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Conor A.McLaughlin

Partnermoc.eniHnospmohT@nilhguaLcM.ronoC
Cleveland

O 216.566.5807

Conor A.McLaughlin

Partner

Focus Areas

Automotive

  • Coiffard v. Ford Motor Company, Erie County, Ohio, Court Common Pleas. Jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of Ford, finding no defect in a product liability wrongful death case involving allegations related to the vehicle’s airbag system.
  • Romans v. Ford Motor Company, United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio. Jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of Ford in a product liability wrongful death case involving allegations that a recalled vehicle caused a fire that spread to a home.
  • Member of trial team for a three-week trial in which a state jury reached a defense verdict on all counts in favor of an automobile manufacturer against claims of design, manufacturing, and warning defects. Member of the appellate team that successfully upheld the verdict in the Supreme Court of Ohio.
  • Obtained summary judgment for an automobile manufacturer in Ohio state court against a claimed design defect based on injuries sustained when a liftgate assembly fell on an individual.
  • Successfully moved to dismiss an automobile manufacturer based on Ohio’s statute of repose.
  • Defense of automobile manufacturers in state and federal courts in cases alleging design, manufacturing, and warning defects arising out of accidents that resulted in fuel-fed vehicle fires, allegations related to the deployment of airbags, vehicle restraints, seat design, liftgate assemblies, and others.
  • Defense of an automobile manufacturer in state court against insurance subrogation actions alleging breach of warranty and design, manufacturing, and warning defects.

Commercial Food Processing and Kitchen Equipment

  • Obtained dismissal of plaintiff’s experts and summary judgment for a manufacturer of a commercial mixer-grinder in federal court in California against allegations that the product was defective in design and manufacture and lacked adequate warnings.
  • Represented commercial food equipment manufacturer in jury trials in state and federal courts.
  • Defense of commercial food processing and kitchen equipment manufacturer in state and federal courts against claims for design, manufacturing and warning defects. Specific products include, among others, meat choppers, mixer-grinders, mixers, slicers, meat saws, ovens, fryers, depositors, and dishwashers.

Aviation

  • Obtained summary judgment for avionics/electronic systems manufacturer in federal court case alleging design and warning defects.
  • Obtained summary judgment for manufacturer of an aircraft muffler in a triple fatality accident involving a Grumman AA-5 aircraft.
  • Obtained partial dismissal in Philadelphia County Common Pleas Court for manufacturer of helicopter fuel pumps.
  • Defense of aircraft component manufacturers in state and federal courts in actions alleging design and manufacturing defects.

Construction Products

  • Obtained summary judgment for a roofing adhesive manufacturer in federal court in Ohio against claims that the adhesive was defective in design, manufacture, and warnings. The decision was affirmed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Defense of nail gun manufacturers in state and federal court cases alleging breach of warranty and defective design, manufacture, and warnings.

Personal Injury

  • Defense of company providing construction equipment in claims involving workplace injuries, on-the-road accidents, and other tort claims.
  • Defense of property owner against negligence claims resulting from a double fatality that occurred when a crane collapsed on a construction site.
  • Defense of steel company against negligence claims arising out of an accident that occurred during the loading of material on a trailer, resulting in severe permanent injuries.

Class Actions

  • Successfully moved to dismiss a building product manufacturer in a putative class action in federal court alleging product defects, breach of warranty, and consumer claims. Dismissal of eight of the nine claims affirmed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Defense of a global shipping company in federal court against a nationwide putative class action alleging breach of contract. Defeated class certification.
  • Defense of automobile manufacturer in a putative multi-state class action alleging breach of warranty and other consumer claims.
  • Defense of building products manufacturer against putative multi-state consumer class action alleging breach of warranty, negligence, and other consumer claims.

Administrative Actions

  • Obtained reversal in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania of an administrative order by the Pennsylvania Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists finding that a company providing utility/asset management services had practiced land surveying without a license.
  • Represented utility and asset management company in administrative actions in multiple states.
  • Co-presenter, “Notable John M. Manos Cases,” John M. Manos Inn of Court, February 5, 2019
  • Presenter, “Auto Injuries: Advanced Plaintiff Strategies,” National Business Institute Seminar, April 25, 2017
  • Presenter on Product Liability and Class Action issues, “The Trump Impact:  The Potential Effect on Law and Policy,” Thompson Hine Seminar Series, March 2017
  • Moderator/Presenter, “How to Make the Client Happy: Tips from In-House Counsel to Foster an Effective Client Relationship,” DRI Product Liability Conference, February 2017
  • Moderator/Presenter, “How to Influence Judges and Win Appeals,” FBA National Convention, September 2016
  • Presented to the United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio Advisory Committee on proposed changes to the Northern District of Ohio Local Civil Rules, May 2016
  • Co-presenter, “Jury Issues: Jury Note Taking, Questions, and Instructions,” John M. Manos Inn of Court, December 2012
  • “Standing Up: A Practical Guide to On Your Feet Experiences in Court,” Federal Bar Association New Lawyer Training Curriculum Seminar, July 2009
  • “What Law Clerks Tell the Judge and Why,” Federal Bar Association Appellate Advocacy Program, April 2009
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022-2024 for Product Liability Litigation-Defendants
  • Selected to Benchmark Litigation Future Star List, 2024
  • Selected to Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under List, 2021 and 2022
  • Selected to the Ohio Rising Stars list, 2012-2021
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Leadership Award
  • Frederick K. Cox International Law Center, Service Award
  • Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Team (third Best Oralist and best Team Brief, 2007 North Central U.S. Regional Competition; third Place Team Brief in Hardy C. Dillard Competition)

Professional Associations

  • Defense Research Institute, member; Product Liability Committee Aviation Strategic Law Group, vice chair; Strictly Automotive Conference Steering Committee, member; Class Action Seminar Steering Committee, member (2013-2017)
  • Federal Bar Association, member; member of 2016 FBA National Convention Steering Committee
  • John M. Manos Inn of Court, barrister
  • Judicial Conference of the Eighth Judicial District, life member

Community Activities

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland, Board Member
  • St. Ignatius High School: member of Distinguished Alumni Committee; former member of Alumni Executive Council; former Chair of Young Alumni Engagement Committee
  • Cleveland Bridge Builders, Class of 2018
  • Thompson Hine representative for Case Western University School of Law Firm Giving Challenge (2010-2019)

Education

  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., 2007,
    cum laude
    ,

    Order of the Coif

  • Miami University, B.S., 2004

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio