Homer is a member of Shook’s Class Action Practice Group and Automotive, Mobility & Technology Group, and concentrates his practice on defending companies in class actions, product liability matters, commercial/business and other complex litigation. Recognized as one of the leading products lawyers in the United States, Homer is regularly asked by major corporations to direct their representation throughout the country, where he has led teams to successfully dispose of nationwide class actions and related high-stakes litigation with multibillion-dollar exposure.
Homer serves as both national lead products class action counsel in jurisdictions throughout the U.S., and regional lead product liability counsel in New York and New Jersey, for several prominent manufacturers and distributors of cars, trucks, buses, heavy machinery, appliances, medical implants and consumer products. In addition to successfully defending and disposing of high profile matters involving complex technical and engineering issues, bet-the-company damages and catastrophic injuries, Homer also provides custom-tailored strategic counseling based upon his deep understanding of the varying processes, objectives and cultures of each individual client.
Homer is recognized by clients for the significant benefits that he provides by forging strategic and collaborative relationships that go beyond any single case. He represented major automotive companies in In re Takata Airbag Products Liability Litigation (S.D. Fla.), a multi-district litigation consolidating nationwide class actions regarding the most extensive recall in automotive history. He has also coordinated the global representation of clients in international class actions, including in Australia, Canada and Israel, and is conversant with the business needs and cultures of domestic and multinational clients whom he has had the privilege of representing for more than 25 years.
An established resource for successfully handling unique and challenging causes of action, Homer has lectured on effective litigation strategies and proactive risk avoidance, and is regularly consulted by both clients and colleagues regarding thorny and atypical issues that require innovative and creative solutions. He is also highly experienced in implementing efficient, proportional and cost-effective approaches to expansive and multi-faceted discovery, including management of complex e-discovery and enforcement of GDPR and other data privacy regulations.
Homer has received accolades from the prominent companies he has worked with for exemplary representation and results. Before joining Shook, Homer was a director of Herzfeld & Rubin, where he was the co-leader of the firm’s nationwide class action and product liability practices.
Representative Matters
In re Takata Airbag Products Liability Litigation, MDL Master File No. 15-02599 (S.D. Fla.).Gioffe v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 22-00193 (D. N.J.).
New York Central Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Nissan North America, Inc., No. 22-00272 (W.D.N.Y.).
Kimball v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 22-04163 (D. N.J.).
Tijerina v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 21-18755 (D. N.J.).
Opheim v. Volkswagen Aktiengesellshaft, No. 21-11251 (D. N.J.).
Cohen v. Subaru of America, Inc., No. 20-08442 (D. N.J.).
Read v. Subaru of America, Inc., Docket No. ESX-L-646-17 (N.J. Super., 2020).
Sharma v. Volkswagen AG, No. 20-02394 (N.D. Ca.).
Dack v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 20-00615 (W.D. Mo.).
Gjonbalaj v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 19-07165 (E.D.N.Y.).
Parrish v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 19-01148 (C.D. Ca.).
Patrick v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 19-01908 (C.D. Ca.).
Mercado v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 18-02388 (C.D. Ca.).
Sager v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 18-13556 (D. N.J.).
Crandell v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 18-13377 (D. N.J.).
Wilson v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 17-23033 (S.D. Fla.).
Chess v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 17-07287 (N.D. Ca.).
In re Volkswagen Timing Chain Product Liability Litigation, No. 16-2765 (D. N.J.).
David v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., U.S. Dist. LEXIS 70284 (D. N.J., 2018).
Wiggins v. Subaru of America, Inc., Docket No. MRS-L-2572-13 (N.J. Super., 2015).
Carobert v. Baldor Electric Co., 102 A.D.3d 905 (2d Dept., 2013).
Kumar v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 4671 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. County, 2009).
Giannotti v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, 56 A.D.3d 610 (2d Dept., 2008).
Schultze v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85273 (S.D.N.Y., 2006).
Gangi v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., 14 A.D.3d 482 (2d Dept., 2005).
Caronna v. Macy’s East, Inc., 800 N.Y.S.2d 343 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. County, 2001).
Presentations
Lecturer, Class Action Update, Shook Automotive, Mobility & Technology Group Retreat, Newport Beach, California, March 2024.
Lecturer, Practical Considerations in Class Action Settlements and Settlement Administration, American Bar Association, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona, April 2023.
Lecturer, Panel on Class Actions and Multi-District Litigation, Product Liability Advisory Council Spring Conference, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, April 2022.
Lecturer, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Program on Discovery Practice in New York State and Federal Courts, August 2014.
Lecturer, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Program on Spoliation of Evidence in New York, June 2009.