Our people

Jesse is a member of the Life Sciences Health Industry Group, practicing in the area of product liability litigation.  His practice focuses on products liability and the defense of pharmaceutical companies in complex actions in state and federal courts.  As national counsel for a six state region for one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the United States, Jesse has overseen hundreds of lawyers, organizing thousands of cases through discovery and trial.  He has also represented health care clients on a wide-range of compliance issues, subpoena responses and large-scale civil action discovery responses.  Jesse has a particularly strong background in electronic discovery, organizing and supervising many large-scale document productions for clients around the country, including all facets of the process from organization and review to production.

Jesse has taken and defended a large number of depositions of plaintiffs, and fact and expert witnesses, while arguing motions in both state and federal courts.  He has won several motions to dismiss and summary judgment motions. 

Jesse is also a member of the Social and Digital Media Task Force.  He co-authored the Product Liability chapter of the Social Media White Paper entitled "A Legal Guide to the Commercial Risks and Rewards of the Social Media Phenomenon." 

Representative Matters

• Member of trial team that won a defense verdict for a global biopharmaceutical manufacturer after a three-week jury trial in Washington, D.C. Superior Court.  The plaintiff had been diagnosed as HIV-positive more than a decade before he enrolled in two clinical trials for HIV medications sponsored by our client.  After participating in the clinical trials, plaintiff tried to enroll in another trial, but was told he was in fact HIV-negative and had been all along.  Plaintiff settled before trial with his original diagnosing doctor, and recovered $3.5 million at trial from another treating doctor and the original laboratory.  The jury found in our client's favor on the statute of limitations defense.

Publications

• Co-author, “New Considerations for Nanotech Exposure?” Product Liability Law360 (September 17, 2009)
• Co-author, "The Next Asbestos? A Primer on Nanotechnology," Workplace HR & Safety (November 2008)
• Co-author, "Carbon Nanotubes: Canary In The Mine?," Product Liability Law360 (June 20, 2008)
• "Risk Mitigation Strategies For Companies Manufacturing Engineered Nanomaterials: A Products Liability Perspective" Products, General Liability and Consumer Law Committee Newsletter, American Bar Association (Fall/Winter 2007)
• Co-author, "Risk Mitigation Strategies For Manufacturers of Nanomaterials," Food and Drug Law, Regulation and Education Update, Food and Drug Law Institute (September/October 2007)

Experience

Legal Education

Undergraduate Education

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

• District of Columbia
• New York

Court Admissions

• U.S. District Court - District of Columbia