Breaking the Ice: Opioid litigation ‘case of a lifetime’ for Zimmerman Reed attorney

Chuck Toomajian appreciates getting to “right some wrongs” in his public client, whistleblower and consumer protection practice as a partner in Zimmerman Reed’s Minneapolis office.

Toomajian helped represent the state of Minnesota last year in reaching a $60.5 million settlement with e-cigarette manufacturer Juul and tobacco giant Altria. He also represented the states of Indiana and Vermont in opioid litigation against manufacturers and distributors.

“It’s a clear case of wrongdoing, so doing something for it is very meaningful,” he said of the opioid cases.

Toomajian lived in or near Vermont until he was 21, and saw the opioid epidemic begin in that area.

“I’ve lost friends to it,” Toomajian said. “I’ve seen how it’s destroyed lives. So, representing them over something that’s affected me and the communities that I grew up in, it’s the case of a lifetime to be able to work on it.”

Name: Charles Toomajian III

Title: Partner, Zimmerman Reed, Minneapolis office

Education: B.A., English, Williams College; J.D., University of Minnesota Law School

Q: Best way to start a conversation with you?

A: Ask me to get some coffee. I have a mug in my hand right now. I could always use more caffeine and an excuse to stretch my legs, leave the office to meet up at a coffee shop.

Q: Why law school?

A: In undergrad I took Intro to Law. During one seminar we discussed the “No Vehicles in the Park” hypothetical. Obviously, cars are out. But what about bicycles? An ambulance? A wheelchair? A drone flying over the park? In the discussions that came out of that, a light bulb went off. I could see myself doing this for a long time.

Q: What are you reading?

A: I just finished “The Bee Sting” by Paul Murray, an Irish author. His novels are dark-comedy themed. But this one had a lot more sadness than the others I’ve read.

Q: Pet peeve?

A: When people don’t use their blinkers. It’s an easy thing to do to make things safer for people around you.

Q: Best part of your work?

A: Getting to learn new things. I love when I get the chance to research and dive into something new, see it from 360 degrees, dig deep and see if I can find a solution to a problem or an angle to an argument.

Q: Most challenging?

A: We’re often doing new things, and people on the other side often are more specialized. There’s a learning curve, getting up to speed up in the nuances of law that people might have been practicing for years on the other end.

Q: Favorite activity away from work?

A: My wife and I’ve been playing tennis over the past few months. I’ve enjoyed getting into that.

Q: Where would you take someone visiting your hometown?

A: My hometown is North Adams, Massachusetts, a very small town in a valley in the Appalachian range. I’d go to Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts. According to legend, it was Herman Melville’s inspiration for Moby Dick, when there was snow on it. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a whale when looking at it, but he apparently did.

Q: Legal figure you admire?

A: H.L.A. Hart, who came up with the “No Vehicles in the Park” hypothetical. I don’t necessarily agree with the separation of law and morals to the extent that he put it but he shaped the way that all of us think about the law, even if we don’t realize it.

Q: Misconception about your work?

A: That being a lawyer means arguing a lot. We have an adversarial system, which is great, so there’s certainly aspects of that. But we all have to do what’s best for our client. Oftentimes, that’s finding common ground first. Then focusing on what you actually need to argue about.

Q: Favorite book, movie or TV show about lawyers?

A: “Better Call Saul.” The protagonist faced repercussions for being a bad person. But he accepted that and had some redemption because of that.