Building upon his experience in complex asbestos cases, the historic tobacco lawsuits and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks litigation, Don Migliori is a multifaceted litigator who can navigate both the courtroom and the negotiating table. He represents victims of defective medical devices and drugs, occupational diseases, terrorism, aviation disasters, antitrust, and securities and consumer fraud in mass torts and other cutting-edge litigation that spans the country.
Don serves in leadership roles for a number of multidistrict litigations, including being a key member of Motley Rice’s team that represents dozens of cities, towns, counties and townships in the National Prescription Opiate MDL against opioid manufacturers and distributors. He also represents states in similarly filed litigation. He played a significant role in negotiations on behalf of tens of thousands of women allegedly harmed by pelvic mesh/sling products and served as co-liaison counsel in the N.J. Bard pelvic mesh litigation in Atlantic County. Hundreds of cases have been filed in federal and state courts against multiple defendants.
He is also co-lead counsel for In re Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation, a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for In re Bard IVC Filters Products Liability Litigation, as well as the Depuy Orthopaedics, Inc. ASR and Pinnacle Hip Implant MDLs. Don has litigated against both Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, and C.R. Bard previously in pelvic mesh litigation and also against C.R. Bard in the Composix Kugel hernia mesh multidistrict litigation, In re Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch Products Liability Litigation, the first MDL before the federal court of Rhode Island. Don also serves as co-lead plaintiffs’ counsel and liaison counsel in the federal MDL, and as liaison counsel for the Composix Kugel Mesh lawsuits consolidated in Rhode Island state court on behalf of thousands of individuals alleging injury by the hernia repair patch.
As liaison counsel for all wrongful death and personal injury cases in the September 11th aviation security litigation, Don played a central role in the extensive discovery, mediations and settlements of more than 50 cases of aviation liability and damages against numerous defendants. He also represented families of the victims who opted out of the Victim Compensation Fund to seek greater answers, accountability and recourse. Additionally, he manages associated litigation as a lead attorney for In re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, MDL #1570, a groundbreaking case designed to bankrupt the financiers of al Qaeda.
Don contributed his experience in connection with the commencement of and strategy for shareholder derivative litigation brought on behalf Chiquita Brands International, Inc., alleging the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by paying bribes to terrorist organizations in violation of U.S. and Columbian law. He also served as trial counsel for PACE Industry Union-Management Pension Fund in a securities case against Forest Laboratories, Inc., and was involved in the initial liability discovery and trial strategy in an ongoing securities fraud class action involving Household International, Inc.
Don began working with Motley Rice attorneys in 1997 on behalf of the State Attorneys General in the historic lawsuit against Big Tobacco, resulting in the largest civil settlement in U.S. history. He tried several noteworthy asbestos cases on behalf of mesothelioma victims, including the state of Indiana’s first contractor liability verdict and first premises liability verdict for wrongful exposure to asbestos. He continues to manage asbestos cases and actively litigates mesothelioma lawsuits and individual tobacco cases in the courtroom.
Don is a frequent speaker at legal seminars across the country and has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, as well as in print media to address legal issues related to terrorist financing, aviation security, class action litigation, premises liability and defective medical devices. A 'Distinguished Practitioner in Residence' at Roger Williams University School of Law for the 2010-2011 academic year, Don taught mass torts as an adjunct professor for more than ten years. Don is an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell .
Awards, Accolades & Recognitions
Chambers USA
2021-2025 Product Liability: Plaintiffs - Nationwide, Band 3
Best Lawyers
2020, 2025 'Lawyer of the Year' Charleston, SC
Mass tort litigation/class actions - plaintiffs
2011-2026 Mass tort litigation/class actions - plaintiffs
The National Trial Lawyers
2010-present Top 100 Trial Lawyers Rhode Island
Super Lawyers
2018-2025 South Carolina Super Lawyers list
Class action/mass torts: plaintiff; Personal Injury - products: plaintiff; Aviation and aerospace
2009-2017 Rhode Island Super Lawyers lists
2012-2013 Top 10 Rhode Island Super Lawyers lists
Lawdragon
2019-2026 Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list: Terrorism, Antitrust, Asbestos
2024 Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers list: Terrorism, Aviation, Antitrust
2024 Lawdragon Legends
2019-2025 Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Financial Lawyers
Commercial Litigation, esp. Consumer Protection, Financial, Whistleblower
Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly
2020 Leader in the Law
2011 Lawyer of the Year
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
2011 Lawyer of the Year
Benchmark Plaintiff
2012-2014 Rhode Island “Litigation Star”: human rights and product liability
Providence Business News
2005 Forty Under 40
Blog Posts
December 28, 2017
Top 6 blog posts of 2017 Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Donald A. Migliori
February 29, 2016
Medication Madness for People at Risk of Developing Blood Clots Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Donald A. Migliori
December 14, 2012
Costly hits: new findings link head trauma to CTE Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Donald A. Migliori
News
March 25, 2026
New Mexico AG Prevails in Lawsuit Against Meta Platforms Inc.
by: Motley Rice
March 23, 2026
Two Pilots Killed in Late-Night Runway Collision at LaGuardia Airport
by: Motley Rice
