Jennifer L. Steinmetz
Jennifer Steinmetz defends clients against all types of products liability claims, with an emphasis on health and life sciences litigation.
Jennifer defends catastrophic injury, disease, and wrongful death cases for pharmaceutical and medical device, chemical, industrial, and consumer product manufacturers in all phases of litigation – from pre-suit assessments through resolution. She has represented clients in state and federal courts throughout the United States in multidistrict litigation, mass consolidated proceedings, and individual lawsuits. Jennifer also has substantial experience litigating mass/toxic torts and chemical exposure cases, where she has represented a variety of manufacturers, distributors, and employers.
Jennifer works closely with expert and corporate witnesses as well as client teams to develop a keen understanding of the product and technologies at issue. Her work with scientists and engineers builds defense and support teams that extend beyond the life of a single case. Jennifer is known for her ability to communicate complex scientific and medical issues to diverse audiences and is often praised for her collaboration with other attorneys as part of a “virtual firm” in defense of mass or serial litigation.
Jennifer is an active member of several professional legal organizations, including IADC, DRI, and Trial Attorneys of America, and frequently presents on emerging legal issues.
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 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, Southern District of Illinois
- United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- Service Areas
- Life Sciences Litigation
- Mass Tort & Product Liability
- Health & Life Sciences
- Artificial Intelligence & Autonomous Vehicles
- Industries Represented
- Chemical
- Construction
- Consumer Products
- FDA Law & Regulations
- Food Manufacturing
- Insurance Carriers
- Machinery Manufacturing
- Manufacturing
- Medical Devices
- Pharmaceutical & Medicine
- Transportation Equipment
- Defends medical device manufacturer in decade-long national pelvic mesh litigation
- Represents gantry manufacturer in wrongful death action from injury that occurred at an automotive engine manufacturing plant
- Represents medical device manufacturer in products case involving cardiac catheterization procedure
- Defends pharmaceutical company against product liability claims across the country involving a weight loss drug
- Represents pharmaceutical company against manufacturing defect allegations for oral contraceptive
- Represented forklift manufacturer in several products liability cases alleging injuries from lift truck accidents in the workplace
- Represented pharmaceutical company in nationwide litigation brought by thousands of state and local governments seeking costs for abatement of the opioid addiction crisis
- Represented snack food employer in several matters involving worker allegations of exposure to food ingredients and flavorings
- Represented manufacturer of yeast-based flavorings in litigation brought by workers claiming respiratory injuries due to chemical exposure (diacetyl and others)
- Represented food flavor ingredient distributor in multiple-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 (diacetyl) and food flavorings 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 in 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 pharmaceutical manufacturer in multiple products liability cases brought by plaintiffs alleging injury and death due to ingestion of energy pills
Speaking Engagements
- “Navigating Sticky Relationships Among Inside Counsel, Outside Counsel and the Business Stakeholder,” Moderator, Trial Attorneys of America, 53rd Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (June 2024)
- “2024 Update on Artificial Intelligence,” Trial Attorneys of America, 53rd Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (June 2024)
- “Artificial Intelligence (AI): The Future is Now,” 2024 DRI Drug and Medical Device Seminar, Washington, D.C. (May 2024)
- Staying Ahead of the Curve: A Corporate Counsel’s Guide to Responsible Use of AI,” IADC 2024 Corporate Counsel College, Chicago, Illinois (April 2024)
- “Potential Exposure in Artificial Turf Claims,” The SERMAPod, Episode 53 (January 2024)
- “Setting the AI Table: Leave a Seat for Legal,” Deloitte Webinar (September 2023)
- “The Rapid Evolution of AI: How to Protect Your Clients Into the Future,” Trial Attorneys of America, 52nd Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (June 2023)
- “Short Circuits,” Panelist for 6th Circuit and Moderator for Circuits 1-4 and 9-11, DC, and Fed, Trial Attorneys of America, 52nd Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (June 2023)
- “Best Practices for Effective Client Communications: A View From the Inside,” Moderator, Trial Attorneys of America, 51st Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (June 2022)
- “Short Circuits,” Trial Attorneys of America, 51st Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois (June 2022)
- “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)
Publications
- “Achilles Injury of Miami Dolphins Player Continues Artificial Turf Safety Debate; National Center for Health Research Says Players May Be at Risk for Other Injuries,” Tucker Ellis Client Alert (November 2023)
- “NFL Players’ Association Pushes for Natural Grass after Aaron Rodgers Artificial Turf Injury: Is Litigation Around the Corner?“, Tucker Ellis Client Alert (September 2023)
- “Turf Wars: The Courtroom Battle Over Artificial Turf Safety May Be Closer Than We Think,” Reuters Legal and Westlaw Today (July 2023)
- “Diacetyl Jury Verdicts Fuel Continuing Flavoring Litigation,” Law360 (June 2023)
- “The Evolution of Diacetyl-Related Litigation: Part 1,” Law360 (August 2016)
- “The Evolution of Diacetyl-Related Litigation: Part 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
- “Legal Counsel: Navigating the Risks of AI,” The Wall Street Journal, Risk & Compliance Journal (February 2024); republished in The Wall Street Journal, CIO Journal (April 2024)
- “Costly Upkeep, Less-Than-Ideal Weather Lead Most College Football Stadiums to Use Artificial Turf,” ABC News (October 2023)
- “Law360’s Weekly Verdict: Legal Lions & Lambs,” Law360 (April 2019)
- Trial Attorneys of America Workers Achievement Award (TAA WAA) (2023 and 2024 recipient)
- Trial Attorneys of America, Board Member
- Defense Research Institute
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Ohio State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
