Tricia Herzfeld
Tricia Herzfeld is a founding partner at HSGLaW. She has extensive experience in handling complex litigation, along with numerous, high-profile civil rights cases in state and federal courts in the areas of sexual assault, harassment and discrimination, free speech, freedom of religion, equal protection, immigrants’ rights and racial profiling, which have led to multi-million-dollar settlements for clients.
Tricia earned her undergraduate degree from George Washington University and received her law degree from George Washington University Law School.
For their work on the Tennessee opioids litigation on behalf of cities and counties in Upper East Tennessee, Tricia and the members of the opioid team were awarded the 2022 Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association. In 2018, Tricia was honored to receive the Amiga We Love Award from Conexión Americas. A graduate of the 2010 Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law program, she is a frequent lecturer on a variety of civil rights and civil liberties issues, including election law and systemic voter disenfranchisement.
Tricia was named a Tennessee Supreme Court Attorney for Justice every year since 2018. She is on the advisory board of the Tennessee Language Center, an agency of the University of Tennessee’s Institute for Public Service. She also volunteers with Conexión Américas and Oasis Center. Tricia has served on the Davidson County Election Commission since 2013.
Areas of Practice
- Civil Rights
- Sexual Assault and Harassment
- Complex Litigation
Education
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The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 2001
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The George Washington University, B.A., Communications, 1997
Languages
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English
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Spanish
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee, 2007
- Florida, 2001
- West Virginia, 2005
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee, 2009
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 2008
- U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee, 2010
- U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia, 2005
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2019
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2007
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2013
- Southern District of Florida, 2022
- Middle District of Florida, 2023
Experience
Representative cases include:
- Numerous high dollar confidential settlements for survivors of sexual assault, sexual violence, and harassment.
- Lipscomb v. Metro Nashville, No. 22-0501-1 (Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tenn. 2022): Obtained a preliminary injunction to preserve the constitutional rights of a local firefighter who was unlawfully disciplined for engaging in free speech, culminating in a $450,000 settlement.
- Effler v. Purdue Pharma L.P., 614 S.W.3d 681 (Tenn. 2020), in which the Tennessee Supreme Court held that drug dependent babies can sue drug companies as drug dealers under Tennessee’s Drug Dealer Liability Act.
- Dunaway v. Purdue Pharma, et al., 391 F. Supp. 3d 802 (M.D. Tenn 2019), in which the district court granted expedited remand of an action against drug companies and others under Tennessee’s Drug Dealer Liability Act.
- Abriq v. Hall, et al., 295 F. Supp. 3d 874 (M. D. Tenn. 2018), a landmark lawsuit filed to protect immigration detainees in Nashville.
- The Sullivan Baby Doe case (originally filed as Staubus v Purdue Pharma, et al., No. C-41916, (Sullivan Co. Circuit Court 2017)) against U.S. opioid producers Endo Health Solutions Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., resulting in a $35 million settlement agreement, which was the largest per capita settlement with Endo.
- Arnold v. Cornerstone Church of Nashville, Inc., et al., No. 16C1131 (Davidson Co. Circuit Court 2016), in which Ms. Herzfeld represented a sexual assault survivor, obtained sanctions against the church for discovery misconduct, and which resolved in a confidential settlement.
- Doe v. CCA, 3:15-cv-00068 (M.D. Tenn. 2016), filed to protect women from unconstitutional, invasive, strip searches in a Tennessee prison.
- Akridge v. Finnegan, No. 3:13-cv-588 (M.D. Tenn. 2013), concerning racially motivated civil rights violations by the Metro Nashville Police Department.
- Juana Villegas v. Metro Nashville, No. 11-6031 (6th Cir. 2012) in which Ms. Herzfeld filed an amicus brief in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of an immigrant woman forced to give birth in shackles.
- Escobar v. Gaines, 3:11-cv-994 (M.D. Tenn. 2011), on behalf of immigrants who were unlawfully arrested in their homes, resulting in a $310,000 settlement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Nashville Police Department, a confidential monetary settlement with additional defendants, and seven years of deferred action status for the noncitizen plaintiffs.
- Occupy Nashville v. Haslam, No. 3:11-cv-01037 (M.D. Tenn. 2011), filed on behalf of Occupy Nashville protestors to protect their First Amendment rights, including a temporary injunction preserving their right to protest.
Professional Honors and Activities
Memberships:
- Harry Phillips American Inn of Court, Barrister 2013 – 2017
- Tennessee Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Committee, Member
- Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law alumna, 2010
- United Auto Workers, Local 163, 1994-1996
- The American Association for Justice
- Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Nashville Bar Association
- Nashville Bar Foundation
- Tennessee Language Institute Board Member
- Davidson County Election Commissioner since 2013
Community Involvement:
- Workers’ Dignity/Dignidad Obrera, Legal Advisory Board (former)
- ACLU of Tennessee Cooperating Attorney
- Commissioner, Davidson County Election Commission, 2013 – present
- Volunteer with Oasis Center
- Volunteer with Conexión Américas
Awards
2018-2019
Attorney for Justice, Tennessee Supreme Court
2012
Super Lawyers
2013-2016
Super Lawyers Rising Stars,
2013 – 2016
2018
2018 Amiga We Love award, Conexión Américas
2019
Local Rules Committee, United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Presentations, Seminars & Published Works
Jan 21, 2020
A Prescription for Justice: Legal Responses to the Opioid Crisis at Federal and Local Levels, Presenter. Jan. 21, 2020.
Nov 28, 2018
New Local Rules, AO-174-1 and other Case Management Issues, Moderator. Advanced Federal Court Practice Institute. Nov. 28, 2018.
Oct 24, 2018
Election Law: Local, State, and Federal. Panelist. Oct. 24, 2018.
July 19, 2018
Federal Practice Seminar, Speaker. July 19, 2018.
May 16, 2017
The Strategy and Settlement of the In re: National Football League Players Concussion Injury Litigation, Presenter.
Mar 3, 2017
What Immigration Attorneys Are Telling their Terrified Clients, Presenter. Mar. 3, 2017.