Morrison Foerster’s Class Dismissed blog provides insights, recommendations, and timely reports on the latest defense news, developments, and trends in the most current class actions lawsuits and product liability issues that affect consumer-facing companies. Through Class Dismissed, attorneys from our nationally recognized Consumer Class Action and Products Liability practices offer a real-time assessment of the developments in matters that are shaping the industry. This blog examines the full spectrum of consumer-related class action and product liability lawsuits ranging from false advertising, privacy, consumer product safety, ADA, food misbranding, TCPA, environment, retail, and government actions as well as nationwide and multidistrict litigation class actions.<h2>ABOUT MORRISON FOERSTER</h2>Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyer’s A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia‑Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment.

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Partner

Adam Hunt is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s New York office. His practice focuses on complex litigation, with an emphasis on class action and commercial litigation.

Adam Hunt

Alexandra Barlow is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office.Alexandra litigates product liability matters involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, automobiles, and AI. Alexandra's litigation expertise spans the entire case life cycle in both state and federal courts. She handles all phases of discovery, including fact investigation and expert discovery. Alexandra has taken over twenty-five depositions, including experts, plaintiffs, treating physicians, and third-party witnesses. She drafts and argues motions of all types, including motions for summary judgment, motions to quash, and motions for preliminary injunction.Alexandra has significant trial experience. She has first-chaired a one-week jury trial and second-chaired a five‑week jury trial, both involving multiple claims and witnesses. She also has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, representing clients at mediations, mandatory settlement conferences, and early neutral evaluations.Alexandra enjoys tracking developments and keeping her clients updated on product liability and personal injury claims, frequently writing or presenting on emerging areas such as autonomous vehicles and smart devices. Alexandra’s experience also extends to professional liability, warranty claims, eminent domain, and construction law.Alexandra earned her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law. While in law school, the San Diego Law Review published her comment on the recovery of damages by plaintiffs in a persistent vegetative state, and she also served as a comment editor. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Spanish. A San Diego native, she attended a Spanish immersion school through the eighth grade. Alexandra is active in the San Diego community, advising students at a local college. She is also a member of several legal organizations in San Diego, including Lawyer’s Club, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, and Wallace Inn of Court.

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Alexandra Barlow is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office. Alexandra litigates product liability matters involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, automobiles, and AI. Alexandra’s litigation expertise spans the entire case life cycle in both state and federal courts. She handles all phases of discovery, including fact investigation and expert discovery. Alexandra has taken over twenty-five depositions, including experts, plaintiffs, treating physicians, and third-party witnesses. She drafts and argues motions of all types, including motions for summary judgment, motions to quash, and motions for preliminary injunction.

Alexandra Barlow is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office. Alexandra litigates product liability matters involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, AI, and robotics. Alexandra's litigation expertise spans the entire case life cycle in both state and federal courts. She handles all phases of discovery, including fact investigation and expert discovery. Alexandra has taken over twenty-five depositions, including experts, plaintiffs, treating physicians, and third-party witnesses. She drafts and argues motions of all types, including motions for summary judgment, motions to quash, and motions for preliminary injunction.

Alexandra Barlow

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe frameborder="0" class="sticky-video" allowfullscreen="1" title="Meet Penny Preovolos, Litigation Partner" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/hv7hYn-Bl7c?rel=0&showinfo=0;vq=hd1080" title="iframe"></iframe></div>Penelope has served as lead counsel in major consumer class actions and antitrust cases for more than 35 years, successfully representing high-profile defendants in antitrust, consumer fraud, and product defect matters. Her clients span a range of industries, including consumer electronics, technology, retail, publishing, food and beverage, cosmetics, and household products. According to Chambers USA, Penelope has a “great reputation for antitrust and product liability work” and is a “superb all-around antitrust lawyer.”Penelope was named the 2019 Antitrust Lawyer of the Year by the Antitrust, UCL, and Privacy Section of the California Lawyers Association. She was co-chair of MoFo’s antitrust practice for 14 years. She has served as chair of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section of the State Bar of California and as a member of the Ninth Circuit Advisory Committee on Local Rules and Operations. She is an editor of and frequent contributor to Morrison & Foerster’s <a href="https://classdismissed.mofo.com/">Class Dismissed blog</a>, as well as a frequent speaker about class action and antitrust issues.More About PenelopePenelope clerked for the Honorable Charles M. Merrill, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she was executive editor of the Harvard Civil Rights – Civil Liberties Law Review. Penelope was a member of Phi Beta Kappa at the University of California, Berkeley. She was awarded the University Medal, the highest undergraduate honor at the university, as well as the English Departmental Citation (awarded to the outstanding graduate in that department).

