With decades of diverse experience in personal injury, commercial and toxic tort law, Fred Thompson represents people harmed by negligence, product defects or misconduct. As a leader of the medical litigation team, Fred manages cases related to defective medical devices, harmful pharmaceutical drugs, medical malpractice, and nursing home abuse.
Fred is Liaison Counsel for a multidistrict litigation, In re Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2873, alleging severe health complications and environmental harms associated with the use of firefighting Aqueous Film-Forming Foams, which contain toxic PFAS chemicals. He has been appointed to numerous leadership positions, including:
•Co-lead coordinating counsel for the pelvic mesh lawsuits consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
•Plaintiffs' co-lead counsel for the Mirena IUD multidistrict litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
•Plaintiffs' co-lead counsel for the federal Digitek consolidation
•Plaintiffs' Steering Committee member for the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis defibrillator lead
•Plaintiffs' Steering Committee member for the Avandia federal multidistrict litigation
•Plaintiffs' Steering Committee member for the Trasylol federal multidistrict litigation
•Chairman of the American Association for Justice's Digitek Litigation Group
•Co-chairman of the AAJ Kugel Mesh Litigation Group.
Fred is also active with the firm’s consumer fraud, commercial and economic damage litigation. He has represented clients in litigation involving bond issues and securities fraud in federal, state and bankruptcy forums as well as through alternative dispute resolution. Additionally, Fred has practiced commercial transaction work, including contracting, corporate, partnership and limited liability company formation, and capital acquisitions.
Recognized as an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, Fred frequently speaks on medical litigation topics at legal seminars throughout the country. He co-authored “Composix Kugel Mesh: A Primer” for the Spring 2008 AAJ Section on Toxic, Environmental & Pharmaceutical Torts newsletter. Fred serves his local community as a Board Member for the East Cooper Community Outreach organization.
Awards, Accolades & Recognitions
Best Lawyers
Charleston, SC
2022 “Lawyer of the Year” Mass tort litigation / class actions - plaintiffs
2018-2026 Charleston, S.C. Mass tort litigation / class actions - plaintiffs
2024-2026 Product liability litigation-plaintiffs
Lawdragon
2020-2026 Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer
Diabetes
Charleston Business Magazine
2022 50 Most Influential
Blog Posts
March 31, 2016
How U.S. regulation prevented off-label use of a drug and a subsequent birth defect disaster Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Fred Thompson III
August 29, 2014
Generic Drug Labeling: Brand-name drug manufacturers can be held liable for warnings on generic versions Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Fred Thompson III
News
April 28, 2025
The history and legacy of Workers’ Memorial Day
by:
M. Nolan Webb
August 26, 2024
51 Motley Rice attorneys listed in 2025 Best Lawyers in America guide
by: Motley Rice
