Kate Mercer-Lawson
Partner
P. 303.244.1891
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F. 303.244.1879
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
Government Service
Bar and Court Admissions
Biography
Cases
- Won dismissal for a Colorado-based manufacturer in an asbestos product liability case in the plaintiff-friendly "judicial hellhole" of St. Clair County, Illinois. WTO asserted jurisdictional defenses at the pleading stage and later won dismissal after the plaintiff's deposition.
- Handled behind-the-scenes case management and participated in all witness prep in a stray voltage trial.
- Handled all remaining mediations in a series of personal injury cases for a cab company that ceased operations.
- Sawyer v. Foster Wheeler (4th Cir. 2017) - Won for Foster Wheeler in an asbestos failure to warn case involving the government contractor defense. The Fourth Circuit reversed and remanded to the district court following WTO's arguments that evidence set forth by Foster Wheeler was sufficient to demonstrate a colorable defense establishing federal jurisdiction.
- Ripley v. Foster Wheeler (4th Cir. 2016) - Won for Foster Wheeler in an asbestos failure to warn case involving the government contractor defense. The Fourth Circuit reversed and remanded to the district court following WTO's arguments in this matter of first impression.
- Taken over 100 expert and fact depositions in asbestos cases nationwide.
- Argued a motion to dismiss in Wyoming state court that drew praise from the court.
- Argued a winning opposition to plaintiffs' motion to dismiss a counterclaim in Wyoming state court.
- Led trial preparation efforts, under senior supervision, for a major industrial manufacturer facing hundreds of millions in damages as a result of a catastrophic accident. Drafted Daubert motions, developed expert witnesses, and prepared experts for depositions and trial. The case settled shortly before trial.
- Represented a utility company in the retrial of a $1 billion dollar lawsuit brought by a consortium of dairy farmers alleging stray electricity from our client's facilities and transmission lines depressed herd production. The parties reached settlement on the eve of the retrial.
Publications & Speaking Engagements
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Tribute to the Late Mary Harter Mitchell, 44 Ind. L. Rev. 657 (2011).
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The Pitfalls of an Internet Persona: Evidentiary and Privacy Concerns of Online Social Media, 28 Mich. IT Law 9 (2011).
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Survey of Recent Developments in Indiana Evidence Law, 45 Ind. L. Rev. 1147 (2012).
Press
Other Experience
Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP, Summer Associate
Y-ME Indiana Breast Cancer Organization
Programs Manager/Volunteer Coordinator
Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors
Advisory Board, University of Denver Sturm College of Law Professional Mentoring Program
Mentor, University of Denver Sturm College of Law Professional Mentoring Program
Tenth Circuit Historical Society
Defense Research Institute
Teaching Positions
Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Indiana University – Indianapolis (taught courses in judicial politics and criminal law)
Personal Interests
Running, traveling, and mentoring