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Mr. Robinson has defended individual, multi-party and class-action claims in various industries, including medical device, automotive, machinery, agriculture, construction, consumer goods, commercial transportation and insurance. As lead trial counsel, he has obtained defense verdicts and litigated cases in multiple jurisdictions throughout the country. In California, he has represented clients in MDL, complex coordinated and consolidated proceedings involving multiple defendants and plaintiffs.

In addition to product liability litigation, Mr. Robinson has represented clients in a variety of cases and business disputes involving shareholder issues, large public construction works projects and disputes over asset ownership including intellectual property rights. His cases have involved patents, publicity rights, trademarks and trade secrets. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Before his law career, Mr. Robinson obtained an engineering degree and worked as a systems analyst, developing business process improvements using computer and telecommunication applications. His unique background of engineering and litigation experience allows him to assist clients with developments in autonomous vehicle technology and the accompanying regulations, and he regularly presents and authors’ articles on the subject.

Bar Admissions

  • California
  • Kansas
  • MissouriU.S. District Court, District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Awards

  • The Legal 500 United States (2010-2011, 2016)

Presentations

  • Moderator, “The Blockbuster Developments in Class Action Litigation,” American Bar Association’s Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product  Liability Litigation, April 2013.
  • Presenter, “Sudden Acceleration Into the Future: Liability from Autonomous Driving and Robotics,” Association of Defense Counsel’s 51st Annual Meeting: Connecting to the Future, December 2010.
  • Workshop presenter, “Automotive Litigation – Examples and Practices,” Legal Aspects of Autonomous Driving (Stanford University’s Center for Automotive Research and Law Science and Technology Program),   March 2010.
  • CLE presenter, “Secrecy and the Civil Justice System: Defense Perspective,” KCMBA, June 2003.
  • Intellicus Life Care Plan Certification  Seminar, presented as defense counsel cross-examiner, April, 2001.

Publications

  • Doug Robinson & Siena Caruso, Autonomous Vehicles Year in Review, ABA Products Liability Newsletter,  Spring 2017.
  • When Cranes Collapse, Cos. Don’t Have To Follow, Law360, May 10, 2016.
  • Product Liability Roundtable: Developments in UCL, Preemption and Punitive Damages Law, California Lawyer,   July  2009.
  • Fair Warning, Legal Eagle,  Pool & Spa  News, January  23, 2006.
  • Guidelines for Deposing High-Level Corporate Employees, MODL, July 2002.

Representative Matters

Trial Experience

  • Turner Construction Co. v. Mott MacDonald, Inc., JAMS LA Case No. 1200052767  (2018) (Four-week arbitration involving utility design at LAX, resulting in arbitration award in favor of client)
  • Chen v. LA. Truck Centers LLC, Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County (2015) (Two-week multi-plaintiff trial involving a bus rollover resulting in a defense verdict) (see CVN, My News LA and Law360 for additional information; named among CVN’s Top 10  Defense Verdicts of 2015).
  • Donnelly v. Magna Seating of America, Inc., Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County (2013) (Defense of a two-week trial involving claims that a defective front seat caused the death of the seat occupant).
  • Boren v. Kia Motors America, Inc., District Court of Oklahoma County (2009) (Three-week crashworthiness trial involving quadriplegic injuries, resulting in  an  unanimous  defense verdict) (See Law360 for additional information).
  • Guyer v. Bussmann Corp., Circuit Court of Clay County, Missouri (2007) (Defense of a three-day trial involving auto negligence  and  wrongful death).
  • Slaughter v. Ford Motor Co., Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis (2005) (Defense of a seven-day trial involving  a quadriplegic/traumatic brain  injury  allegedly  caused  by a defect  in  a seat belt).
  • Sullins v. Ford Motor Co., Superior Court of New Jersey, Middlesex County (2005) (Defense of a two-week trial involving a quadriplegic/traumatic brain injury allegedly caused by a defect in a seat belt).
  • Belkin v. Ford Motor Co., Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri (2004) (Trial resulting in defense verdict  involving  allegations  that faulty wiring  caused  a vehicle fire).
  • Canfield v. Ford Motor Co., Circuit Court Jackson County, Missouri (2003) (Defense of two-week trial involving  claims  that  a defective front  seat  caused  traumatic  brain injury).
  • Shimon v. Ford Motor Co., Circuit Court of Scott County, Missouri (2000) (Trial resulting in a defense verdict  involving  allegations  of defective wiring resulting in vehicle fire).

Reported Decisions

  • Creative Mktg. Assocs. v. AT&T, 476  F.3d 536 (8th Cir. 2007)  (affirming summary judgment).
  • Ingraham v. Kia Motors Am., No. CIV-05-0771,  2007 Lexis 50295 (W.D. Okla. July 10,  2007) (granting Daubert motion  on liability expert  and summary  judgment  on product  defect claims).
  • State ex rel. Ford Motor Co. v. Messina, 71 S.W.3d 602 (Mo. 2002) (writ quashing deposition notices of corporate executives).
  • State ex rel. Ford Motor Co. v. Bacon, 63 S.W.3d 641 (Mo. 2002) (writ ordering transfer of venue motion  related  to  relationship  between  wholly owned subsidiary  and manufacturer).
  • State ex rel. Ford Motor Co. v. Manners, 161 S.W.3d 373 (Mo. 2005) (writ granted on venue motion related to personal service of corporate employee).
  • State ex rel. Gaydos v. Blauer, 81 S.W.3d 186 (Mo. Ct. App. 2002) (writ granted on First Amendment grounds  in  defamation action).
  • State ex rel. Ford Motor Co. v. Westbrook, 12 S.W.3d  386  (Mo. Ct. App. 2000)  (writ on venue  motion).
  • Scherer v. GE Capital, No. 99-2166-GTV, 2000 Lexis 9150 (D. Kan. 2000) (summary judgment on ERISA claim).
  • Eye v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 202 F.Supp.2d 1204 (D. Kan. 2002) (summary judgment on ERISA claim).
  • Coday v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 183 F. Supp.2d 1332 (D. Kan. 2001) (summary judgment on ERISA claim).

Appellate Arguments

  • Moore v. Confluent Surgical Inc., et al., 9th Cir. (2011), affirming trial ruling in favor of defendants on summary   judgment.
  • Courtenay v. United States Surgical, et al., Ca. Ct. App. 2/3 (2010), affirming trial court ruling in favor  of  defendant  on summary judgment.