Chris’ practice focuses primarily on complex civil litigation with an emphasis on product liability issues involving pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices. Chris serves in leadership roles in mass tort multidistrict litigations (MDLs) and consolidated state court actions and is currently co-lead counsel in MDL 3023 and New Jersey MCL 628.
Chris has experience in all aspects of complex, mass tort litigation, including the strategic management and work-up of large volumes of cases in MDL wave and post-remand postures. He has significant experience preparing company witnesses, sales reps, and corporate representatives for deposition—as well as taking the depositions of key fact and expert witnesses. Chris has successfully argued dispositive and discovery motions, developed expert witnesses, and strategically managed pre-trial and trial activities. Chris has served on multiple trial teams that delivered complete defense verdicts in pharmaceutical and medical device cases.
Chris has obtained favorable results for clients in state and federal court, particularly through dispositive motion practice based on federal preemption and other affirmative defenses. He recently swept summary judgement wins in all four lead bellwether cases pending in a coordinated, state court multi-county litigation (MCL) based on the applicable statute of limitations. Chris also negotiated and implemented a favorable, nationwide medical device class action settlement in Canada.
He is a member and former chair of the firm’s Search Committee responsible for summer associate and associate recruitment. Chris is also an active participant in the firm’s pro bono program, where he represents veterans as well as parents and children involved in legal proceedings in Missouri state court. Chris enjoys mentoring junior associates, summer associates, Shook Scholars, and first-year law students at the University of Kansas.
Chris is involved with the DRI Drug and Medical Device Committee, having recently completed his term as Young Lawyer Co-Liaison to the committee. He currently serves as the membership co-chair.
Publications
Christopher J. Kaufman, Jason R. Harmon and Torrey M. Peterson, Exposing Meritless Claims in Drug and Medical Device Product Liability MDLs, DRI's For the Defense, September 2019.
Christopher J. Kaufman and Mayela C. Montenegro, Defense Strategies for Opposing Plaintiffs' Use of Collateral Estoppel in Mass Tort Liability Actions, DRI Rx for the Defense, January 2019.
Matthew D. Keenan & Christopher J. Kaufman, New Healthcare Lien Recovery Theories by Third-Party Payors: Strategies and Tactics for the Defense, Defense Counsel Journal, April 2012, at 140.
Christopher J. Kaufman, Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 15-yard Penalty and Loss of Free Speech in Public University Sports Stadiums, 57 U. Kan. L. Rev. 1235 (2009).
Presentations
Examining the Rise in ‘Non-Traditional’ Liability Theories in Drug and Medical Device Product Liability Cases, ACI's Drug and Medical Device Litigation Conference, December 5, 2023.