Clients turn to Suzanne Galvin for results in complex high-profile litigation, particularly in the areas of pharmaceutical, medical device, and environmental exposure claims. Suzanne began her career working on one of the first MDLs regarding factor concentrate, and she has been involved in complex litigation and class action defense ever since.
Her career has developed through the years from handling research to working on deposition teams for national litigation to serving on national trial teams for products as varied as vaginal mesh implants, pharmaceuticals, and lithium ion batteries. In between, Suzanne has been involved in numerous MDLs, dozens of class actions, and hundreds of bet-the-company cases defending products as varied as gasoline additives, table saws, fire suppression systems, tobacco, and diabetes medication.
In one class action case, Suzanne led the deposition of the class representative. Immediately after the deposition, the entire case was dismissed. She is currently defending a uranium processing facility in Southern Illinois against claims it affected property values and allegedly caused medical issues in the community. Suzanne identified, retained, and prepared the medical experts in these cases. She and a team also took depositions of 14 treating physicians, all of which resulted in favorable testimony for the client.
Suzanne particularly enjoys identification, preparation, and presentation of expert witnesses. Her understanding of complex medical issues stems from her time as in-house counsel at one of the leading teaching hospitals in the U.S. Her extensive contacts in the medical field serve clients well, and her understanding of law and medicine allow her to make complex issues manageable for juries.
Suzanne is a leading attorney defending public water suppliers and other businesses against the increasing number of tort, environmental, and class action lawsuits related to PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” As a thought leader in the field, Suzanne has spoken at national seminars and has been featured in industry publications, including Bloomberg Law, which details a revised multibillion-dollar PFAS settlement between 3M Co. and water utilities that limits future liability in a case involving specialized firefighting foam.
Suzanne has co-authored “Recent Developments in PFAS Litigation” and “A brief primer on PFAS litigation: Trends and future disputes,” which has been cited in notable legal publications such as the Indiana Law Review.
Currently, Suzanne is representing a public water company in Connecticut facing allegations of PFAS contamination, while also advising businesses on managing litigation and regulatory risks associated with handling these compounds.
Suzanne feels practicing law is like tending a garden. With proper planning and preparation, it is possible to yield a great result, no matter how daunting the task may seem. And she is no stranger to danger: She and her husband, John, have served for years as crisis counselors in disaster response after natural disasters, terrorism, and political unrest. They’ve served in places including Lebanon, Iraq, Ukraine, and Kenya.
experience
- Representing a national retailer in opioid litigation proceedings.
- Defeated class certification against automotive manufacturer.
- Led affirmative discovery on environmental claims relating to a release from a gasoline pipeline; worked to marshal evidence related to exposure and medical causation for over 90 plaintiffs.
- Primary responsibility for developing evidence and briefing opposition to a class certification motion related to horsepower labeling on power equipment, leading to a nominal settlement on class actions claims in St. Clair County, Illinois.
- Serves on a national trial team for a pelvic mesh implant manufacturer.
- Summary judgment for various products including fire suppression system manufacturer, motorcycle manufacturer, physicians, hospitals, tissue collection agency, pesticide manufacturer, and hip implant manufacturer.
Professional
- DRI Product Liability SLG, Vice Chair for Hand and Power Tools Section
- ACI, Speaker, Women Leaders in Life Sciences Law
- NITA – Trained Thompson Coburn associates skills for effective depositions
Community
- St. Louis Children’s Choir Board Member, 2011-Present
- New Commandment Ministries, Co-Founder and Board Member, 2004-Present
- FEMA Certified Chaplain in disaster response counseling, 2007-2017
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (by BL Rankings), 2022-2024
- Quoted, “3M’s Revised PFAS Settlement Includes Atypical Liability Terms”
Bloomberg Law, September 11, 2023
My husband, John, and I have served for years as crisis counselors in disaster response after natural disasters, terrorism, and political unrest. We’ve served in places including Lebanon, Iraq, Ukraine, and Kenya.