Michael Pendell & Chelsea Monroe | New Mexico v. Meta Platforms Inc. | $942 Million Awarded

Steve Lowry sits down with Motley Rice partners Michael Pendell and Chelsea Monroe about State of New Mexico/DOJ v. Meta Platforms, Inc., which produced a $375 million jury verdict for Unfair Practices Act violations and a $567 million bench-trial public nuisance abatement award, totaling $942 million.   CASE SUMMARY: The case, brought by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, alleged Meta designed and operated its platforms with inadequate protections that enabled predators to find, groom, and exploit vulnerable children. The complaint asserted multiple violations of the state’s Unfair Practices Act, supported by claims that defendants misrepresented or omitted material facts about the risks their products posed to minors. Motley Rice served as trial counsel for the State of New Mexico. (READ MORE)   GUEST BIOS CHELSEA L. MONROE: Chelsea Monroe represents victims of defective medical devices, medical drugs and cosmetic products, as well as families and communities harmed by toxic exposure. Specifically, Chelsea’s casework focuses on women’s health issues. She is a member of the Leadership Development Committee in MDL 3060 In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation in the Northern District of Illinois. The thousands of plaintiffs in the MDL argue they developed gynecological cancers after using certain chemical hair relaxers. They assert defendant manufacturers failed to adequately test the products and warn customers about potential harms. (READ MORE)   MICHAEL J. PENDELL: Michael Pendell is a trial lawyer who represents people affected by corporate wrongdoing, including whistleblowers, people harmed by tobacco, prescription medications, dangerous medical devices, and victims of international terrorism. He also represents pension fund trustees and other institutional investors in securities, consumer fraud, and other complex class actions. Michael served as trial counsel in a number of prescription opioid lawsuits representing dozens of governmental entities, including states, cities, and counties in litigation against several pharmaceutical drug manufacturers and distributors for the alleged deceptive marketing and distribution of highly addictive prescription opioids. (READ MORE)   LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motleyricelaw/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotleyRice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/motley-rice/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MotleyRice --- Check out previous episodes and meet the GTP Team: Great Trials Podcast --- Show Sponsors: Legal Technology Services  Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com Production Team: Dee Daniels Media Podcast Production   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Welcome and Guests 01:39 Meet Michael Pendell 03:19 Meet Chelsea Monroe 04:15 Motley Rice Tribute 05:08 Case Verdict Breakdown 06:10 What Meta Did Wrong 08:59 How Damages Were Calculated 11:56 Phase Two Public Nuisance 15:25 Injunctions and COPPA 20:07 Building the Trial Machine 23:01 Parallel California Trial 25:54 Shocking Evidence and Whistleblowers 34:14 Whistleblower Culture Shift 36:05 Section 230 Strategy 39:53 Jury Selection Reality Check 44:19 Focus Groups And Timing 46:29 Meta Defense Tactics 50:08 Mosseri Safety Slipup 53:55 Appeals And Wrap Up