Jennifer L. Steinmetz - Tucker Ellis LLP

Jennifer Steinmetz defends clients against all types of products liability claims, with an emphasis on health and life sciences litigation.

Jennifer has handled matters – including mass consolidated proceedings and multidistrict litigation – at the state and federal levels throughout the United States and Canada. She defends pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in all aspects of personal injury cases, from initial pleadings through jury trial. Jennifer also has substantial experience litigating mass/toxic torts and chemical exposure matters, where she has represented a variety of manufacturers, distributors, and employers.

A tireless and dependable advocate for clients, Jennifer has significant experience working up a high-volume case load when time constraints are tight and travels all over the country to take depositions to prepare for trial. She not only gathers the necessary case facts, but she diligently works with expert and corporate witnesses to build a complete defense. Jennifer makes it a point to understand the client’s products and technologies, which allows her to clearly communicate complex scientific and medical issues to diverse audiences. Jennifer also has collaborated with other attorneys as part of a “virtual firm” in defense of` mass litigation, as well as independently defending against single-plaintiff claims.

Active in the legal community, Jennifer serves on the Board of the Trial Attorneys of America, a group of experienced litigators who devote a substantial portion of their practice to the defense and trial of product liability cases.

Jennifer grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. She spent more than a decade practicing law in Chicago before returning to Cleveland to be closer to family. She and her husband reside with their two children in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Education: Loyola University Chicago School of Law (LL.M. in Health Law, 2002); Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., 2001); Health Law Society; Certificate in Health Law; Miami University (B.A. in English and Psychology, cum laude, 1998)

State Admissions: Ohio, 2012; Illinois, 2001

Federal Admissions: United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois; United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois; United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio; United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio

Service Areas: Life Sciences Litigation; Mass Tort & Product Liability; Health & Life Sciences

Industries Represented: Chemical; Construction; Consumer Products; FDA Law & Regulations; Food Manufacturing; Insurance Carriers; Machinery Manufacturing; Manufacturing; Medical Devices; Pharmaceutical & Medicine; Transportation Equipment

Represents medical device manufacturer in national pelvic mesh litigation
Defends pharmaceutical company client against product liability claims across the country involving a weight loss drug
Represents pharmaceutical company against manufacturing defect allegations for oral contraceptive
Represented pharmaceutical company in nationwide litigation brought by thousands of state and local governments seeking costs for abatement of the opioid addiction crisis
Represented snack food employer in several matters involving worker allegations of exposure to ingredients and flavors
Represented manufacturer of yeast-based flavorings in litigation brought by workers claiming respiratory injuries due to chemical exposure
Represented food flavor ingredient distributor in multiple-year, mass toxic tort litigation involving more than 20 products liability cases nationwide wherein plaintiffs alleged respiratory injury as a result of exposure to chemicals in the workplace
Represented chemical distributor in product liability case with allegations of neurotoxic effects from use of chemical in the workplace
Served as counsel for coatings/paints manufacturer in various products liability and personal injury cases
Counseled and defended fragrance ingredient manufacturer from a plaintiff’s claim of hair loss and other injuries after use of shampoo product
Defended HVAC manufacturer in electrical shock case in which plaintiff alleged failure to warn and negligent design/manufacture of subject equipment caused and/or contributed to cause the subject occurrence
Served as counsel for ventilation company in several law suits involving allegedly defective range hoods
Represented clients in construction defect cases with allegations of fraud, breach of warranties, and negligence
Litigated multiple cases on behalf of elevator service provider wherein plaintiffs claimed a range of injuries as a result of alleged defects with the elevators and/or other lift devices
Represented manufacturer of voltmeter in products liability lawsuit wherein multiple deaths resulted from explosion in electrical room at a department store
Defended apparel manufacturer in multiple cases against claims filed by plaintiffs who were injured as a result of allegedly defective shoe product
Represented manufacturers of pumps and valves in asbestos litigation
Represented pharmaceutical manufacturer in multiple products liability cases brought by plaintiffs alleging injury and death due to ingestion of energy pills

Speaking Engagements

“Best Practices for Effective Client Communications: A View From the Inside,” Moderator, Trial Attorneys of America, 51st Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (June 2022)
“Short Circuits,” Trial Attorneys of America, 51st Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (June 2022)
“Recent Trends in the American Legal System,” Moderator, Current Issues in Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Biotech Litigation, ABA, Lawrence Township, New Jersey (October 2017)
“Cases Applying ‘Proportionality’ under FRCP 26 – How’s That Working Out?”, Trial Attorneys of America Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (June 2017)
“There’s No Place Like Home: The Pros and Cons of Lexecon Waivers and Bellwether Trials in the Modern MDL,” Moderator, Current Issues in Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Biotech Litigation, ABA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (November 2016)
“Rising to the Challenge: Dealing with Adversity During Casework and Trial,” Women of the Section of Litigation: Leading, Litigating & Connecting, ABA, Chicago, Illinois (November 2015)
“Inside the Reptile Brain: Why the Reptile Theory is Important to the Offense and Defense,” Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Biotech Subcommittee of the ABA Products Liability Committee (May 2015)
“Food Industry Respiratory Cases are Popping Up All Over,” co-author for presentation delivered at Defense Research Institute seminar, “Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Seminar,” Phoenix, Arizona (March 2009)

Publications

“The Evolution of Diacetyl-Related Litigation: Parts 1 and 2,” Law360 (August 2016)
“Food Industry Respiratory Cases are Popping Up All Over,” co-authored presentation delivered at DRI’s Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Seminar, Phoenix, Arizona (March 2009)