|
Jack M. Fribley is a trial lawyer concentrating his practice on mass tort products liability and commercial litigation. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. For over 25 years, Jack has tried cases in a variety of areas, including: Medical device products liability Consumer fraud and antitrust Sports injuriesIndustrial products liability White collar crime Commercial law, He has argued cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Minnesota Supreme Court and Minnesota Court of Appeals, and litigated matters in state and federal courts in Minnesota, California, Washington, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana and North Dakota. Jack served as trial counsel for Federal Signal Corporation in a six-week consolidated trial of personal injury actions arising from December 1998 Holidazzle Parade accident. McCarty & Lanz v. City of Minneapolis and Federal Signal Corporation, 654 N.W.2d 353 (Minn. App. 2002). From 1994 to 1998 Jack served as lead Minnesota trial counsel for Brown & Williamson in State of Minnesota v. Philip Morris, 551 N.W.2d 490 (1996); 606 N.W.2d 676 (Minn. App. 2000), an antitrust and consumer fraud lawsuit brought against the tobacco industry by the Attorney General of the State of Minnesota. The case was tried from January to May of 1998, and has been described as one of the largest civil trials in Minnesota history. Jack currently represents Brown & Williamson in other antitrust and consumer fraud actions pending in United States District Court. Group Health Plan, Inc. v. Philip Morris, 188 F. Supp. 2d 1122 (D. Minn. 2002); 621 M.W. 2d 2 (Minn. 2001). Another significant focus of Jack�s practice has been in the area of medical device litigation and medical products liability. Currently Jack serves as Minnesota counsel for Wyeth in the diet drug litigation involving the fen-phen drug combination. He previously represented Wyeth in the Norplant litigation. He has tried medical malpractice cases and handled defense of products liability actions against manufacturers of IUDs, pacemakers, eyeglasses, tampons, and pharmaceutical products.From 1983 to 1985 his practice was devoted almost exclusively to the defense of A.H. Robins Co., coordinating defense of over 1,000 cases pending in Minnesota. He tried the Dalkon Shield case of Mansfield v. A.H. Robins, a seven week jury trial which resulted in a finding of compensatory damages for the plaintiff but a verdict in favor of Robins on the issue of punitive damages. He was later retained by the Dalkon Shield Claimants Trust to represent it in post-bankruptcy litigation based upon injuries claimed to be caused by the Dalkon Shield. He also defended Playtex as co-counsel in a six-week toxic shock syndrome trial in federal court in Minneapolis which resulted in a defense verdict. Other significant jury trials as lead counsel include defense of a Minnesota municipality in a two-week trial in federal court involving allegations of civil rights violations under 42 U.S.C. � 1983, Dick v. Watonwan County, 738 F. 2d 939 (8th Cir. 1984), and defense of ITT Corporation in a four-week federal trial involving product liability and Uniform Commercial Code issues arising from the collapse of a high voltage power line due to alleged deficiencies in the welding of high strength steel. NSP v. ITT, 777 F.2d 405 (8th Cir. 1985). Additional cases include: Lyons v. Philip Morris, 225 F.3d 909 (8th Cir. 2000). Dismissal of RICO and antitrust claims brought against Tobacco Industry by trustees of multi-employer health care plans. Thompson v. American Tobacco Co., 189 F.R.D. 544 (D. Minn. 1999). Denial of class certification under consumer fraud statutes to alleged class of addicted smokers. See also 974 F. Supp. 1245 (D. Minn. 1997) Oldewurtel v. Redding, 421 N.W.2d 722 (1988) Determination of lien priority under Minnesota law Industry Tobacco Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Industry. | 