Mollie F. Benedict
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Mollie Benedict represents clients in federal and state courts across the United States, frequently in the role of lead national counsel and as trial counsel in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation.
Mollie’s complex business litigation practice also includes class action defense, false advertising, and product liability. She has written and argued appeals on issues including invasion of privacy, statutory immunities for physicians, and appropriate standards for medical expert testimony.
Ranked in Chambers USA in the area of Product Liability & Mass Torts (Nationwide), Mollie is described by one client as “a very quick study. She can take a case on in short order and has a good knack for taking complicated topics, seeing the big picture and communicating that to a jury.” Another client comments that Mollie is “unflappable, focused on the task needing solution and able to see the big picture. She also has e-discovery expertise and can spot potential issues.” Mollie also is listed in Who’s Who Legal in the areas of “Product Liability Defence” and “Life Sciences – Product Liability,” where she is described as an outstanding litigator with an impressive track record in class action defense, false advertising, and product liability disputes, who is “renowned for her substantial experience representing life sciences clients in large-scale pharmaceutical and medical device litigation.”
Originally from central Illinois, Mollie moved to California to attend law school and stayed for the sunshine. She enjoys traveling, running, yoga, and an occasional triathlon.
- Education
- University of California, Los Angeles School of Law (J.D., 1996)
- Northwestern University (B.A., 1993); Phi Beta Kappa
- State Admissions
- California, 1996
- Federal Admissions
- United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- United States District Court, Central District of California
- United States District Court, Eastern District of California
- United States District Court, Northern District of California
- United States District Court, Southern District of California
- United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
- United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
- United States District Court, Western District of Texas
- Represented a major pharmaceutical company as lead national counsel in MDL and coordinated state-court litigation defending a diabetes medication in personal injury lawsuits
- Represented a medical device company as trial counsel in a product liability MDL involving transvaginal pelvic mesh; two jury trials of bellwether cases in U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
- Represented a medical device company in a wrongful death case involving surgical clips; three-week Los Angeles County jury trial
- Represent a food company in a nationwide consumer class action challenging the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHO) and the use of the term “No Trans-Fat” on product labels
- Obtained dismissal for a large consumer products company in a class action asserting claims for violations of the state statutes, including CLRA, involving an anti-wrinkle/anti-aging cream product line
- Represented a telecommunications company in an alleged breach of contract for scrap metal recovery in seven states, fraud, and punitive damages; Los Angeles County jury trial
- Represented insurance companies in an eight-week trial involving claims for breach of contract, fraud, and punitive damages arising out of insurance agreements related to vehicle service contracts written in 50 states; Los Angeles County jury trial
- Represented an industrial machine manufacturer in a case involving loss of body parts from an allegedly defective heavy machine press; Orange County, California jury trial
Speaking Engagements
- “Reimagining Rainmaking: How Alternative Origination Credit Can Address Inequity and Enhance Retention,” 2024 IADC Midyear Meeting, Miami, Florida (February 2024)
- “Injunctions without Due Process: Combatting Anti-Competitive Actions on E-Commerce Platforms,” IADC 2023 Annual Meeting, Waimea, Hawaii (July 2023); Tucker Ellis In-House Counsel Summit (October 2023)
- “Is the Tail Wagging the Dog? The Interplay Between Litigation and the Media,” IADC 2021 Corporate Counsel College (April 2021)
- “Product Recall Do’s and Don’ts: Identifying Best Practices for Effectively Managing a Product Recall,” Drug & Medical Device Litigation, American Conference Institute (December 2020)
- “State-Federal Coordination,” Judicial Conference, Emory Law Institute for Complex Litigation and Mass Claims, Newport Beach, California (March 2019)
- “Back to the Basics: Direct and Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses at Trial,” IADC 2019 Midyear Meeting, Santa Barbara, California (February 2019)
- “Trial Techniques for Direct and Cross Examination of Experts,” Faculty Demonstrations, IADC Trial Academy, Palo Alto, California (July 2018)
- “High Stakes Litigation: Same Actors, Different Script,” IADC 2018 Midyear Meeting, La Quinta, California (February 2018)
Publications
- “Pharma and Medical Startups on the Hook to Attract Strong Counsel,” Bloomberg Law (May 2024)
- “The Basics of Intellectual Property Enforcement on Amazon,” IADC Intellectual Property Committee Newsletter (November 2023)
- Science Basics for the Drug and Medical Device Lawyer, DRI, Editor (2020)
- FDA Basics for the Drug and Medical Device Lawyer, DRI, Editor (2015)
- “Biologics and the Heeding Presumption,” IADC Drug, Device and Biotechnology Newsletter (January 2015)
- Women Rainmakers: Roadmap to Success, DRI Defense Library E-Book, Contributor (2014)
- “Developing a Regulatory Story That Counts,” IADC Drug, Device and Biotechnology Newsletter (May 2014)
- “California Code of Civil Procedure Section 437c: The Ghost in the Empty Chair After a Codefendant’s Summary Judgment,” IADC Drug, Device and Biotechnology Newsletter (August 2013)
- “Reliability and Admissibility of Forensic Toxicology Testing in Civil Cases,” IADC Drug, Device and Biotechnology Newsletter (December 2012)
- “Out of Your Jurisdiction: Why FDA Recalls and Courts Do Not Mix,” IADC Drug, Device and Biotechnology Newsletter (August 2011)
Media Quotes
- “Nine Tips for Building a Diverse and Inclusive Law Firm,” American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Diversity & Inclusion Committee (Winter 2016)
- Chambers USA
- Product Liability & Mass Torts (Nationwide) (2023, 2024)
- IADC Project Award for IADC’s podcast, “IADC Speaks” (2024)
- Leaders League, Recommended in Dispute Resolution: Product Liability (2024)
- LMG Life Sciences
- Life Sciences Star (Product Liability) (2022–2023)
- Who’s Who Legal
- Thought Leaders – USA
- Life Sciences – Product Liability
- Product Liability Defence
- Life Sciences – Product Liability
- Product Liability Defence
- Thought Leaders – USA
- The Best Lawyers in America® (2021–2025)
- Defense Research Institute
- Drug and Medical Device Steering Committee
- Publications Committee
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- “IADC Speaks” Podcast, Committee Chair
- IADC Foundation
- President (2022–2023)
- Board Member (2017–2023)
- IADC 46th Annual Trial Academy Faculty, Stanford Law School (2018)
- Membership Committee
- Drug, Device and Biotechnology Committee
- Product Liability Committee
