Melissa Fry Hague (mhague@anapolschwartz.com)

Melissa Fry Hague has dedicated her career to the successful and diligent prosecution of mass torts, defective medical devices, consumer products and class action litigation.

For her efforts, she has quickly developed a reputation among her clients, colleagues, adversaries and the courts before which she appears as a tireless advocate and formidable litigator.

Currently, Melissa represents clients in the In re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., ASR Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2197, who have been injured by the recalled ASR hip implants manufactured by DePuy, a Johnson & Johnson Company.  She also represents clients who have been injured by Metal-on-Metal Pinnacle hip implants which are also manufactured by DePuy, as well as those injured by NexGen knee implants, which are manufactured by Zimmer, Inc.

Among her early successes, Melissa was an integral part to the successful resolution of the In re: Human Tissue Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1763.  As part of that litigation, Ms. Hague represents dozens of families in lawsuits against funeral homes for the mutilation and illegal harvesting of body parts from corpses.  For her efforts, Melissa was featured with partner Larry Cohan of Anapol Schwartz in national news media regarding the Human Tissue litigation.

Melissa is also well regarded for her success in handling cases in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. She has vast experience handling vaccine cases including Gardasil, DTaP, Pertussis, Varicella and Influenza.  Together with her firm, she assisted in filing some of the first Gardasil cases in the Vaccine program.

Prior to joining the firm Melissa served as a Judicial Law Clerk Extern to the Honorable Charles B. Smith, Magistrate Judge of the United States District Courts of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where she researched and drafted judicial opinions for federal Habeas Corpus cases. 

Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, magna cum laude, from Saint Joseph’s University in 2003.  She received her law degree from Widener University School of Law in 2006, where she was a graduate of the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program. 

Melissa is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as well as before the United States Court of Federal Claims, United States District Courts of the District of New Jersey and the Eastern and Western Districts of Pennsylvania and the United States 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.  In 2011 Melissa was also admitted to the United States Supreme Court of America.

Melissa is an active member of the American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America), and sits on the Board as a Governor representative for the New Lawyers Division. She serves on several committees such as Membership, Diversity, PAC Task Force and AAJ Exchange.  She is also a member of the New Lawyers Division, where she chairs the NLD Publications Committee.  In 2010, she was recognized by the New Lawyer’s Division for her service and in 2011 she was awarded the Above and Beyond Award for her hard work and dedication to the NLD. Melissa is also a founding co-chair of AAJ’s Practice Development Litigation Group.  Melissa is also a member of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association and Pennsylvania Association for Justice. More about NJ Lawyer Melissa Fry Hague »

Attorney News, Presentations & Publications

Legal Implications of FDA’s Proposed Order Affecting MoM Implants, Feb 2013 edition of The Legal Intelligencer.

Speaking at the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association’s Product Liability Retreat on Nov. 16th on the topic of Medical Device Multidistrict Litigation.

Melissa Fry Hague has been named in the 2012 Edition of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers®. View Melissa Fry Hague's profile as it appeared in Super Lawyers.

Recipients of the Recalled DePuy ASR Hip May Unknowingly be Giving Up Certain Privacy Rights - InjuryBoard, Aug 31, 2011

Zimmer Turns on Dr. Berger with Reports that the Zimmer NexGen Knee Has a High Failure Rate - InjuryBoard, Jan 18, 2011

Johnson and Johnson Hip Recall Story on NBC10 Philadelphia - InjuryBoard, Aug 30, 2012

Anapol Schwartz Attorneys Hold CLE Course on “Vaccine Litigation for Non-Vaccine Lawyers” July 21, 2010

PHILADELPHIA--(FORBES)--Files Donor Family Class Action Complaint in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

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