Name: Tara Sutton
Item: Tara Sutton
Author: tsutton

Bio

EXPERIENCE

Chair of Mass Tort Litigation Group
Trial practice focusing on representing individuals harmed by the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.
Court-appointed settlement counsel in Abilify Multi-District Litigation, MDL No. 2734 (N.D.Fl.)
Tribal Leadership Committee In re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation, MDL No. 2804 (E.D. Ohio)
Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and Co-Chair of Plaintiffs’ Science and Expert Committee, Benicar Multi-District Litigation, MDL No. 2606 (D.N.J.)
Member, Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, New Jersey Consolidated Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Stem and ABGII Modular Hip Stem Litigation.
Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and Chair of Plaintiffs’ Science and Expert Committee, Chantix Multi-District Litigation, MDL No. 2092 (N.D.Ala.)
Lead trial counsel in Mirapex Multi-District Litigation, MDL No. 1836 (D.Minn.)
Member, Law and Motions Committee, DePuy ASR Multi-District Litigation.
Member, Science Committee and Discovery
Committee, Vioxx Multi-District Litigation.

SELECTED CASES*

Member of plaintiffs’ negotiating committee in Benicar litigation that resulted in a settlement fund of $358 million.
Represented clients in the New Jersey Multi- County Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular Hip Stem litigation, including two Plaintiffs who resolved their cases through the NJ Court’s bellwether mediation program. Assisted in developing a global settlement program for both the multi-county litigation and the federal multi- district litigation, a program valued at over $1 billion. Appointed to the settlement negotiation team and will serve as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Settlement Oversight Committee.
Lead counsel in Daubert proceedings in Abilify, Chantix, and Mirapex product liability litigations, successfully defeating defendants’’ challenges to plaintiffs’ scientific experts on causation
Trial Counsel in Charbonneau v. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pfizer, Inc. Represented plaintiffs in first Mirapex products liability bellwether trial. On July 30, 2008, jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiffs for
$8,279,300, including $7.8 million in punitive damages for failing to warn of risk of compulsive behaviors, including pathological gambling, from the Parkinson’s drug Mirapex.
Trial Counsel in Zwayer v. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pfizer, Inc. Represented plaintiffs in second Mirapex bellwether trial. Case was confidentially settled prior to closing argument.
Confidentially settled more than 280 Mirapex cases represented by Robins Kaplan LLP during Fall of 2008.
Lead trial counsel in first two Chantix MDL bellwether trials; confidentially settled prior to trial, leading to settlement of entire MDL.
Trial counsel, State of Minnesota and Blue pay the State and Blue Cross & Blue Shield more

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Journal of Corporation Law, University of Iowa, Editorial Board (2018)
The Sedona Conference Working Group on Protective Orders, Confidentiality & Public Access (Spring 2004)

PUBLICATIONS

Opening Statement by Tara Sutton in Charbonneau v. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Inc., et al., in book entitled Opening and Closing Arguments, Minnesota Association for Justice, 2011
“Consumer Alert: Johnson & Johnson Recalls DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip System,” August, 2010
“Out of the Frye Pan and Into the Fire: Handling Frye-Mack Challenges,” Minnesota Trial, Winter 2010 (with Anna Petosky and Kate Jaycox)
“Dangerous Side Effects from Pfizer’s Drug Chantix,” Injury Board, Vol. 1 Ed. 2, Winter 2009 (with Gary Wilson)
“Update: Investigation into Mirapex and its Link With Compulsive Gambling Disorders,” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., January 4, 2006
“Ortho Evra Birth-Control Patch Exposes Women to High Estrogen Levels, Potential Risk of Dangerous Blood Clots,” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., November 22, 2005
“Paxil^{^®} Linked To Birth Defects and Congenital Malformations.” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., October 2005
“Viagra, Cialis and Levitra May Cause Permanent Vision Loss and Blindness,” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., August 15, 2005
“Mirapex May Cause Compulsive Gambling Disorder,” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., July 26, 2005
“Consumer Alert: Guidant Defibrillators Recalled,” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., June 20, 2005
“Consumer Alert: Guidant Ventak Prizm 2 Defibrillator,” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., May 24, 2005
“Latest News on VIOXX Recall,” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., April 27, 2005
“Vioxx Pulled Off the Market Because of Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke,” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., October 01, 2004
“Consumer Alert: FDA Panel Urges Stronger Child and Adolescent Suicide Warnings on Antidepressants, Including Paxil, Zoloft and Effexor,” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., September 15, 2004
“Ephedra Products Raise Questions,” Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., April 11, 2003
“Decades of Deceit: Document Discovery in the Minnesota Tobacco Litigation,” 25 William Mitchell L Rev. 477, 1999 (with Roberta Walburn and Michael Ciresi).
“History of Complex Litigation in Minnesota,” in a book titled For the Record: 150 Years of Law & Lawyers in Minnesota published by the Minnesota State Bar Association as part of the Millenium Project.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS/ LECTURES

