Ryan has served as lead, managing and national counsel for clients involved in mass tort and product liability litigation, including manufacturers of consumer, chemical, automotive and pharmaceutical products. Ryan has first-chair jury trial experience and has tried product liability, insurance and commercial cases in Florida state and federal courts.
Ryan also has extensive experience leading and managing mass tort defense teams in cases on trial dockets spanning multiple jurisdictions. He is well-versed in all aspects of pretrial litigation and trial support, and his representation in this area includes developing and executing innovative defense strategies designed to eliminate potential liability. Ryan’s approach to his matters is tactical; he provides thoughtful counsel and advice based on his clients’ overall business objectives.
Ryan’s practice also includes a variety of commercial and class action litigation matters, including restrictive covenants, breach of contract, and breach of warranty disputes.
Leadership With Experience
- Lead counsel for a Fortune 500 global toy company in defense of recalled infant products resulting in product liability and wrongful death litigation pending in coordinated state court proceedings across California and Delaware.
- Lead and managing counsel for a Fortune 100 global chemical company in defense against product liability asbestos actions in state and federal courts throughout Florida.
- Lead and managing counsel for a Fortune 100 global pharmaceutical and consumer products company in defense against product liability talc actions in state and federal courts throughout Florida.
- National counsel for a regional supermarket chain in defense against product liability asbestos actions.
- Counsel for a Japanese manufacturer of allegedly defective automotive airbags involved in putative class actions and multidistrict litigation.
- Counsel for a Fortune 100 global pharmaceutical company in defense of product liability claims related to transdermal patches.
Representative Matters
Represented a global chemical company in defense against an alleged asbestos personal injury claim. Obtained dismissal based on a novel issue of law. Kelly v. Georgia-Pacific, LLC, 211 So. 3d 340 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017).
Represented a global chemical company in defense against an alleged asbestos personal injury claim. Obtained dismissal based on lack of personal jurisdiction. Waite v. All Acquisition Corp., No. 0:15-cv-62359, 2016 WL 23463 (S.D. Fla. May 4, 2016).
Represented a global chemical company in defense against an alleged personal injury claim. Defense verdict following a jury trial. Taylor v. Georgia-Pacific LLC, No. 14-022141 (Fla. Cir. Ct. 2014).
Represented a regional supermarket chain to enforce restrictive covenants at 100-plus shopping center locations against national discount and dollar store chains. Obtained injunctions across multiple locations. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. v. Dolgencorp, LLC, 746 F. 3d 1008 (11th Cir. 2014); Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. v. Dolgencorp, LLC, 881 F. 3d 835 (11th Cir. 2018).
Represented insured of a national property and casualty insurer in defense of a Telephone Consumer Protection Act class action; defeated class certification and obtained dismissal. Amitesh Inc. v. Alpha Imaging Prods. & Servs. Inc., No. 2010-CA-6671-0 (Fla. Cir. Ct. 2011).
Represented one of the nation’s largest court reporting and litigation services companies in defense of a Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act consumer class action; defeated class certification motion and obtained dismissal. In re Motions to Certify Classes Against Court Reporting Firms for Charges Relating to Word Indices, 715 F. Supp. 2d 1265 (S.D. Fla. 2010).
Represented leading transportation fuel provider in defense of product liability class action regarding ethanol blended gasoline warnings. Kelecseny v. Chevron, U.S.A., Inc., 262 F.R.D. 660 (S.D. Fla. 2009).
Represented one of the nation’s largest insurers in defense of an insurance claim alleging property damage caused by rock quarry blasting; obtained complete defense verdict after jury trial. Castillo v. State Farm Fla. Ins. Co., 971 So. 2d 820 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007).
Presentations and Publications
• Practical Tips for Counteracting Witness Coaching in the Pandemic and Beyond, DRI Asbestos Medicine Seminar, November 2021.
• Co-Author, 5 Steps To Successful Mass Tort Management, Law360, June 10, 2021 (with Ashley Drumm).
• Mass Torts and General Jurisdiction: The Corporate Defendant’s Way Home, August 2015.