JASON L. BRODSKY, Member
Jason L. Brodsky, is a founding member of the Firm. Being actively involved in the Firm’s business development, he regularly counsels clients on their rights and fiduciary role in class and enforcement actions. In that capacity, he works with and/or oversees the Firm’s attorneys in areas of securities class actions, mergers & acquisition litigation, civil rights class actions, and environmental enforcement actions.
Mr. Brodsky is an experienced trial attorney, who has recovered millions of dollars for Firm clients. For example, in 2011 he obtained one of the largest jury verdicts that year in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He also has significant appellate experience. An example of which, is his successful argument before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that result in the reversal of a dismissal by a United States District Court of a certified class action.
He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court of New Jersey, the United States District Court of Colorado, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Brodsky enjoys spending time with his family and friends. His interests include Philadelphia professional sports, Penn State University, travel and coaching his daughter’s basketball team. He is also involved with charities or organizations that advocate for much needed cancer research. He practices primarily out of the Firm’s Pennsylvania office and can be reached at jbrodsky@brodskysmith.com or by telephone at 877-534-2590.
EVAN J. SMITH, Member
Evan J. Smith is a founding member of the Firm. Mr. Smith oversees all of the litigation practice groups and has over 20 years of experience litigating cases. During his career, he has been appointed class counsel in several class action lawsuits that have secured millions of dollars for the classes he has represented. The following cases are a few highlights of achievements:
In In re Bluegreen Shareholder Litigation, 502011CA018111, 15th Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County, Florida, as class counsel he was able to secure a $36.5 million settlement for a class of shareholders (25% more consideration than originally given in the merger) in a post-merger damages case. This settlement was approved in 2015 and is the largest post-merger damages settlement in Florida history.
In In re Allied Shareholder Litigation, 322639-V, Circuit Court Maryland, Montgomery County, as settlement counsel, he was successful in obtaining a $36 million dividend payout to the shareholder class.
In In Re Hansen Medical, Inc. Shareholder Litigation, Lead Case No. 16-cv-294288 (Santa Clara County, CA 2019), as class counsel he achieved a $7.5 million post-close cash settlement for the shareholder class.
In In re West Marine Shareholder Litigation, Case No. 17CV01995 (Santa Cruz County, CA 2020), as class counsel he obtained a $2.5 million settlement for the shareholder class.
In In re Brooklyn Federal Bancorp Shareholder Litigation, 500690/2011, Supreme Court of New York, Kings County, he was able to secure a 9% increase in the merger consideration for the class and a 35% reduction of the termination fee.
In In re Herald National Bank Shareholder Litigation, 651629/2011, Supreme Court of New York, New York County, he was able to secure a 10% reduction in the termination fee and 6 month reduction in the length of time the termination fee would be triggered.
In In re MPG Shareholder Litigation, BC507342, Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, and In re Furiex Shareholder Litigation,14-CV-6156, Superior Court of North Carolina, County of Wake, he was successful in obtaining the waivers of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Waive” standstill provisions with potential acquirers, thereby creating a significant opportunity for shareholders to obtain maximum value for their shares in the sales processes of these two companies.
In In re A Million Little Pieces, 06-MDL 1771 (SDNY), he was able to achieve a settlement of $3.5M for a class of consumers who were deceived in purchasing James Frey’s “non-fiction” book. This was the first known class settlement against an author and publishing company relating to claims of consumer fraud in the sale of a book.
He has also been successful in achieving complete accessibility at hundreds of places of public accommodation across the country while securing millions of dollars for classes of individuals with disabilities.
Mr. Smith has argued before the Second and Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and second chaired the trial team that obtained one of the largest jury verdicts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2011.
In McCain v. Beverly Enterprises, Inc. CV-02-657 (E.D.Pa.), he was able to reverse the long standing and prevailing case law which precluded injured plaintiffs from bringing a claim for damages under a negligence per se theory against medical facilities for violations of state and federal statutes pertaining to the standard of care owed towards patients. This reversal lowered the burden of proof in civil cases for injured plaintiffs when a governmental agency has found a defendant in violation of state and/or federal standard of care statute. This case has been cited by many jurisdictions across the country in nursing home neglect litigation.
In each year from 2005-2008, he was selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers’ Rising Star (Attorneys Under 40), an honor bestowed upon less than 2.5% of Pennsylvania attorneys.
He received his Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law (1996) where he was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and the Political and Civil Rights Law Review. He received his Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and a minor degree in Spanish from Pennsylvania State University (1993).
He is licensed to practice in the following Courts:
State Courts
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1997);
State of New Jersey (1996);
District of Columbia (1999);
State of New York (2002); and
California (2006).
Federal Courts
United States Supreme Court (2003)
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1998)
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2003)
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2006)
United States District Court – Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1998)
United States District Court – District of New Jersey (1996)
United States District Court – Southern District of New York (2002)
United States District Court – Eastern District of New York (2003)
United States District Court – Northern District of New York (2003)
United States District Court – District of Colorado (2003)
United States District Court – Central District of California (2006)
United States District Court – Eastern District of California (2006)
United States District Court – Northern District of California (2006)
United States District Court – Southern District of California (2006)
In addition to these jurisdictions, he has also been admitted pro hac vice in several matters in both state and federal courts across the country.
