Washington University in St. Louis School of Law,
J.D., 2003
, Order of the Coif
, Washington University Law Quarterly
Washington University in St. Louis,
M.A., British and American Literature, 2000
University of Missouri-Columbia,
B.A., English, magna cum laude, 1999
, Phi Beta Kappa
Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Kawasaki Motors Corp.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Product Liability Advisory Council - Future Leader, 2019
Missouri Super Lawyers Rising Star, Products Liability Defense, 2011-2016
Thompson Coburn, Women's Leadership Academy, 2017
Thompson Coburn LLP
Partner, 2012-Present
Associate, 2003-2011
Summer Associate, 2002
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Student Clerk for the Honorable Thomas MacMillian, 2002
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C.
Summer Associate, 2001
Heather draws on her extensive litigation experience defending product manufacturers to author Daubert and summary judgement briefs that have helped clients successfully avoid trial in federal courts around the country. She has also represented clients at trial and obtained favorable verdicts for product manufacturers facing significant damages.
Heather acts as national counsel for manufacturers facing litigation in state and federal courts. She most recently represented a recreational product manufacturer at trial in federal district court in Miami, where she argued and won a motion for directed verdict regarding the plaintiff's design defect claim. Her Daubert briefs also successfully challenge plaintiffs' experts, most recently successfully excluding witnesses in mechanical engineering, human factors, life care planning, and forensic accounting.
Heather also has unique trial experience regarding mass tort and consolidated claims. For instance, in 2013, she was part of a trial team that successfully defended a tobacco manufacturer against product liability and fraud claims in a mass consolidated plaintiff's action in West Virginia, one of the nation's top-ranked "Judicial Hellholes." And, early in her career, she served on the defense trial team for one of the largest civil RICO cases brought by the Department of Justice (U.S. v. Philip Morris USA), where she handled issues including warnings, injury causation and compelled commercial speech.
Heather's product liability experience is not limited to the litigation context. She additionally uses her experience to support clients facing issues related to CPSC product recalls or investigations, reaching successful outcomes in those contexts, as well.
Missouri’s 2018 medical cannabis initiatives: Part 2 – Business
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9th Circuit rejects argument that ‘No Added Sugar’ means ‘healthy’
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Law360 Product Liability November 2016
Utah federal court throws out products liability claims against Kawasaki for Jet Ski injury
Federal jury sides with Yamaha in failure to warn trial over WaveRunner injury
Third Circuit affirms directed verdict for Yamaha in products liability action
Texas jury quickly delivers defense verdict to Kawasaki in trial over off-road vehicle
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Thompson Coburn helps Yamaha resolve significant injury cases
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