“Benicar Settlement Update,” Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, Nevada (October 20, 2017)
“Benicar Litigation: Sprue Like Enteropathy,” Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, Nevada (October 21, 2016)
“Emerging Project: Abilify Litigation,” Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, Nevada (October 21, 2016)
“Consumer Watchdogs: Drug and Device Litigation,” Robins Kaplan Trial Advocacy Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 13, 2016)
“Benicar Litigation,” Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, Nevada (October 16, 2015)
“Benicar Litigation,” American Association for Justice, Montreal, Canada (July 14, 2015)
“Products Liability/Mass Tort,” Panelist, Minnesota Association for Justice, Minneapolis, Minnesota (May 15, 2015)
“Plaintiff-Only Hot Topics and Trends in Litigation Seminar, Benicar Presentation,” American Association for Justice, San Diego, California (March 25, 2015)
Benicar Litigation Group Meeting, AAJ Winter Convention, Palm Desert, CA (February 24, 2015)
American Association for Justice Education’s Stryker Seminar, New York, New York (December 11, 2014)
“Plaintiff-Only Hot Topics and Trends in Litigation Seminar, Benicar Presentation,” American Association for Justice, Charleston, South Carolina (December 3, 2014)
“Plaintiff-Only Hot Topics and Trends in Litigation Seminar, Stryker Panel,” American Association for Justice, Charleston, South Carolina (December 3, 2014)
“Understanding the Stryker Settlement Program,” Webinar, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. (November 18, 2014)
“Mass Tort Update,” Minnesota Association for Justice Summer Convention, Alexandria, Minnesota (August 15, 2014)
“Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII Litigation Update,” American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Baltimore, Maryland (July 26, 2014)
“Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Implant Litigation Group Meeting,” American Association for Justice Winter Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana (February 10, 2014)
“How can my Firm Participate in Mass Torts?,” “How to Get Started,” and “Hot Cases,” Minnesota Mass Torts Conference, St. Paul, Minnesota (December 3, 2013)
“Daubert/Frye Motions in Product Liability Litigation,” Webinar, Strafford (November 5, 2013)
“Opening Statements,” Ohio Association for Justice, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, and Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group, Steamboat Springs, Colorado (March 11, 2013)
“Hot Topics in Pharmaceutical Litigation,” Panel, AAJ's Section on Toxic, Environmental, and Pharmaceutical Torts (STEP), Chicago, Illinois (July 30, 2012)
Conference Co-Chair, HB Litigation Conference: Food, Drug and Medical Device Litigation Forum, Minneapolis, Minnesota (April 23-24, 2012)
“The Demise of Multidistrict Litigation,” 2012 American Association for Justice Winter Convention, Phoenix, Arizona (February 11-15, 2012)
“Taking the Gamble out of Mass Tort Litigation: Jury Focus Groups and the Mirapex Litigation,” Minnesota Association for Justice, Alexandria, Minnesota (August 12, 2011)
“AAJs Topamax Teleseminar: Injuries and Causation,” American Association for Justice, Teleseminar (April 6, 2011)
“Masters in Trial on Jury Persuasion,” American Board of Trial Advocates, Columbus, Ohio (Sept. 10, 2010)
“Focus Groups and Development of Themes in the Mirapex Case,” American Association for Justice Annual Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (July 13, 2010)
“Preemption in a Post-Levine World,” Minnesota Association for Justice, Alexandria, Minnesota (August 14, 2009)
“Obstacles to Justice,” Iowa Association for Justice Annual Meeting (November 6, 2008)
“So You Are in Federal Court – Now What,” MTLA Summer Convention (August 9, 2007)
“Protecting the Public Health: Scientific Integrity at Risk,” 13th Trial Advocacy Seminar (October 26, 2006)
“Top 10 Cases You Never Saw Coming- Recognizing Mass Torts,” South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association 2006 Fall Seminar (September 7, 2006)
“Defective Drug and Medical Device Litigation,” MTLA Annual Convention (August 12, 2006) Commencement Speech, Hamline University, Paralegal Studies Certificate Program (May 16, 2003)
“Formulating a Discovery Plan in Complex Business Litigation Cases,” MILE Complex Business Litigation Seminar (March 20, 2001)
"Where There's Smoke There's Fire: An Insider's View of the Minnesota Tobacco Litigation," Association of University Women, 3M, Minneapolis, Minnesota (May 26, 1999)

