Brendan C. Austin

Brendan is part of the firm’s team representing government entities in litigation targeting opioid manufacturers, distributors, and dispensing pharmacies for their alleged misrepresentation and over-distribution of these highly addictive prescription painkillers. Additionally, he represents the City of Chicago in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit seeking to hold a gun manufacturer accountable for selling, manufacturing, and marketing pistols that they allegedly knew or should have known could be easily modified to machine guns by using switches.

Brendan’s past casework has included representing multiple state attorneys general in litigation against the Takata Corporation and automakers for allegedly using deceptive practices to put dangerous airbags into millions of vehicles in the United States. He was a member of the firm’s litigation team representing the Mississippi Attorney General against subprime auto lenders for allegedly fraudulent lending and collection practices. Brendan was also a member of the firm’s team representing the City of Chicago in its lawsuit against e-cigarette manufacturer JUUL, alleging unfair and deceptive marketing and sales practices.

Prior to joining Motley Rice, Brendan practiced at a sizeable D.C. law firm where he focused on investigations and lawsuits involving consumer protection, false claims litigation, and fraudulent and deceptive trade practices for attorneys general and other public sector clients. Among other matters, he was part of a team that represented attorneys general in litigation against several nursing home chains for allegedly using deceptive marketing to increase their profits while failing to provide basic care to their elderly residents.

While pursuing his law degree, Brendan clerked for a law firm in California, completing research for complex litigation involving securities fraud and false claims. He also interned for the University of San Diego Civil Clinic, in addition to assisting with pro bono domestic violence and humanitarian cases at Casa Cornelia Law Center in San Diego.