Jennifer L. Steinmetz
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Jennifer Steinmetz practices in the areas of medical and pharmaceutical liability.
She has handled matters at the state and federal level, including mass consolidated proceedings and multidistrict litigation. Jennifer devotes the majority of her professional time to the defense of drug and device manufacturers in cases throughout the United States and Canada. She also has significant experience litigating products liability and mass/toxic torts matters where she has represented a variety of manufacturers and distributors.
Jennifer grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. She spent more than a decade practicing law in Chicago before returning to Cleveland to be closer to family. She and her husband reside with their two young children in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
- Education
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law (LL.M. in Health Law, 2002)
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., 2001); Health Law Society; Certificate in Health Law
- Miami University (B.A. in English and Psychology, cum laude, 1998)
- State Admissions
- Ohio, 2012
- Illinois, 2001
- Federal Admissions
- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- Industries Represented
- Chemical
- Construction
- Consumer Products
- FDA Law & Regulations
- Food Manufacturing
- Insurance Carriers
- Machinery Manufacturing
- Manufacturing
- Medical Devices
- Pharmaceutical & Medicine
- Transportation Equipment
- Represents medical device manufacturer in national pelvic mesh litigation
- Represents snack food employer from whom third-party information and documents were sought in several matters involving worker allegations of exposure to ingredients and flavors
- Represents manufacturer of yeast-based flavorings in litigation brought by workers claiming respiratory injuries due to chemical exposure
- Represented pharmaceutical company against manufacturing defect allegations for oral contraceptive
- Represented food flavor ingredient distributor in six-year, mass toxic tort litigation involving more than 20 products liability cases nationwide wherein plaintiffs alleged respiratory injury as a result of exposure to chemicals in the workplace
- Represented chemical distributor in product liability case with allegations of neurotoxic effects from use of chemical in the workplace
- Served as counsel for coatings/paints manufacturer in various products liability and personal injury cases
- Counseled and defended fragrance ingredient manufacturer from a plaintiff’s claim of hair loss and other injuries after use of shampoo product
- Defended HVAC manufacturer in electrical shock case in which plaintiff alleged failure to warn and negligent design/manufacture of subject equipment caused and/or contributed to cause the subject occurrence
- Served as counsel for ventilation company for several law suits involving allegedly defective range hoods
- Represented clients in construction defect cases with allegations of fraud, breach of warranties, and negligence
- Litigated multiple cases on behalf of elevator service provider wherein plaintiffs claimed a range of injuries as a result of alleged defects with the elevators and/or other lift devices
- Represented manufacturer of voltmeter in products liability lawsuit wherein multiple deaths resulted from explosion in electrical room at a department store
- Defended apparel manufacturer in multiple cases against claims filed by plaintiffs who were injured as a result of allegedly defective shoe product
- Represented manufacturers of pumps and valves in asbestos litigation
- Represented pharmaceutical manufacturer in multiple products liability cases brought by plaintiffs alleging injury and death due to ingestion of energy pills
Speaking Engagements
- “Recent Trends in the American Legal System,” Moderator, Current Issues in Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Biotech Litigation, ABA, Lawrence Township, New Jersey (October 2017)
- “Cases Applying ‘Proportionality’ under FRCP 26 – How’s That Working Out?”, Trial Attorneys of America Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (June 2017)
- “There’s No Place Like Home: The Pros and Cons of Lexecon Waivers and Bellwether Trials in the Modern MDL,” Moderator, Current Issues in Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Biotech Litigation, ABA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (November 2016)
- “Rising to the Challenge: Dealing with Adversity During Casework and Trial,” Women of the Section of Litigation: Leading, Litigating & Connecting, ABA, Chicago, Illinois (November 2015)
- “Inside the Reptile Brain: Why the Reptile Theory is Important to the Offense and Defense,” Pharmaceutical, Medical Device and Biotech Subcommittee of the ABA Products Liability Committee (May 2015)
- “Food Industry Respiratory Cases are Popping Up All Over,” co-author for presentation delivered at Defense Research Institute seminar, “Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Seminar,” Phoenix, Arizona (March 2009)
Publications
- “The Evolution of Diacetyl-Related Litigation: Parts 1 and 2,” Law360 (August 2016)
- “Food Industry Respiratory Cases are Popping Up All Over,” co-authored presentation delivered at DRI’s Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Seminar, Phoenix, Arizona (March 2009)
Media
- “Law360’s Weekly Verdict: Legal Lions & Lambs,” Law360 (April 2019)
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