MEDIA APPEARANCES

“The Rustlers Whooped the Rangers,” Advocate Capital, Inc. (May 8, 2014)
“Female Powerbrokers Q&A: Robins Kaplan’s Tara Sutton,” Law360 (March 5, 2014)

RECOGNITION**

Named as one of the “Elite Women of the Plaintiff’s Bar,” National Law Journal (2018)
Named “Lawyer of the Year,” The Best Lawyers in America (2018 edition)
President’s Award, Public Justice Foundation (2018)
Named “MVP” for Product Liability, Law360 (2015,2017)
Named a “Litigation Trailblazer” by The National Law Journal (2017)
Listed in "500 Leading Lawyers in America" Lawdragon (2016-2018)
Recognized by Best Lawyers as the Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in Minneapolis (2016-2018 editions)
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2016-2019 editions)
Named “Outstanding Woman Lawyer,” The National Law Journal (2015)
Recipient of the “Women in Business Award,” Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (2015)
Named “Woman Worth Watching,” Profiles in Diversity Journal (September/October 2014)
Named “Female Powerbroker,” Law360 (March 5, 2014)
Named a “North Star Lawyer” by the Minnesota State Bar Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services (2013-2017)
Named a “Litigation Star,” Benchmark Litigation (2013 edition)
Named to the “Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers,” Super Lawyers (2018)
Named to the “Top 50 Women Super Lawyers,”
Super Lawyers (2010, 2017-2018)
Named to the “Top 100 Women Minnesota Super Lawyers,” Minnesota Law & Politics (2009)
Named a “Minnesota Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers (2009-2018)
“Member of the Year” award from the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association in recognition of work performed during the tobacco litigation.
“Newsmakers ‘98” award from the Minnesota Women’s Press in recognition of extraordinary action taken in the public arena during 1998 that promotes equality, justice and respect for women.
Named “40 Under 40" by City Business (2000)
** Being named to the list or receiving the award is not intended and should not be viewed as comparative to other lawyers or to create an expectation about results that might be achieved in a future matter.

CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
Public Justice Foundation, Board of Directors (2010-present), Executive Committee (2012- present), Secretary (2013-2014), Treasurer (2014-2015), Vice President (2015-2016), President-Elect (2016-2017),
President (2017-2018), Past President (2018)
Children's Theatre Company, Board of Governors (2011-present), Development Committee (2012- present), Curtain Call Ball Committee (2013- present), Curtain Call Ball Silent Auction Co- Chair (2015)

EDUCATION
University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., with honors (1992)
University of Iowa, B.S., with high honors

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