial Circuit of Virginia, Henry County, Virginia)

Lee County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-10-216 (30th Judicial Circuit Court, Lee County, Virginia)

City of Norton, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL18-1533 (30th Judicial Circuit Court, Wise County/City of Norton, Virginia)

Accomack County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-287 (2nd Judicial Circuit Court, Accomack County, Virginia)

Alleghany County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-183 (25th Judicial Circuit Court, Alleghany County, Virginia)

Arlington County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-1081 (17th Judicial Circuit Court, Arlington County, Virginia)

City of Bristol, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-324 (28th Judicial Circuit Court, City of Bristol, Virginia)

City of Chesapeake, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-2531 (1st Judicial Circuit Court, City of Chesapeake, Virginia)

Dinwiddie County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-317 (11th Judicial Circuit Court, Dinwiddie County, Virginia)

Fauquier County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-154 (20th Judicial Circuit Court, Fauquier County, Virginia)

Franklin County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-2880 (22nd Judicial Circuit Court, Franklin County, Virginia)

City of Lexington, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-328 (25th Judicial Circuit Court, Rockbridge County, Virginia)

Northumberland County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-127 (15th Judicial Circuit Court, Northumberland County, Virginia)

City of Roanoke, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-734 (23rd Judicial Circuit Court, City of Roanoke, Virginia)

Roanoke County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-435 (23rd Judicial Circuit Court, Roanoke County, Virginia)

Prince William County, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-2560 (31st Judicial Circuit Court, Prince William County, Virginia)

City of Salem, Virginia v. Purdue Pharma, L.P., et al, Case No. CL19-113 (23rd Judicial Circuit Court, City of Salem, Virginia)

Fire & Police Pension Fund, San Antonio v. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co, et al, Case No. 2012 CI 16513 (288th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas)

State of Michigan v. McKesson Corporation, et al, Case No. 11-629-C2 (30th Judicial Circuit, Ingham County, Michigan)

State of Iowa v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, MDL No. 1456, Master File No. 01-12257-PBS, Individual Case No. 07-CV-12141 (D.Mass)

The City of New York v. Abbott Labs., et al., Case No. 04-CV-06054 (SDNY), MDL No. 1456, Master File No. 01-12257-PBS (D.Mass), and the following individual matters:

County of Albany v. Abbott Labs., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00425 (NDNY)

County of Allegany v. Abbott Labs., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06231 (WDNY)

County of Broome v. Abbott Labs., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00456 (NDNY)

County of Cattaraugus v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06242 (WDNY)

County of Cayuga v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00423 (NDNY)

County of Chautauqua v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06204 (WDNY)

County of Chemung v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06744 (WDNY)

County of Chenango v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00354 (NDNY)

County of Columbia v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00867 (NDNY)

County of Cortland v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00881 (NDNY)

County of Dutchess v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06458 (SDNY)

County of Essex County v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00878 (NDNY)

County of Fulton v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00519 (NDNY)

County of Genesee v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06206 (WDNY)

County of Greene v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00474 (NDNY)

County of Herkimer v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00415 (NDNY)

County of Jefferson v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00715 (NDNY)

County of Lewis v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00839 (NDNY)

County of Madison v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00714 (NDNY)

County of Monroe v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06148 (WDNY)

County of Niagara v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06296 (WDNY)

County of Oneida v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00489 (NDNY)

County of Onondaga v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00088 (NDNY)

County of Ontario v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06373 (WDNY)

County of Orleans v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06371 (WDNY)

County of Putnam v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-04740 (SDNY)

County of Rensselaer v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00422 (NDNY)

County of Rockland v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 03-CV-7055 (SDNY)

County of Saratoga v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00478 (NDNY)

County of Schuyler v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06387 (WDNY)

County of Seneca v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06370 (WDNY)

County of St. Lawrence v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00479 (NDNY)

County of Steuben v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06223 (WDNY)

County of Suffolk v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. CV-03-229 (EDNY)

County of Tompkins v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00397 (NDNY)

County of Ulster v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 06-CV-0123 (NDNY)

County of Warren v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00468 (NDNY)

County of Washington v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-00408 (NDNY)

County of Wayne v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06138 (WDNY)

County of Westchester v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 03-CV-6178 (SDNY)

County of Wyoming v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 03-CV-6379 (WDNY)

County of Yates v. Abbott Labs., Inc., et al, Case No. 05-CV-06172 (WDNY)

The City of New York v. The Purdue Pharma Company, et al, Case No. 04-CT-3499 (SDNY)

The City of New York v. GlaxoSmithKline PLC, et al, Case No. 04-CV-2134-PG (D.Pa)

Reynolds v. Beneficial National Bank, Case Nos. 1:98-cv-02550, 1:98-cv-02178 (NDIL); approval of class action settlement and attorney fee award reversed and remanded decision by U.S. Appeals Court, 288 F.3d 277 (7th Cir. 2002)

Joanne is an experienced civil litigator who specializes in complex commercial matters in both state and federal court, primarily representing plaintiffs. Joanne’s practice focuses on public client litigation, health care fraud, class actions, commercial disputes, community advocacy, consumer protection, breach of contract and false claims.

