Katie Maechler
Partner
Co-Chair of Tort & Product Liability Group
Overview
Katie Maechler focuses her practice on product liability defense litigation and has successfully represented clients of varying sizes across a range of product industries in federal and state courts throughout the country.
Katie has particular expertise defending major medical device manufacturers’ FDA-approved devices in claims centered on medical device safety notifications and recalls. She has extensive experience managing the fact and expert discovery phases of litigation, taking and defending depositions of fact witnesses, health care providers, 30(b)(6) representatives, and experts, and has worked closely with technical, medical, and human factors experts. Katie takes a strategic approach to her matters, and she works to negotiate early, reasonable settlement offers when possible and to aggressively defend each action when not.
At Maslon, Katie co-chairs the Litigation Group and Tort & Product Liability Group, and is a member of the firm’s recruiting committee. Prior to joining Maslon in 2012, Katie worked at a private law firm in Texas where she represented clients in a variety of complex litigation matters, including business torts and breach of contract disputes. Katie received her law degree, with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas, and her bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
Experience
- National counsel for manufacturer of insulin pump and related equipment, including claims management, device testing, recall counseling, and litigation strategy.
- Defense of world-leading medical device company in nationwide litigation involving PMA and 510k devices.
- Defense of distributor of oil drain that allegedly burned down mechanic’s shop, obtaining favorable early resolution and complete insurance coverage.
- Elizabeth Brunstad, et al. v. Medtronic, Inc., et al., 314-CV-00255 (W.D. Wisc.). Authored Rule 12(c) motion for judgment on the pleadings and supporting brief that resulted in early dismissal of plaintiffs' consumer protection claims arising under California and Wisconsin state statutes.
- In re American Medical Systems, Inc., CV-11-3933 (Hennepin County District Court, Minnesota). Defended thousands of consolidated state court actions alleging multiple tort theories against American Medical Systems related to female mesh products.
- Select Comfort Corporation v. The Sleep Better Store. LLC, No. 0:11-cv-00621-JNE-JSM (D. Minn.). Represented defendant in a trademark infringement/false advertising action involving specialty retail mattresses.
Honors
Recognized on Minnesota Rising Stars list as part of the Super Lawyers® selection process, 2020 (Minnesota Rising Stars is a designation given to only 2.5 percent of Minnesota attorneys each year, based on a selection process that includes the recommendation of peers in the legal profession.)