Michelle Hart Yeary has represented pharmaceutical, medical device, dietary supplement, automobile, consumer product, and laboratory companies in product liability and professional liability cases.
Ms. Yeary has extensive experience in all aspects of mass tort and product liability litigation, including serving on trial teams, deposing party and medical witnesses, motion practice, mediation, and developing expert witnesses in individual and multidistrict litigation. She has considerable experience defending against claims seeking punitive damages, including working with punitive damages experts to develop trial testimony and strategy.
Ms. Yeary's recent mass tort experience includes the representation of Merck & Co. in the litigation related to a painkiller, notably managing the consolidation of thousands of personal injury cases in New Jersey. She has also represented the developer and marketer of an ephedra-based diet supplement, and has worked as part of Dechert's national defense team in the Baycol litigation.
Ms. Yeary previously served as national counsel for a medical device manufacturer in the In re Orthopedic Bone Screw Products liability litigation and as counsel for other medical device manufacturers, including manufacturers of stents, guidewires, latex gloves, and electrosurgical equipment, in defense of product liability claims. She also served as regional counsel and national discovery counsel for manufacturers of automobile industry products in cases involving serious personal injuries.
Education
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, B.A., 1992, With honors
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, B.S., 1992, With honors
Rutgers University School of Law -- Camden, J.D., 1995, With honors, State Constitutional Law Editor for the Rutgers Law Journal
Court Admissions
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Bar Admissions/Qualifications
New Jersey
Pennsylvania