Product Liability Litigation & Risk Management

Katie provides specialized, strategic counsel to product manufacturers and suppliers across a broad range of sectors. She regularly advises clients on product liability risk management, legal exposure mitigation strategies, and efficient dispute resolution. When litigation arises, Katie has a strong track record of successfully defending clients in product liability cases in federal and state courts nationwide. Her representative experience in product safety and liability includes:

• Successfully defended automotive, consumer product, and industrial equipment manufacturers in product liability lawsuits throughout the United States.
• Defended one of the world’s largest boat manufacturers against product liability and warranty claims in a highly publicized case, resulting in the federal court’s full dismissal of all claims with no damages awarded.
• Defended a global seat component manufacturer in a serious personal injury case involving alleged seat failures, securing dismissal of all claims with no damages awarded.
• Served as outside product liability litigation counsel to an agricultural equipment manufacturer, defending 9-figure property damage claims.
• Served as national outside product liability litigation counsel to a multinational seat component manufacturer, defending lawsuits across the U.S. involving allegations of serious personal injury and claimed seat failures.
• Developed product warnings and labels to support consumer safety and reduce liability exposure.
• Advises product manufacturers and component suppliers on managing and minimizing exposure to product liability and warranty claims.
• Counsels clients’ internal safety and engineering teams on legal risk mitigation throughout the product design, development, and production lifecycle.

Commercial Disputes & Litigation

Katie has extensive experience prosecuting, defending, and resolving complex commercial disputes. She represents clients across various industries in high-stakes litigation and pre-litigation matters, providing comprehensive representation throughout all phases of the litigation process, from case inception through trial. Her representative experience in this area includes:

• Obtained a multi-million-dollar judgment for an automotive supplier in a breach of contract case and successfully defended the award on appeal before the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Secured a 7-figure settlement for a global Tier I automotive supplier in a dispute with its Tier II supplier over defective parts.
• Defended an international automotive supplier in a substantial breach of warranty and recall matter, obtaining a favorable settlement prior to extensive litigation.
• Vigorously defended corporate clients against civil fraud, negligence, and other professional liability claims, achieving favorable low-dollar settlements.
• Served as trial counsel for a global manufacturer of electrical components against a Fortune 200 company in an unprecedented 12-week federal court trial.
• Recovered large monetary awards for corporate clients in a wide range of commercial disputes, including breach of contract, warranty and indemnification claims, supply chain disruptions, and payment disputes.
• Obtained a 6-figure summary judgment award for a global automotive supplier in an action against its customer for nonpayment of goods.
• Secured a summary judgment award for a small business against a major freight carrier that damaged goods during transit.
• Recovered substantial sums of money for clients through pre-suit commercial negotiations and tactical demand letters, avoiding the need for costly litigation.
• Obtained multiple default judgment awards for individuals and corporate clients in a wide array of cases.

Pro Bono Work

Katie is deeply committed to community service and proudly provides pro bono legal representation to human trafficking survivors and other individuals in need.