Abby practices in mass tort and complex litigation, with a focus on trial work. She defends clients in complex product liability actions in courts throughout the country. Abby’s focus on high-stakes and mass tort litigation benefits from her broad experience spanning initial case strategy and development, expert and fact workup and discovery, expert witness preparation, and motion practice. While managing the discovery and trial preparation of product liability cases, Abby focuses on shaping defenses and themes across individual cases to support their effective presentation at trials across a litigation. She has been instrumental in bringing about several complete defense verdicts in multi-week jury trials.
Abby has significant experience defending clients in product liability tobacco matters, including working on novel issues in new high-risk jurisdictions. This includes company witness issues, pre-trial strategy and motions practice (including oral argument), trial, and appellate briefings. She also monitors FDA actions related to e-cigarettes and vaping products for tobacco-industry clients.
Abby has experience working in pharmaceutical litigation also, particularly in case work-up and litigation strategy, including settlements and preparation for negotiations. This includes working on litigation surrounding the drug Taxotere.
Abby maintains a significant pro bono practice. She devotes a portion of her practice to working for the interests of children and families through guardianship and adoption cases. Her pro bono practice also includes criminal defense and appellate work, including drafting a petition for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court and working as a special public defender in an ongoing criminal defense matter.
Abby received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, where she was a student attorney for the Unemployment Insurance Clinic, volunteered for the International Grassroots Advocacy Project, and coached a high school mock trial team. Abby also competed successfully in moot court competitions and completed a full-time externship for the Honorable David R. Grand, Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.