Please feel free to contact Evan J. Smith, Esquire at esmith@brodskysmith.com or 877-534-2590.
MARC L. ACKERMAN, Of Counsel
Marc L. Ackerman joined Brodsky Smith in October 2002. His current areas of practice include Class Action Securities/Stockholder
He began his legal career as an associate in the litigation department of a large Philadelphia law firm. After working for the Department of Justice as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, he joined a 300-attorney Philadelphia law firm where he represented Fortune 500 clients in insurance fraud, RICO, wrongful death and complex insurance matters. Just prior to joining Brodsky Smith, he was Pennsylvania resident counsel for a boutique class action firm based in Connecticut.
He received his Juris Doctor from Temple University School of Law (1989) where he served as the Director of Temple – LEAP, an organization dedicated to introducing secondary school students to the profession and practice of law. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Villanova University (1986, cum laude).
He is licensed to practice in the following Courts:
State Courts
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1989); and
State of New Jersey (1990).
Federal Courts
United States Supreme Court (2003);
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1995);
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1990);
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (1990); and
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2016).
In addition to these jurisdictions, he is regularly admitted pro hac vice in both state and federal courts across the country.
Please feel free to contact Marc L. Ackerman, Esquire at mackerman@brodskysmith.com
JORDAN A. SCHATZ, Partner
Jordan A. Schatz joined Brodsky Smith in October, 2010 and became a partner in 2018. His current areas of practice include Class Action Shareholder Litigation; Environmental Enforcement; and Civil Rights Litigation.
He received his Juris Doctor from Drexel University Earl Mack School of Law (2009) where he received a full academic scholarship. He received his Bachelor of Science in Finance and a minor in International Business from Pennsylvania State University (2006).
He is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (2009).
RYAN P. CARDONA, Partner
Ryan P. Cardona joined Brodsky Smith. in 2015 and became partner in 2023. His current areas of practice include Class Action Consumer Protection Litigation, State and Federal Environmental Enforcement, Class Action Shareholder Litigation, and Class Action Civil Rights Litigation.
Mr. Cardona has significant experience litigating in State and Federal Court, including successfully obtaining a Writ of Mandate from the California Court of Appeal reversing a lower court decision that had negatively affected several environmental enforcement actions.
He received his Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law (2013) where he received the Deidre L. Bailey Leadership Scholarship. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in History from Sonoma State University (2010).
He is licensed to practice in state courts for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (2013), the State of New Jersey (2013), and the State of California (2014).
KYLE AUCHINLECK, Associate
Kyle Auchinleck joined Brodsky Smith in 2023 as an Associate. His current areas of practice include Environmental Enforcement and Consumer Protection Litigation.
He received his Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law (2022). He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Duquesne University (2018).
He is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (2022) and the State of California (2023).
DEVON CURRAN, Associate
Devon Curran joined Brodsky Smith in 2023 as an Associate. His current area of practice includes Class Action Securities/Stockholder Litigation.
He received his Juris Doctorate from Widener University Delaware Law School (2020). He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy from Washington and Jefferson College (2017).
He is licensed to practice in the State of New Jersey (2021).
LANCE G. GREENE, Of Counsel
Lance G. Greene joined Brodsky & Smith, LLC as of counsel in March 2008 and has been working with the firm since 2007. His current practice areas include Commercial Litigation; Business Litigation; and Personal Injury Litigation.
Prior to opening his own litigation practice in Los Angeles, Lance was a senior associate in the business litigation department of a mid-sized full service law firm based in Irvine, California. Lance is a member of the California State Bar and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Lance is a successful trial counsel as partially reflected by his $1.5 million unanimous jury verdict in federal court in the employment discrimination matter of Martin v. Arrow Electronics, which was the second largest federal trial verdict in Orange County in 2006.
Lance received his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota School of Law (1992), and his Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University (1985, History). Lance is also a former United States Naval officer, having obtained his commission as Ensign in 1985, served on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, CVN 69 from 1985- 1989, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant and completed his inactive reserve service in 1993.
He is licensed to practice in the following Courts:
State Courts
State of California (1993).
Federal Courts
United States District Court for the Central District of California (1993)
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (2002)
DEBBIE AXELROD, Certified Paralegal
Debbie Axelrod joined Brodsky Smith in 2014. She is a seasoned paralegal who began her legal experience after graduating from Beaver College with a double major in Management and Marketing. She obtained her Paralegal Certificate from the Philadelphia Paralegal Institute.
She joined two major center city law firms concentrating in Subrogation, Corporate and Estate law for several years before she moved to the Main Line to manage her husband’s general practice law firm. She concentrated in the areas of Real Estate, Personal Injury, Corporate, and Family Law while raising her 4 children. In 2006, she obtained her Pennsylvania and New Jersey title licenses and opened her own title company.
In addition to running her own title company, she was a paralegal and managed a solo practitioner’s general practice law firm. She also assisted the attorney with his non-profit organization, The Global Colon Cancer Association.