- OVERVIEW
- INSIGHTS
- NEWS & EVENTS
INDUSTRIES
PRACTICES
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Education
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Washington University School of Law,
J.D., 2003
, Order of the Coif
, Washington University Law Quarterly
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Washington University in St. Louis,
M.A., British and American Literature, 2000
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University of Missouri-Columbia,
B.A., English, magna cum laude, 1999
, Phi Beta Kappa
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Representative Clients
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Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
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Kawasaki Motors Corp.
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R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
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Recognitions
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Product Liability Advisory Council - Future Leader, 2019
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Missouri Super Lawyers Rising Star, Products Liability Defense, 2011-2016
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Thompson Coburn, Women's Leadership Academy, 2017
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Employment
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Thompson Coburn LLP
Partner, 2012-Present
Associate, 2003-2011
Summer Associate, 2002
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United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Student Clerk for the Honorable Thomas MacMillian, 2002
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Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C.
Summer Associate, 2001
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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.
Blogs
Missouri’s 2018 medical cannabis initiatives: Part 2 – Business
Missouri’s 2018 medical cannabis initiatives: Part 1 – The basics
9th Circuit rejects argument that ‘No Added Sugar’ means ‘healthy’
Analysis of sugar industry documents may impact litigation
Missouri appellate court rejects ‘ingredient list’ defense in food labeling case
Is San Francisco’s sugar-sweetened beverage rule watering down First Amendment rights?
‘Added Sugar’ gets a bad rap, but California’s ‘Food Court’ dismisses proposed class claims
Thompson Coburn Publications
A spicy relationship between Uber-like delivery services and the restaurants that feed them
Publications
"How Sugar Industry Documents May Impact Litigation"
Law360 Product Liability November 2016
News
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
Unanimous Fourth Circuit victory for Yamaha in products liability action
Thompson Coburn helps Yamaha resolve significant injury cases