Fighting for Our Communities
Richard Schechter believes in the importance of communities—not just as a source of connections, but also as a source of support and inspiration for the people who live there. He is willing to take on the toughest legal challenges to help preserve the health, safety and welfare of Texas communities and beyond.
As Theodore Roosevelt said,
“This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.”
Confronting the Opioid Epidemic
In recent years, one of the greatest man-made challenges to the well-being of all Americans is the opioid epidemic. It is among the most devastating public health catastrophes of our time.
-
It is estimated that over 2.5 million Americans are addicted to opioids;
-
Almost 1 million Americans of all ages, races and religions have died from opioid overdoses;
-
And over 2 million Americans have suffered from non-fatal overdoses.
Many scholars attribute the opioid epidemic to the oversupply of prescription opioids, caused by the over-promotion of their benefits and the minimization of their dangers.
Since 2017, Richard Schechter, P.C. has been engaged in the fight to help local communities recover funds from manufacturers, distributors and dispensers of prescription opioids to abate this epidemic.
Schechter represents cities, counties and hospital districts around Texas and serves on the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in the Texas Opioid Litigation. He has played a leading role in proving damages and recovering almost $3 billion for Texas and our local governments, money to be used to help those addicted to opioids recover and prevent others from overdosing or becoming addicted.
Schechter and his colleagues successfully argued against efforts by pharmacies to have the claims filed by Dallas and Bexar Counties dismissed. This victory allows the Counties to continue in their efforts to hold the large chain pharmacies accountable for their role in causing the opioid crisis. Schechter was also instrumental in the decision that kept New Jersey-based Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC in the Texas Opioid MDL. The appeals court affirmed that Amneal had sufficient contacts with the Texas market, making it subject to Texas jurisdiction.
Both rulings were essential in ensuring the companies faced consequences for their involvement in the opioid epidemic. Schechter continues to work on these issues, as the Texas cases proceed forward toward trial in 2025.
Addressing Climate Change
Described by the naturalist David Attenborough as “the biggest threat to security that modern humans have ever faced”, climate change poses dangers to all communities. Thousands of people die every year due to increased heat and extreme floods, hurricanes and wildfires caused by climate change. And tens of thousands more are forced to leave their homes.
Teaming with a small band of lawyers, Richard Schechter has taken on the challenge of representing local governments in suits against members of the fossil fuel industry.
Since at least 1965, members of the fossil fuel industry have known about the harms caused by their products, but are alleged to have denied or misrepresented the extent of those dangers. These suits seek redress for the damage caused by the industry’s contributions to climate change and involve claims of fraud, public nuisance, negligence, and trespass.
These efforts against some of the world’s largest companies have already led to victories, most recently in the Multnomah County, Oregon case. The legal team, including Schechter, recently prevailed and persuaded the federal courts to return the case to state district court in Portland so it can proceed forward to trial.
Filed in June 2023, the Multnomah County, Oregon lawsuit seeks nearly $52 billion in damages for the 2021 heat dome event that resulted in 69 deaths in Multnomah County alone. This lawsuit aims to hold companies such as Shell, Chevron, BP and ExxonMobil accountable for their role in climate change and for significantly contributing to the extreme heatwave. The county is seeking $50 million in actual damages, $1.5 billion in future damages, and $50 billion to better prepare for climate change. The funds will be used for upgrading public infrastructure, healthcare services, and safeguarding residents from extreme weather events.
A Legacy of Justice and Advocacy
From fighting the opioid epidemic to combating climate change, Richard Schechter's unflinching commitment to protecting our communities and our environment has solidified his reputation as a leading attorney who consistently delivers meaningful results and stands out as a powerful advocate in any legal arena.
For more information about Richard Schechter's work and to explore his other notable cases, please visit our Meet Richard and Our Work pages.