Mary T. Novacheck
Partner
Phone: 612.672.3276
Fax: 612.672.3200
Our Attorneys

Mary T. Novacheck

Biography

Mary Novacheck partners her Electronic Discovery and Document Retention Practice with the firm’s role as National Discovery Counsel in mass torts, class actions and multidistrict litigations. Her practice focuses on the defense of clients on ESI issues in product liability, medical device and pharmaceutical litigation. She has worked extensively defending corporate clients in discovery, and has served as national discovery coordinator for numerous clients involved in multi-plaintiff litigations.

Mary often utilizes the principles of the Sedona Conference and ascribes to the principles set forth in the Sedona Conference Cooperation Proclamation. She has briefed and argued ESI issues in state and federal courts in multiple venues, including issues related to preservation and review of back up tapes, ESI collection methods, the effectiveness of litigation holds, and the search of client servers for data responsive to a requesting party’s discovery. She has developed expertise in managing her client's electronically stored information (ESI) in litigation, including its collection, management, review and production, and can custom design ESI databases to meet her clients' needs.

Experienced in the courtroom, she has first-chaired more than 50 Lemon Law and property damage cases, and second-chaired numerous cases involving catastrophic personal injuries for medical device, pharmaceutical, automotive, ATV and construction equipment manufacturers. She has worked extensively with FDA experts defending medical device clients and has represented clients in both state and federal appellate courts.

Mary also owns and has operated a motorsports business. This experience gave her the business insight necessary to understand her clients' needs, both legal and practical. Her business and personal experiences are beneficial to assist her in achieving results that not only her clients expect, but also the results she expects from herself.

Education

  • University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 1987
    Dean's List
  • Ripon College, B.A., 1984
    magna cum laude
    Dean's List
    Phi Beta Kappa
    Laurel Society
    Phi Alpha Theta

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota, 1987
  • Wisconsin, 1987

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1987
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2010
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1987
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1987

Memberships and Affiliations

Defense Research Institute
    Electronic Discovery Committee
    Drug and Medical Device Committee

Minnesota State Bar
Wisconsin State Bar
Women in EDiscovery
    Minneapolis, Minnesota Chapter
Minnesota Women’s Lawyers
Hennepin County Bar Association

Classes and Seminars Taught

"Successfully Managing eDiscovery From a Mass Tort Perspective," (with Molly Jean Given), eDiscovery For the Life Science Industry Seminar, February 28, 2012

"E-Discovery: Searching the Virtual File Cabinets," National Business Institute Video Webcast Seminar, September 14, 2011

"Key Evidence Tactics in Civil Litigation," National Business Institute Video Webcast CLE Seminar, May 24, 2011

"The Discovery Process," Medmarc Loss Control Webinar Series, April 20, 2011

"Avoid the Pitfalls in the New World of ESI Litigation," Bowman and Brooke Hot Topics Seminar, Minneapolis, MN, November 11, 2010

“Esi Compliance,” Bowman and Brooke LLP In-House Training Seminar, July 23, 2010

“Overview of FDA Class II Medical Device Regulation,” Bowman and Brooke LLP In-House Training Seminar, June 10, 2010

“Fearless and Peerless on e-Discovery,” Bowman and Brooke LLP In-House Training Seminar, March 31, 2010

“Litigation and e-Discovery Strategies: Meeting & Conference Best Practices,” Best Practices for Complex e-Discovery Matters, Applied Discovery, July 28, 2009

“Calm Your Fears of ESI,” Bowman and Brooke Hot Topics Seminar, October 8, 2008

Moderator: "Hot Tips for Success at Trial," Minnesota CLE, May 1993

“Accident Reconstruction,” Hot Tips for Success at Trial, Minnesota CLE, April 1993

“Preparing Your Client For Deposition,” Bowman and Brooke LLP In-House Training Seminar, June 1993

Published Works

"Proactive ESI Procedures at the Outset of Litigation," The Hennepin Lawyer, February 28, 2011

“Keyword Searching Client Data – How Much is Enough?,” E-Discovery Connection, Defense Research Institute, Summer 2010.

"Applicability of Minnesota's Six-Year Statute of Limitations to Non-Resident Actions," Rx for the Defense, Defense Research Institute, May 5, 2010.


Additional Activities

Pro Bono Activities:
General Counsel, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership
President, Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership, 1995 - 1998