Liz is a partner in the firm's Consumer Products and Appellate Practice groups. Her trial work focuses on the defense of consumer product manufacturers. She has represented tobacco industry clients in many cases, including the first medical monitoring class action tried to verdict, the largest consolidation of individual smokers' personal injury claims, and the $280 billion civil RICO case brought by the United States against the tobacco industry. Liz was also a member of the defense team in City of St. Louis v. American Tobacco Co. (MO Cir. 2011), reported as the largest defense verdict ever in a tobacco cost-recovery case. Liz has extensive experience defending against the improper use of aggregate trial procedures such as class actions, phased trial plans, and large and small consolidations. She possesses extensive experience litigating and briefing punitive damages issues.
A member of the firm's Appellate Group, Liz also has experience representing national clients in appeals in both state and federal courts. Liz recently briefed, argued and won an appeal in the Missouri Supreme Court in Bryant v. Smith Interior Design Group, Inc., 310 S.W.3d 227 (Mo. 2010), a case involving a jurisdictional issue of first impression in Missouri. Liz has served as appellate counsel for members of the tobacco industry in some of the highest stakes litigation facing the industry. Representative appeals include:
- In re Tobacco Litigation (Medical Monitoring), 600 S.E.2d 188 (W.Va. 2004);
- Philip Morris USA, Inc. v. Christensen, 905 A.2d 340 (Md. 2006);
- United States v. Philip Morris, 566 F.3d 1095 (D.C. Cir. 2009); and
- Gander Mountain Co. v. Cabela's, Inc., 540 F.3d 827 (8th Cir. 2008).
Liz also has represented clients in several interlocutory appeals addressing a wide range of issues. She has argued in both the Missouri Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court.