Anthony B. Taddeo, Jr.
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Anthony Taddeo defends clients in personal injury cases involving product liability, toxic tort, and asbestos-related actions and construction defect litigation. He has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation defense, including expert and fact witness depositions, witness development, motions practice, product investigation and other trial support responsibilities.
Anthony frequently assists National Trial Counsel for equipment manufacturers at high-profile asbestos mesothelioma trials in preparing opening and closing statements, developing cross-examinations of plaintiff’s experts, and preparing defense experts. Throughout his career Anthony has successfully briefed and prevailed on motions for summary judgment and motions to dismiss. He has also assisted clients with risk management and claims avoidance, developed operations plans and training programs, and conducted on-site crisis management for clients involved in commercial and multifamily construction defect litigation.
Before he began practicing law, Anthony was an officer in the United States Army and served with the First Armored Division during the First Gulf War in 1991. For his service, Anthony received the Bronze Star Medal (service), Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. He is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Distinctions and Affiliations
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America
- Commercial Litigation (2025)
- Selected to Virginia Super Lawyers for Products Liability (2024)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Representative Cases
- Curry (U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York): Assisted with defense of a Navy equipment manufacturer in a case involving a 63-year-old living mesothelioma plaintiff alleging asbestos exposure from a boiler aboard the USS John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s, resulting in a defense verdict after a five-day jury trial.
- Kuhnke (Milwaukee, Wisconsin): Assisted trial counsel with preparation for, and trial of, a matter involving a power plant maintenance worker with mesothelioma. Plaintiff alleged that her decedent spouse was exposed to insulation on a land-based, power-generating machine in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mr. Taddeo prepared expert witnesses, trial exhibits and opening and closing statements for the sole defendant remaining at time of trial. He researched and prepared evidence of absent defendants’ responsibility, resulting in the addition of eight “empty chair” defendants to the verdict form. The matter resolved prior to verdict.
- Rollin (Los Angeles, California): Assisted with trial of a 67-year-old living mesothelioma plaintiff alleging asbestos exposure from equipment at the Mobil refinery in Torrance, California in the 1970s. Successful post-trial sophisticated user defense motion resulted in judgment in favor of defendant notwithstanding the verdict.
- McNamara (Los Angeles, California): Assisted with trial of a mid-50-year-old living mesothelioma plaintiff alleging asbestos exposure from a maritime steam generator aboard a Navy ship in the late 1960s, resulting in a defense verdict after a four-week jury trial.
- Gudmundson (Madison County, Illinois): Assisted with trial of this deceased mesothelioma plaintiff alleging asbestos exposure from insulation on a GE marine turbine powering a World War II era Navy destroyer, resulting in a defense verdict after 25 minutes of jury deliberation following a three-week jury trial in Madison County, Illinois.
Reported Decisions
- Ripley v. Foster Wheeler LLC, 841 F.3d 207 (4th Cir. 2016) (on brief). Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed longstanding practice of Virginia federal district courts remanding asbestos cases removed to federal courts on federal officer jurisdiction. Appeals court held that manufacturer of navy boilers was entitled to present evidence to support a government contractor defense against failure to warn claims.