Christopher M. Placitella

Christopher M. Placitella is a certified civil trial attorney and shareholder at Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C., with a national reputation in mass torts, environmental litigation, and defective product claims. Recognized as one of America’s foremost authorities in complex injury litigation, he has secured some of U.S. history’s most influential legal victories.

Mr. Placitella earned his Juris Doctor cum laude from Syracuse College of Law, where he was part of the Law Review and Legal Honor Society. He graduated summa cum laude and first in his class with a B.S. in Accounting from Fordham University. His academic achievements underscore his analytical and legal rigor in complex civil matters.

With a career defined by leadership and high-impact results, Mr. Placitella has served in key litigation roles across national asbestos, talc, diet drug, and environmental tort cases. Notable verdicts include a $750 million punitive damages award against Johnson & Johnson and multibillion-dollar settlements in the tobacco and diet drug litigations. His cases have shaped consumer protection laws and corporate accountability nationwide.

Mr. Placitella is a former president of the New Jersey Association for Justice and a recognized leader in the American Association for Justice and the National Trial Lawyers Association. His groundbreaking advocacy in mass torts and asbestos litigation has been highlighted by national media and leading legal publications. He is also a sought-after speaker who regularly chairs continuing legal education (CLE) programs focused on complex litigation, mass torts, and asbestos cases.

In addition to his litigation work, Christopher M. Placitella is committed to public service. He co-founded the Veterans Career Transition Program and helped organize a national pro bono effort for 9/11 victim families. His articles and books, including contributions to TRIAL Magazine and a New Jersey Mass Tort Treatise, further solidify his standing as a thought leader in the legal field.

Mr. Placitella’s unwavering dedication to justice and groundbreaking legal work continues to drive reform and accountability, benefiting countless victims and setting enduring legal precedents.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Cohen, Placitella & Roth, PC
• Board of Governors, American Association for Justice
• Executive Committee, National Trial Lawyers Association
• Former Chair, NJAJ PAC
• Board of Governors, Trial Lawyers of New Jersey (TANJ)
• Member, United States District Court, District of New Jersey
• Member, United States District Court, Southern District of New York
• Member, United States Supreme Court

Licensed State

• New Jersey
• New York

Education

• Syracuse College of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Fordham University
  BS in Accounting

Awards & Badges