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Senior Counsel

Penelope has served as lead counsel in major consumer class actions and antitrust cases for more than 35 years, successfully representing high-profile defendants in antitrust, consumer fraud, and product defect matters. Her clients span a range of industries, including consumer electronics, technology, retail, publishing, food and beverage, cosmetics, and household products.

Penelope A. Preovolos

Zak is an associate in the Litigation Department in Morrison Foerster’s New York office.Zak’s practice focuses on class actions, commercial litigation, white collar defense, government investigations, and antitrust litigation and counseling. He has represented clients before federal and state courts in complex commercial matters, as well as in arbitration tribunals.Zak received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2018, where he was inducted into the Order of the Barristers. During law school, Zak also served as the Marden executive editor for the NYU Law Moot Court Board. In 2013, Zak received his B.A. and M.A. in political science from Yale University, receiving honors in his major and the Ellsworth Prize for Best Senior Essay in the Social Sciences.

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Associate

Zak Newman

Mitchell A. Hokanson is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office.Mitchell’s practice focuses on commercial litigation and consumer class actions. He has extensive experience with civil litigation, including managing day-to-day strategy, propounding and responding to discovery, taking and defending depositions, and engaging in motion practice. He also has experience providing regulatory advice to clients, including pro bono partners and multinational corporations. Mitchell maintains an active pro bono practice.After law school, Mitchell worked as a judicial clerk for Justice Susan M. Carney of the Alaska Supreme Court, where he drafted bench memoranda and opinions on a wide range of state and federal law topics. Prior to joining MoFo, Mitchell worked for another international law firm, where he was a member of the Complex Civil Litigation practice group, in Los Angeles, California.Mitchell received his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was honored as a James Kent Scholar and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. While in law school he was the senior executive editor of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law and worked as a judicial intern for Judge Sandra S. Ikuta of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Judge George B. Daniels of the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. Prior to that, Mitchell earned his B.A. from Stanford University.

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Mitchell Hokanson

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Software Gains New Status as a Product Under Strict Liability Law

MAHA Commission Publishes Report to Highlight Childhood Chronic Disease Drivers

Tenth Circuit Denies Challenge to CPSC Rule Regulating High-Powered Magnets

Ousted CPSC Democrats Fight Back Against President Trump

Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act

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The California Supreme Court granted review in Gilead Life Sciences v. Superior Court—a hopeful turn of events after lower courts issued decisions that resulted in an unprecedented expansion of negligence liability for pharmaceutical manufacturers.Read the <a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/240613-cases-to-watch-gilead-life-sciences-v-superior-court" target="_blank">full client alert</a>.

Cases to Watch: Gilead Life Sciences v. Superior Court

Fertility Center Litigation

Fitbit

MicroPort

Leading Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Device Company

Lethal Injection Matters – Major Pharmaceutical Company

Pain Pump Matters – Large Pharmaceutical Company

Major Technology Company

Leading Chemical Company

Security Device Company

In re Air Crash Near Peixoto de Azevedo, Brazil

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Co-Chair, Litigation Department

Erin Bosman is the global co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s litigation department. Erin is also the founder and co-head of the Artificial Intelligence group and former chair of the Complex Litigation + Advisement practice group. Clients value her business strategy, seeking her comprehensive counsel throughout the product life cycle, especially in high-stakes litigation and product recalls.

Erin M. Bosman

Erin Bosman is the Global Co-Chair of Morrison Foerster’s Litigation Department. Erin is also the founder and co-head of the Artificial Intelligence Group and former chair of the Complex Litigation + Advisement Practice Group. Clients value her business strategy, seeking her comprehensive counsel throughout the product life cycle, especially in high-stakes litigation and product recalls.

Erin Bosman

An orthopedic implant company

A children&rsquo;s monthly subscription service product

A fertility company

A major technology company

A smart fitness equipment company

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Julie Park provides analytic and strategic counsel for issues in product life cycle, product liability and defective products, consumer class actions, and more.

Julie Park

Julie Park | Product Liability Lawyer

Julie Park protects her clients’ products no matter what kind of product issue they face—whether it is planning for new product development, recalling an existing product, or defending clients against product liability or consumer class actions. Drawing on her deep technical and legal expertise, Julie counsels clients on consumer product safety regulation and pharmaceutical and medical device preemption while also managing complex and multijurisdictional litigation both in state and federal court.

Julie Y. Park

Alexandra Barlow is a partner in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office.
Alexandra litigates product liability matters involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, autom

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Ashley E. Quinn is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office.

Ashley E. Quinn

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Taylor Halby is an associate in the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster’s San Diego office.

