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Trevor Carolan focuses his practice on the defense of a wide range of product liability matters. As a Partner in the firm’s Appellate and Advanced Motions practice group, he is a skilled writer who diligently works to resolve his clients’ complex legal matters. 

Trevor’s practice spans several industries including automotive, medical devices and pharmaceutical products, in claims involving catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death. 

Leveraging the knowledge gained during multiple federal clerkships, Trevor has extensive writing experience involving complex issues. Trevor’s trial practice includes assisting trial counsel with strategy, preparing and arguing pretrial motions, jury instructions and verdict forms and preserving error for appeal. He also handles post-trial motions and appeals from jury verdicts. He has written several amicus briefs on issues of national significance for the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC).

Prior to entering private practice, he drafted opinions on cases for federal trial and appellate courts that span the full breadth of civil litigation.

In his free time, Trevor is an organist at one of the largest Episcopal churches in the United States, has given recitals throughout the country and has played historic organs in over a dozen countries. He and his wife, a pediatric urologist, have two young children.  

 

Bar Admissions

  • Texas, 2022
  • Minnesota, 2014
  • Arizona, 2017

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Education

  • University of St. Thomas School of Law, J.D., 2014

    cum laude 

    Senior Editor, Journal of Law & Public Policy

    Student Government, 3L Class Representative, Student Representative to Faculty Curriculum Committee

    Dean’s Award in Immigration Law, Immigration Clinic, and Family Law

  • Wartburg College, B.A., 2011

    Major: Political Science 

    cum laude

    Dean’s List

    Presidential Scholar

    Student Body President

    Wartburg Choir member

    Interim College Organist

Professional Associations

    • Defense Research Institute
    • Wartburg College
      —Alumni Board, 2016 – 2022
    • Association of Anglican Musicians
      —National Chancellor, 2024 – 2026
    • Orpheus Chamber Singers
      —Board Member, 2024 – 2026

Distinctions

    • Wartburg College
      —Wartburg College Young Alumni Award, 2020

Recent News, Events and Blogs


Publications

  • “The Art of Drafting a Product Liability Verdict Form” Co-Author, For the Defense, May 2023
  • “Preparing for the Appeal,” Product Liability Litigation: Current Law, Strategies and Best Practices, PLI Treatise, October 2009; (case law update in 2022) 
  • “Judicial Profile on Hon. Diane J. Humetewa”, Author, The Federal Lawyer, March/April 2021 Edition

Judicial Clerkships

  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona: Hon. Diane J. Humetewa, Law Clerk, 2018 – 2022
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Minnesota: Hon. William J. Fisher, Law Clerk, 2016 – 2017
  • Minnesota District Court, Hon. Hilary L. Caligiuri, Law Clerk, 2015 – 2016

Representative Cases

Representative Appeals

  • City of Buffalo v. Hyundai Motor Am., Inc., 267 N.E.3d 1245 (N.Y. 2025). (Amicus brief for Product Liability Advisory Council). Whether New York imposes a duty on manufacturer to reimburse expenses of municipalities in responding to vehicle theft.
  • Acclarent v. 67th District Court of Tarrant County, Texas, 2024 WL 2873617 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2025). Pre-suit corporate representative deposition (medical device). 
  • City of Buffalo v. Hyundai Motor Am., Inc., 2025 WL 1721053 (9th Cir. 2025). (Amicus brief for Product Liability Advisory Council). Whether manufacturer has duty to reimburse expenses of municipalities in responding to theft of vehicles under Ohio, Wisconsin, and New York law. 
  • RSD Leasing, Inc. v. Navistar Int’l Corp., 319 A.3d 734 (Vt. 2024). Interpretation of Vermont Consumer Protection Act (trucking manufacturer).  
  • Rodriguez v. Hyundai, (Cal. App. 4th 2024). Statutory interpretation regarding production of sealed public records (seat back). 
  • Moore v. Midwest Goods, Inc. (N.C. Ct. App. 2023). Evidentiary issues at trial, punitive damages (electronic tobacco device). 

Appellate Support at Trial

  • Sherwin v. Honda (California, Los Angeles County 2025). Roof design.
  • Lenthe v. Yamaha (California, Alameda County 2024). Safety cage design.