Jennifer is a member of the Product Liability Litigation and Business Litigation practice groups. She has defended numerous manufacturers and distributors of commercial and consumer products against claims of injury to persons and property. Jennifer has an in-depth understanding of all elements of product liability law and particular experience with issues such as spoliation of evidence, expert qualifications, and "other incident" evidence. Jennifer also has extensive experience with class actions and other complex litigation, including mass torts such as welding rod and asbestos claims. Jennifer has served as trial counsel in multi-million dollar cases, defending and cross-examining both lay and expert witnesses. She also has extensive appellate experience, having briefed numerous cases in the Ohio Supreme Court and various intermediate appellate courts and having argued in the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals, Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
As a member of the firm's Business Litigation group, Jennifer has handled a variety of matters for banking and business clients. Her business litigation experience includes both prosecuting and defending claims of breach of contract, defending trustees against claims of breach of fiduciary duty, and defending lenders against a variety of consumer claims.
While working toward her law degree, Jennifer externed with the Honorable Judge John M. Manos, senior judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Jennifer is admitted to practice in the state courts of Ohio, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Sixth Circuit.
Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association
Ohio State Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Board of the Center for Community Solutions, 2006 to present, Communications Subcommittee ChairLorman Seminar: "Motion Law: From Basic to Advanced Procedures," Cleveland, Ohio - May 2006
As a member of the firm's Business Litigation group, Jennifer has handled a variety of matters for banking and business clients. Her business litigation experience includes both prosecuting and defending claims of breach of contract, defending trustees against claims of breach of fiduciary duty, and defending lenders against a variety of consumer claims.
While working toward her law degree, Jennifer externed with the Honorable Judge John M. Manos, senior judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Jennifer is admitted to practice in the state courts of Ohio, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Sixth Circuit.
Education
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, J.D., 2000, summa cum laude, Cleveland State Law Review, Executive Editor, 1999-2000; Moot Court Board of Governors, Vice Chairperson, 1999-2000, Associate Member, 1998-1999
- Bowling Green State University, B.A., 1997, cum laude
Representative Matters
- Trial counsel for a large automotive manufacturer in a multi-million dollar product liability action
- Trial counsel for a medical device manufacturer in defense of action alleging negligence and failure to warn
- Representation of national bank in defense of two multi-million dollar actions for breach of fiduciary duty
- Representation of automotive manufacturers in defense of numerous actions alleging product defect, including several claims of sudden acceleration and defective restraint systems
- Obtained summary judgment, affirmed by Court of Appeals, on claim of sudden acceleration on the basis of spoliation of evidence and for lack of evidence of defect (Watson v. Ford Motor Co., 2007 Ohio 6374 (Ohio Ct. App. Nov. 30, 2007))
- Prosecution of companion actions alleging breach of contract and fraudulent transfer of assets
- Representation of large automotive manufacturer in defense of dozens of breach of warranty claims
- Representation of mortgage lender in defense of large class action relating to release of mortgages, as well as defense of several individual actions
- Representation of business in termination of management agreement and prosecution of related claim for breach of contract
- Prosecution actions alleging breach of contract involving approximately $300 million in mineral rights
- Obtained summary judgment on statute of limitations ground on claims for hearing loss under the Jones Act (Vujceric v. Oglebay Norton Marine Services Co., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 86997 (E.D. Mich. Nov. 27, 2007))
Professional & Civic Involvement
Professional Associations
Ohio Women's Bar Association - TrusteeCleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association
Ohio State Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
Community Activities
St. Patrick's Hunger Center · VolunteerBoard of the Center for Community Solutions, 2006 to present, Communications Subcommittee Chair
Publications
- "Practical Tips on the Spoliation Defense" · DRI's For The Defense, December 2007
- "E-Mail: A Constitutional (and Economical) Method of Transmitting Class Action Notice," · Cleveland State Law Review, Volume 47, Number 1
Presentations
Awards & Honors
- Selected for inclusion in Rising Stars by Ohio Super Lawyer magazine in 2006 and 2007
- Best Speaker, Final Round: Shepard Broad Law Center Nova Southeastern University Round Robin Moot Court Competition
- First Place Team: Shepard Broad Law Center Nova Southeastern University Round Robin Moot Court Competition
- Best Oral Advocate: Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Moot Court Night
- Best Oral Advocate, Preliminary Rounds: American College of Trial Lawyers National Moot Court Competition, Regional Rounds
- Best Oral Advocate, Final Round, American College of Trial Lawyers National Moot Court Competition, Regional Rounds
- First Place Brief, American College of Trial Lawyers National Moot Court Competition, Regional Rounds
- First Place Team, American College of Trial Lawyers National Moot Court Competition, Regional Rounds