Christine M. Haaker

Practices

• Business Litigation
• Product Liability Litigation

Professional Experience

Christine is a partner in the Business Litigation Practice group. She also provides litigation services to the Product Liability and Intellectual Property Practice Groups, and serves as a member of the firm's Electronic Information Services Team. Christine focuses on complex business litigation, including contract, and shareholder disputes; trade secrets and unfair competition; franchisor/franchisee litigation; commercial litigation; arbitration and mediation; federal statutory claims; business torts, including intentional tort actions; national and international litigation and risk management services; and appellate representation before state and federal courts, including the representation of amici. Christine also focuses on litigation that involves the retrieval and analysis of significant electronic evidence, as well as assisting clients in designing or revising document management, creation, retention and archival policies, including those dealing with the management of electronic data. Christine represents clients throughout Ohio and nationwide in conjunction with local counsel or on a pro hac vice basis.
Christine is admitted to practice before the following courts:

· Ohio, various courts of original and appellate jurisdiction
· United States District Court
Northern District of Ohio
Southern District of Ohio
Eastern District of Michigan
Western District of Michigan
· Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
· United States Supreme Court

Christine has also been admitted pro hac vice in various courts as clients' needs have required.

Education

• The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1994
• University of Dayton, B.S., 1991, Accounting, magna cum laude, Honors Program

• Successful enforcement of non-competition and non-disclosure covenants against employees.
• Successfully obtained a settlement in the amount of $35 million on behalf of a pharmaceutical client in a multi-jurisdictional, multi-national litigation based on claims for misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, fraud and conspiracy.
• Successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of an employer for acts of its employee under Fair Credit Reporting Act and successfully defended appeal.
• Obtained jury verdict awarding damages on a breach of contract claim between shareholders of a close corporation.
• Representation of a general contractor in Arbitration of dispute with owners.
• Representation of various corporations in complex contractual disputes.
• Representation of various corporations in intentional tort actions brought by employees, including dismissal of actions.
• Defense of a major automotive manufacturer in product liability actions involving fire damage.
• Defense of law firm against claims for violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
• Defense of contractor from claims of discrimination in awarding contracts in violation of United States Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations.
• Successful representation of a coalition of park districts as amici before the Ohio Supreme Court on the constitutionality of Ohio’s Recreational User Statute.
• Successful defense of manufactures of industrial equipment in product liability actions out of state.
• Successful representation of minority shareholder in freeze-out action against fellow shareholders.
• Routine representation and counseling of mental health organization regarding privacy and privilege issues, including response to and opposition of requests for information and subpoenas.
• Successful opposition of defense for lack of personal jurisdiction over out of state, non-resident corporation.
• Representation of clients on complex commercial collection cases and execution on judgments.
• Defense of manufacturer of industrial manufacturing equipment in breach of warranty action.
• Defense of national pet supplies retailer against false advertising, trademark infringement, unfair competition, cyber squatting, and violation of the Sherman and the Robinson-Patman Acts claims.
• Counsel to condominium association and representation of association in a variety of litigation matters.
• Prosecution and defense of copyright infringement actions.
• Defense of insurer in bad faith and breach of duty to insure actions.
• Representation of franchisees and franchisors in franchise agreement disputes.
• Representation of business in action against former accounting firm for professional malpractice.
• Defense of engineering firm against professional negligence claim.
• Defense on behalf of insurer of toxic tort action, asserting claims for infliction of multiple chemical sensitivity.
• Representation of landlords in various commercial leasing disputes and eviction actions; representation of commercial tenants in commercial leasing disputes.

• Electronic Discovery and Changes in the Federal Rules, Federal Bench Bar Conference, September 29, 2005
• You've Got Mail and a Whole Lot More -- Dealing With Digital Discovery, 12th District Court of Appeals, Judicial Conference, April 30, 2004
• Complaint to Verdict: Discovery, Dayton Bar Association, 2002

• Recognized as a BTI Client Service All-Star, 2011
• Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers by Ohio Super Lawyer magazine 2010-2012
• Selected for inclusion in Rising Stars by Ohio Super Lawyer magazine from 2005-2009
• Dayton Business Journal "40 under 40 Award" for 2008
• Walter E. Stebbins High School, Outstanding Alumnus Award, 2008
• Dayton Business Journal "Who's Who in Law" 2007 Award
• Dayton Business Journal - Best of the Bar, 2004