Overview
Defending Medical Products
In medical litigation, Joe has defended the makers of:
- Mammary implants
- Orthopaedic prostheses
- Cardiovascular devices, such as defibrillators and pacemakers
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
- A wide variety of pharmaceuticals
- Nutritional supplements
- Vaccines
- Various chemicals
Coordinating Mass Torts and Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)
Joe is one of the pioneers in mass tort and medical device litigation, dating back to his extensive involvement in the Dalkon Shield litigation in the early 1970s. He has served as MDL, national coordinating and liaison counsel in major medical products litigation, tried many cases, and played key roles in the national and regional defense and coordination of such litigation.
Litigation Scope
Joe also served as national counsel for a major Fortune 500 Company in toxic tort cases. He is a recognized leader in the area of obesity/fast food litigation and has extensive experience in trial/jury consulting and psychology.
Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Minnesota
Court Admissions
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Education
University of Minnesota Law School
J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Law Review (associate editor) (1972)
University of Minnesota
B.A. (1969)
Experience
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June 2013 1 min readNovartis Achieves Directed Verdict in Bisphosphonate TrialPharmaceuticals and Biologics Health and Life Sciences Product Liability Mass Tort Litigation and Settlement Strategies Product Liability Litigation
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August 2008 1 min readPfizer Defends Claims Against Parkinson’s Disease Drug in Bellwether MDLPharmaceuticals and Biologics Health and Life Sciences Product Liability Product Liability Litigation
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- Looking to 2017: What Could Be Ahead for Drugs, Devices, and Mass Torts
Co-author, Defense Research Institute, January 2017 - Liability Issues Surrounding Biosimilars
Co-presenter, IU McKinney School of Law Annual Continuing Legal Education Program, September 2016 - Communication as a Catalyst in Complex Litigation
Federal Bar Association, Minneapolis, September 2015 - Challenging Expert Evidence in Mass Torts and Class Action Litigation
Co-presenter, ABA Section of Litigation Roundtable, April 2015 - Scientific Evidence Review: Admissibility and Use of Expert Evidence in the Courtroom
Co-author, Expert Evidence in the Eighth Circuit, Chapter VIII, 2013
Leadership & Community
Professional Associations
- American College of Legal Medicine
- Defense Research Institute
- Minnesota Law Review — Alumni Advisory Board
- Minnesota Medical Alley Association — General Counsel, 1985-93
Honors
- American College of Trial Lawyers — Fellow
- Chambers USA — Nationwide, Product Liability & Mass Torts, "Senior Statespeople," 2020
- Chambers USA — Nationwide, Product Liability & Mass Torts, 2010-19
- Finance & Commerce and Minnesota Lawyer — Icon, 2018
- National Law Journal — Litigation Trailblazers, 2015
- Law360's MVP Award — Product Liability, 2015
- PL Law360 — One of the 10 Most Admired Product Liability Lawyers in the United States, 2010
- The Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation and Mass Torts Litigation, 2003-20 (Minneapolis Personal Injury Litigation, Defendants, Lawyer of the Year, 2014; Minneapolis Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions, Defendants, Lawyer of the Year, 2012, 2020)
- University of Minnesota Law School — Law Review, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2011
- Burton Award for Excellence in Legal Writing, 2002, 2011
- Legal Media Group — The World's Leading Litigation and Product Liability Lawyers, 2016
- Euromoney's Litigation and Product Liability Expert Guide nominee, 2014-16
- LMG Life Sciences — Life Science Star, 2012-13, 2015
- Best of the Best USA — One of America's Top 30 Product Liability Lawyers, 2012
- Guide to the World's Leading Product Liability Lawyers, 3rd edition — Top 10 Worldwide Product Liability Lawyers, 2010
- Benchmark: Litigation — Product Liability, 2008, 2013-14, 2020
- Legal 500 United States — Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices, 2007
- Minnesota Super Lawyers — Class Action/Mass Torts, 2003-04; 2006-19
- Minnesota Law & Politics — Minnesota's Top Personal Injury Lawyers
- Who's Who Legal Product Liability
- Who's Who Legal Life Sciences