Mr. Robinson is an experienced trial lawyer representing individuals and corporations in high-stakes litigation. He has litigated matters in California in addition to other state and federal courts. His practice includes commercial and product liability disputes involving transportation, construction, trust and estates, with multiple cases going to jury verdict or bench awards. As important, having tried matters to verdict and dealt with appeals, Mr. Robinson and his team know how to position matters for a successful outcome, via mediation or informal settlement, motion practice, or if necessary, trial / arbitration.
Before his legal career, Doug obtained a degree in industrial engineering and worked as a systems analyst, developing computer applications and business improvements for government and non-governmental organizations. This experience has proven valuable for working with experts on subjects of product design, accident reconstruction, civil infrastructure design or complex damages calculations.
By way of example, Doug, as lead-counsel recently assisted a truck manufacturer in resolving a personal injury matter dealing with new government standards and technology relating to automatic braking (ABS), collision avoidance technology, and forward collision warning systems.
In another engagement, Mr. Robinson was able to resolve a matter involving the licensing and use of technology relating to computer memory components, after mediation and before trial.
As another example, in construction matters, Doug’s team has favorably resolved a variety of matters dealing with airport civil infrastructure and runway construction, highway bridge and drainage design, and professional stadium design relating to occupant use.
BAR ADMISSIONS
- California
- Kansas
- Missouri
- U.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.
- Presenter, “Sudden Acceleration Into the Future: Liability from Autonomous Driving and Robotics,” Association of Defense Counsel’s 51st Annual Meeting: Connecting to the Future.
- 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).
- CLE presenter, “Secrecy and the Civil Justice System: Defense Perspective,” KCMBA.
- Intellicus Life Care Plan Certification Seminar, presented as defense counsel cross-examiner.
PUBLICATIONS
- Doug Robinson & Siena Caruso, Autonomous Vehicles Year in Review, ABA Products Liability Newsletter, Spring.
- When Cranes Collapse, Cos. Don’t Have To Follow, Law360.
- Product Liability Roundtable: Developments in UCL, Preemption and Punitive Damages Law, California Lawyer.
- Fair Warning, Legal Eagle, Pool & Spa News.
- Guidelines for Deposing High-Level Corporate Employees, MODL.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Trial Experience
- Turner Construction Co. v. Mott MacDonald, Inc., JAMS LA Case No. 1200052767 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (Trial resulting in defense verdict involving allegations that faulty wiring caused a vehicle fire).
- Canfield v. Ford Motor Co., Circuit Court Jackson County, Missouri (Defense of two-week trial involving claims that a defective front seat traumatic brain injury).
- Shimon v. Ford Motor Co., Circuit Court of Scott County, Missouri (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., affirming trial ruling in favor of defendants on summary judgment.
- Courtenay v. United States Surgical, et al., Ca. Ct. App. 2/3, affirming trial court ruling in favor of defendant on summary judgment.