Taylor A. Halby

Taylor Halby

Cases to Watch: Gilead Life Sciences v. Superior Court

Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices

Legal 500 US 2021 has recommended Erin Bosman, David Fioccola, and Jessica Grant, and named Julie Park among its “next generation” practitioners. The publication also recognized Morrison & Foerster as a top firm in Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action (Defense) for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices. See what our clients and peers are saying about MoFo’s Class Actions + Mass Torts Group.<div class="embedded-entry redactor-component block-entry" type="entry" data-sys-entry-uid="blt4fafbbc19c76d8c0" data-sys-entry-locale="en-us" data-sys-content-type-uid="image_content" sys-style-type="block"><div data-reactroot=""><img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blta6cc7bd9d3d54bb0/627315e24d9f89297129017b/07_01_legal500-tier3_productliability_infographic_150dpi_v6.jpg?format=auto&amp;quality=60" alt="Product Liability Infographic"></div></div>

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Morrison & Foerster Achieves Top Ranking in Product Liability, Mass Torts and Class Action (Defense) for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices

Legal 500 US 2021 has recommended Erin Bosman, David Fioccola, and Jessica Grant, and named Julie Park among its “next generation” practitioners. The publicatio

Morrison & Foerster Achieves Top Ranking in Product Liability, Mass Torts and Class Action (Defense) for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices

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Legal 500 US 2021 has named Erin Bosman, David Fioccola, Jessica Grant, Julie Park, James Schurz, William Tarantino, and Claudia Vetesi among their top product liability and class action practitioners nationwide. The publication also recognized Morrison & Foerster as a top Tier 1 Firm in Product Liability, Mass Tort, and Class Action (Defense) for Consumer Products.<img src="https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/bltfb9918f1567d3c2f/627315df220ab5285f51903d/210708-legal-500-product-liability.jpg?format=auto&quality=60" class="img-responsive" alt="Legal 500 Infographic" type="asset" sys-style-type="download">

Morrison & Foerster Is Recognized As Tier 1 Firm in Product Liability, Mass Torts, and Class Action for Consumer Products

Legal 500 US 2021 has named Erin Bosman, David Fioccola, Jessica Grant, Julie Park, James Schurz, William Tarantino, and Claudia Vetesi among their top product 

Morrison & Foerster Is Recognized As Tier 1 Firm in Product Liability, Mass Torts, and Class Action for Consumer Products

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As the number of days during which the U.S. remains under stay-at-home orders increases, the mental health of individuals has become a growing concern.  Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced temporarily waiving certain requirements for digital health devices for treating psychiatric disorders in its Enforcement Policy for Digital Health Devices for Treating Psychiatric Disorders During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (“the Guidance”).Read more on <a href="https://lifesciences.mofo.com/topics/mental-health-during-COVID-19-FDA-waivers-for-digital-health-devices.html">MoFo Life Sciences</a>.

Round Rock Research, LLC v. [Multiple Defendants]

Sage Electrochromics, Inc. v. View, Inc.&nbsp;

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Of Counsel

A former lead engineer at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Dr. Nguyen focuses her practice on domestic and international patent prosecution. She is a founder and co-leader of the firm’s Life Scienc

Jean Nguyen Ph.D.

Jean Nguyen

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Mental Health During COVID-19: FDA Waivers for Digital Health Devices

Using Waivers to Curb COVID-19 Legal Exposure

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As the number of days during which the U.S. remains under stay-at-home orders increases, the mental health of individuals has become a growing concern.  Last we

Mental Health During COVID-19: FDA Waivers for Digital Health Devices

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

On February 4, 2020, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determined, pursuant to section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act, that there is a significant potential for a public health emergency related to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). On the basis of the February 4, 2020 HHS determination, FDA began exercising its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) powers.Read more on our <a href="https://lifesciences.mofo.com/topics/FDA-uses-EUAs-broadly-in-the-fight-against-Covid-19.html">MoFo Life Sciences Blog</a>.

FDA Uses EUAs Broadly in the Fight Against COVID-19

On February 4, 2020, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determined, pursuant to section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmet

FDA Uses EUAs Broadly in the Fight Against COVID-19

Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (or “the Act”) is an unprecedented $2 trillion economic stimulus package passed to help mitigate the economic and health consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to strengthen the U.S. health system going forward. The Act includes many provisions addressing specific needs that have come to light during the COVID-19 pandemic, but some of these provisions have important impacts on the drug and device industry well beyond the current pandemic.  The CARES Act, unsurprisingly, also contains provisions unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic but that have potentially significant impacts on life science and medical device companies.Read more on our <a href="https://lifesciences.mofo.com/topics/CARES-act-of-2020-guide-for-drug-and-device-companies.html">MoFo Life Sciences Blog</a>.

CARES Act of 2020: Guide for Drug and Device Companies

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (or “the Act”) is an unprecedented $2 trillion economic stimulus package passed to help mitigate 

CARES Act of 2020: Guide for Drug and Device Companies