Peter A. Tomaras

Peter Tomaras has served as national trial counsel for companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and chemical industries. He is well known for his involvement in defending pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in national litigation involving childhood vaccines, oral and implantable contraceptives, appetite suppressants, as well as numerous devices such as silicone gel breast implants, latex gloves, cranial fixation equipment, and in-dwelling catheters. He has lectured on issues pertaining to products liability matters generally throughout his years in practice.

In addition, Peter represents chemical and oil companies in toxic exposure cases across the United States in individual or mass tort cases and putative class actions. He continues to serve as lead trial counsel in matters involving corrosion inhibitors, acids, ethylene glycol, industrial solvents, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition, Peter’s practice includes litigating general business issues in a variety of cases including breach of contract, consumer fraud, and unfair business practices claims.

Peter has been recognized as one of the more highly regarded lawyers globally in the field of products liability by International Who’s Who of Defense Lawyers and by International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, 2002-2006 editions.

Representative Experience:

Served as national trial counsel for Wyeth in its diet drug (Fen Phen) PPH litigation, spanning 68,000 lawsuits filed across the country during the past ten years. A vigorous defense strategy executed in Madison and St. Clair counties motivated plaintiffs to opt-in to the global settlement agreement thereby reducing the number of future filings.
Serves as Illinois counsel for Bausch & Lomb in contact lens solution litigation
Successfully defended Becton Dickinson against individual claims regarding latex glove products
Succeeded in decertifying a class previously certified against Wyeth in the Norplant contraceptive litigation
Serves as Wyeth’s coordinating counsel in a series of individual plaintiffs’ claims alleging product contamination of the NSAID, Etodolac
Defeated multiple class certifications in Illinois as national trial counsel for joint defense of silicone breast implant manufacturers

Publications And Presentations:

Guest Lecturer on Litigation Matters, John Marshall Law School.

Professional Associations:

American Bar Association

Chicago Bar Association

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

Defense Research Institute

Steering Committee of the Drug and Medical Device Committee

Bar Admissions:

Illinois Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th and 10th Circuits

U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois

Personal Information:

Peter is married and the father of four children. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Institute of Human Development and the Ray Graham Association, entities which provide services to families with disabled adults and children. He has provided pro bono counseling to families seeking assistance from numerous governmental and private agencies. A member of his community’s Civic Betterment Party, he has served as an elected trustee and is involved with a number of community youth organizations.

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