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 manufacturers’ products in claims centered on 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, healthcare 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.
In addition to her product liability work, Katie has experience representing manufacturers navigating coverage disputes with their insurers, helping clients faced with potentially catastrophic losses due to mass tort and product liability claims secure the benefits afforded by their insurance policies.
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
- Represents Fortune 100 company pursuing insurance coverage for mass tort/product liability claims relating to PFAS products.
- Served on team that successfully defended Polaroid against a $300 million breach of contract dispute brought by one of its former licensees, C&A Marketing, winning a complete defense verdict after a two-week jury trial in Hennepin County.
- 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
Invited to join the International Association of Defense Counsel, 2023