Prior to founding The Cicala Law Firm, PLLC in October 2017, Joanne was one of five equal managing partners of the firm Kirby McInerney, LLP based in New York City and founded more than 65 years ago. Joanne practiced with Kirby for over 16 years concentrating on Medicaid fraud, consumer fraud, class actions, antitrust and securities fraud matters. Joanne established Kirby McInerney’s Texas office in 2003 and managed it thereafter. She also established and managed Kirby McInerney’s health care practice. Prior to Kirby McInerney, Joanne worked as a litigation associate with the firm now known as Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, also in New York City.

Joanne has substantial experience representing public entities who have been defrauded or otherwise harmed by corporate wrongdoers. She currently serves as counsel to the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, Mississippi and South Carolina on matters related to unfair and deceptive trade practices in the health care space, and Insulin price gouging in particular. Joanne has also served as Special Counsel to the State of Iowa, counsel to the State of Michigan and lead counsel for the City of New York and 43 New York counties.  Joanne represented these public clients on protracted matters involving violations of their respective State False Claims Acts by prescription drug manufacturers.  These cases ultimately returned hundreds of millions of dollars to the states’ Medicaid Programs.  Notable decisions include the award of partial summary judgment to the New York plaintiffs; the determination that the Attorney General of the State of Iowa could bring a claim under the Iowa UDAP Statute; and, the determination that the State of Michigan had successfully pled a cause for money damages under its new Medicaid False Claims Act. 

Joanne currently represents Webb County, Texas, Jefferson and Franklin County, Missouri, Jefferson County, New York, the Towns of Bennington, Brattleboro, and Sharon, Vermont, and over 60 Virginia municipalities in active litigation concerning the opioid epidemic.  In those cases, which are proceeding in both federal and state court, Joanne has named the opioid manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies (national chain and mail-order) and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) as defendants.  Joanne was the first attorney in the country to include PBMs among the corporate entities complicit in creating this national public health crisis.  Her theories of liability as to the PBMs have now been embraced by plaintiffs nationwide and have received favorable treatment by the Federal Court presiding over the Opioid MDL.  In September 2018, Joanne filed a motion for injunctive relief in that MDL, requesting that Judge Polster enter an order directing the PBMs to immediately adjust their standard national formularies to be consistent with current federal guidance regarding opioids. The negotiated resolution of that motion produced meaningful edits to national default formularies.

Joanne also has extensive experience representing state and national classes, individuals, private companies and unions in both litigation and arbitration contexts. Joanne also advises clients on litigation avoidance strategies and alternative dispute resolution.

Notable Cases

Other Professional Experience

Prior to and during law school, Joanne worked for the City of New York on the implementation of the 1988 Family Support Act (specifically its Welfare-to-Work Requirements).  Joanne began in the procedures and training unit of the Human Resources Administration (translating legislation and regulation into field office procedures; thereafter training civil service staff throughout the City).  She then transitioned over to the HRA Legislative Affairs office (drafting position papers reflecting the City’s views on proposed legislation pertaining to welfare reform issues) and ultimately returned to field work as an HRA Site Manager at two welfare reform centers (supervising civil service staff of 50+ personnel serving thousands of clients weekly in connection with the City program).  Joanne maintained that job while attending Fordham Law School at night.

During and after her undergraduate years at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Joanne worked for Boston University’s Center for Democracy, based in Washington, DC.  In addition to organizing international democratic development projects in Central America and Europe, Joanne helped prepare grant applications to USAID resulting in over $1.5 million in funding for legislative initiatives in Guatemala.

Admissions

State Bars of Texas, New York and New Jersey

United States District Courts for Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of New York

United States District Court for New Jersey

United States District Courts for the Western, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

United States Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits

Education

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, B.S.F.S., 1987

Fordham University Law School J.D., 1994

Community Service Activities

2012-2017 Member/President, Dripping Springs Education Foundation Board of Directors

Professional Associations

Member, Superlawyers

Member, American Association for Justice

Member, Texas Municipal League

Member, National Association of Public Pension Fund Attorneys (NAPPA)

Member, American Bar Association (Health Law Section)

Member, Austin Bar Association

Member, County Attorney Association for the State of New York 

Member, New York State Association of Counties

Contact

email  |   Joanne@cicalapllc.com