Biography
An experienced trial attorney, Robert has tried cases in federal and state courts in California, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. He has also served as national counsel for two different manufacturers of all-terrain vehicles, with responsibility for the supervision and coordination of local counsel. Robert also has substantial toxic tort litigation experience.
Focusing his practice on the defense of product liability litigation, Robert has defended the design and manufacturing of a multitude of products. He has defended the design of automobiles, trucks, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, boats, bicycles, forklift trucks, medical devices, furnaces, electrical appliances, scaffolds and toxic substances.
Robert has defended several clients against manufacturing and design claims concerning stability, maneuverability, crashworthiness, brakes, passenger restraint systems, suspension systems, electrical failures, transmissions and fuel systems. Most recently, he has served as a lead counsel for Yamaha in the California consolidated Rhino cases. He tried one of the first Yamaha Rhino cases to verdict. The verdict was named by the Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of the top 10 defense verdicts in California in 2010.
Education
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University of Minnesota Law School,
J.D.,
1984
Journal of Law and Inequality, Article and Book Review Editor, 1983 - 1984
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Iowa State University,
B.S.,
1968
Memberships and Affiliations
Defense Research Institute
American Bar Association
State Bar of California
Distinctions
Selected by Super Lawyers Magazine as a SuperLawyer(R), 2005-2007, 2009
Classes and Seminars Taught
The Admissibility of Computer-Generated Animations, Simulations and Graphics, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, May 9, 1997
The Role and Status of Non-Testifying Experts, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, October 24, 1996
When, If Ever Can Multiple Plaintiffs be Joined in a Single Suit?, National Silica Conference, 2005
Representative Clients
Yamaha Motor Corp., USA
Polaris Industries, Inc.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
U.S. Silica Co.
Vermeer Manufacturing
Wagner Spray Tech Corporation
Representative Cases
CASE RESULTS DEPEND UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE.
CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE.
Lewis/Herandez v. Yamaha Motor Corp. USA, San Bernardino County - California, 2010
Whirley v. Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S. Dist. Court (E.D. Tenn.), 2007
Lopez v. Kawasaki Motors Corp., Middlesex County, New Jersey, 2006
Smith v. Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S. Dist Court (D. MD), 2005
LaPlante v . Wellcraft Marine Corp., 114 Cal.Rptr.2d 196 (Cal.App. 2 Dist.), 2001
Stritmatter v. Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S. Dist. Court (W.D. Pennsylvania), 2000
Wolcott v. Suzuki Motors Corp., U.S. Dist. Court (D. South Dakota), 1998
Shea v. Honda Motor Corp., U.S. Dist. Court (N.D. Florida), 1997
Weaver v. Honda Motor Corp., Broward County - Florida, 1996
Smart v. Honda Motor Corp. et al., U.S. Dist. Court (S.D. Iowa), 1996
Utt v. Honda Motor Corp., U.S. Dist Court (W.D. Missouri), 1995
Carwisle v. Honda Motor Corp., U.S. Dist. Court (E.D. Michigan), 1995
Tapani v. Honda Motor Corp., Hancok County, Michigan, 1994
Oldeen v. Honda Motor Corp., U.S. Dist Court (W.D. Wisconsin), 1994
Rangel v. Honda Motor Corp., Orange County, California, 1992
Stitt v. General Motors Corp., Rousseu County, Minnesota, 1990
Fillippi v. Heil Quaker Corp., Hennepin County, Minnesota, 1989
Ash v. Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Polk County, Wisconsin, 1989
Country Inn v. Eaton Corp., Ramsey County, Minnesota, 1988
Curry v. Scaffold Mfr., Hennepin County, Minnesota, 1987
Klampe v. Clark Equipment Co., Weseco County-Minnesota, 1986
Grunwald v. Clark Equipment Co., Weseco County, Minnesota, 1986
Published Works
Attorney Fees Awards in Title VII Actions & Pub. Defendant, Journal of Law and Inequality 355, 1983