Vin Greene represents victims of toxic exposures, including chemicals, lead and asbestos. He also litigates for people harmed by defective medical devices and for governments against opioid manufacturers and distributors.
Vin is a member of the firm’s litigation team representing dozens of governmental entities, including states, counties and municipalities in cases targeting the alleged misrepresentation of highly addictive opioids by manufacturers and distributors, a suspected cause of the opioid epidemic plaguing communities nationwide. As lead outside counsel for the State of Rhode Island, his work helped to secure a $107 million settlement* for Rhode Island ahead of trial against opioid manufacturers Teva and more than $90 million* in settlements and injunctive relief for the with the nation’s Big Three opioid distributors.
As a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for victims who live and work near East Palestine, Ohio, Vin plays a key role overseeing litigation against Norfolk Southern over the February 2023 train derailment that leaked more than 100,000 gallons of hazardous chemicals in the community.
Vin represents children and families poisoned by exposure to lead paint and pigments in and in 2015 won a rare jury verdict and compensatory damages for a Rhode Island woman who suffered cognitive defects caused by her childhood lead exposure. Vin also had a critical role in defeating tort reform legislation in Rhode Island, utilizing testimony, analysis and grassroots outreach to get a new law enacted to help prevent childhood lead poisoning without infringing on victims’ rights. For his numerous efforts and accomplishments, the Childhood Lead Action Project honored him with its Beyond the Call of Duty Award in 2001.
Vin also represents workers and families suffering from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases caused by occupational, environmental or household exposure to asbestos. He has represented hundreds of people in their asbestos cases and has argued before the Supreme Courts of Ohio and Rhode Island, as well as Ohio’s courts of appeal.
He litigates for patients with severe health complications caused by allegedly defective mesh products, including Composix Kugel Mesh patches, other hernia mesh products, and transvaginal mesh.
Active in the legal community, Vin is an adjunct professor at Roger Williams University School of Law, teaching about Rhode Islands’ influential history in mass torts. In 2015, Vin was President of the Rhode Island Association for Justice and remains a member of the Board of Governors. He is the Treasurer for the Rhode Island Center for Justice, a non-profit law center advocating for workers’ rights and other public interest issues.
Vin began working with Motley Rice attorneys in 1997 on the landmark litigation against the tobacco industry and representing clients in medical malpractice cases. Named a Motley Rice member in 2008, Vin is recognized as an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell .
*Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Awards, Accolades & Recognitions
Best Lawyers
2026 “Lawyer of the Year” Product liability litigation - plaintiffs
2017-2026 Product liability litigation - plaintiffs
2023-2026 Consumer protection law
Super Lawyers
2014-2021 Rhode Island Super Lawyers list
Personal injury - products: plaintiff; Class action/mass torts; Environmental litigation
Lawdragon
2020-2025 Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
Asbestos, Personal Injury
Benchmark Plaintiff
2012-2014 Rhode Island 'Litigation Star': environmental, medical malpractice, toxic tort
The Legal 500 United States
2010 Mass tort and class action: plaintiff representation - toxic tort
*Although it endorses this lawyer, The Legal 500 United States is not a Motley Rice client.
Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly
2025 Excellence in the Law Leaders in the Law Award
Blog Posts
September 28, 2020
Mesothelioma Awareness Month: Household exposures that may put your family at risk Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Vincent L. Greene IV
August 5, 2015
Improving standards and stepping outside of the box in the battle against mesothelioma Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Vincent L. Greene IV
September 26, 2012
Mesothelioma Awareness Day 2012 Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Vincent L. Greene IV
News
April 28, 2025
The history and legacy of Workers’ Memorial Day
by:
M. Nolan Webb
April 1, 2025
Finish the asbestos ban to improve worker safety
by:
Nathan D. Finch
