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Amy Zumsteg represents pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufactures in complex product liability actions in state and federal courts, including in several multi-district litigations and coordinated proceedings. She also represents airlines and product manufacturers in a wide variety of aviation matters. She is licensed to practice in California and New York.
On the National Coordinating Counsel team for a pharmaceutical client involved in a multi-district litigation, Amy prepares company witnesses for depositions and trials, and leads coordination of discovery efforts including responses to various discovery devices such as motions to quash. She has extensive experience with guiding teams through novel issues and adversity toward favorable outcomes before and during trial.
Amy also has experience as National Coordinating Counsel for an equipment manufacturer. She collaborated with local counsel throughout the country and oversaw strategic decisions in motion practice, fact and expert discovery, and mediations. In particular, Amy supervised cases in jurisdictions that were known for disproportionate volumes of litigation and large verdicts, including Hawaii and Madison and Cook counties in Illinois, where forum-specific strategies were critical. Her subject matter expertise and knowledge of evolving case law on a national level equip her with a unique ability to assess risks of liability and lay the groundwork for key defenses.
Amy was part of the defense team that obtained a critical victory for a client in its first talc/mesothelioma trial in the country to go to verdict in Herford v. AT&T corp., et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC646315. Following the Herford defense verdict, Amy and her team secured another important victory for the client by winning summary judgment in Gibbons v. Axia Acquisition Corporation, et al., Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC644854. Her work was instrumental in obtaining subsequent defense verdicts, summary judgements, and dismissals for the client as well. Amy proficiency in genetics-related and medical causation defenses enable her to perform vital functions.
Amy's aviation experience includes a case involving catastrophic engine failure on a commercial flight that necessitated an emergency landing and deployment of evacuation slides, and a helicopter crash involving highly technical issues and multiple defendants with cross-claims. Amy works directly with clients to formulate litigation strategy and trial defenses, and enjoys attending Southern Methodist University’s Air Law Symposium.
Her diversified litigation profile is complemented by a demonstrated capacity to acquire specialized knowledge on specific subject matters—from design-focused aviation product liability to science-driven prescription drug litigation. Adept at learning the technical and medical aspects of complex cases, Amy works well with retained experts and company witnesses on causation issues and defenses.
Amy earned her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles. She was the Editor-in-Chief of the UCLA Journal of Law and Technology.
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