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Kate Mercer-Lawson

Partner

P. 303.244.1891 | F. 303.244.1879

Biography

Kate Mercer-Lawson defends product liability and personal injury lawsuits involving asbestos and stray voltage claims. Prominent asbestos clients include Michelin, GE, and Foster Wheeler. Kate has argued in court, taken well over 100 asbestos depositionsincluding extremely sensitive ones as SWAT counsel to a national energy companyand prepped many corporate witnesses. Kate is a powerful storyteller who brings a vibrant approach to pattern litigation.  

Kate’s legal practice is bolstered by her background in science, which gives her an edge in understanding the complex issues her clients face. She also excels at triaging new and complicated cases, often uncovering vital information to develop winning arguments. 

Cases

  • Serving as national counsel for a major international company in commercial litigation involving over 180 cases of alleged PCB exposure.
  • Won a walk-away dismissal for CoorsTek before plaintiff's deposition and the filing of a motion to dismiss in a mesothelioma case.
  • Represent Michelin as national coordinating counsel for toxic tort litigation.
  • Won exclusion via Daubert challenge of a star medical-causation expert—twice—in two living mesothelioma cases in California and North Carolina federal court.
  • Won walk-away dismissal with no money paid for a national cosmetics company in a talc case with 78 defendants in Denver District Court. The plaintiff claimed that asbestos-contaminated talc in the client's products caused his mesothelioma.
  • Won summary judgment for General Electric in a seven-figure mesothelioma case in plaintiff-friendly Ramsay County, Minnesota. The win came less than a month before trial, and marks WTO's second asbestos victory of 2021 in this challenging jurisdiction.
  • 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.
  • Represented oil and gas companies in high-exposure cases arising from well-site and other industry-related accidents resulting in catastrophic injury and death.
  • Defending utility companies and equipment manufacturers in catastrophic fire and explosion cases resulting in major burn injuries.
  • 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.
  • Served as lead trial counsel to a leading Las Vegas transportation company for the defense of high-stakes motor vehicle accidents.
  • Won 67% reduction of post-trial damages (eliminating punitive damages) in a case involving stray-voltage claims and secured affirmance of the reduced award in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Obtained midtrial settlement—for less than the cost of defense—for Foster Wheeler in a trial that went to an eight-figure verdict against the other defendant. The plaintiff simply wanted WTO out of the case.
  • 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.
  • Crafted new and improved "good company story" for prominent defendant in asbestos litigation and worked with new corporate representative to prepare him for successful depositions.
  • Uncovered "smoking gun" medical record in take-home exposure case, resulting in an extremely favorable settlement.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

    Presentations

  • "The Electrical Products Defense: ‘Shockingly' Simple," presented at the 2022 Defense Asbestos Litigation Seminar, (June 24, 2022).
  • "How to Prepare Your Corporate Witness on Knowledge of Asbestos Hazards," presented at the 2022 Defense Asbestos Litigation Seminar, (June 24, 2022).

Articles

  • Survey of Recent Developments in Indiana Evidence Law, 45 Ind. L. Rev. 1147, (2012).
  • The Pitfalls of an Internet Persona: Evidentiary and Privacy Concerns of Online Social Media, 28 Mich. IT Law 9, (2011).
  • Tribute to the Late Mary Harter Mitchell, 44 Ind. L. Rev. 657, (2011).

Other Experience

Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP, Summer Associate
Y-ME Indiana Breast Cancer Organization
       Programs Manager/Volunteer Coordinator

Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors

International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
    Engagement & Retention Chair, Toxic Torts & Hazardous Substances Committee
Colorado Rising Stars
     Personal Injury - Products Defense, 2021
The Best Lawyers in America
    Ones to Watch - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, 2022-2024
    Ones to Watch - Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2024
Advisory Board, University of Denver Sturm College of Law Professional Mentoring Program
Mentor, University of Denver Sturm College of Law Professional Mentoring Program
Law School...Yes We Can!
    Mentor, 2022
Tenth Circuit Historical Society
Defense Research Institute
    Chair of the Newsletter for DRI's Products Liability Committee
    Author for the Tenth Circuit, 2021-2022 Product Liability Case Law Update 
    Asbestos Medicine Seminar Steering Committee
    Talc Litigation Seminar Steering Committee
American Bar Association's Judicial Intern Opportunity Program
    Volunteer Attorney Screener
    Mentor

Community Memberships, Activities, and Honors

Girls on the Run of the Rockies
    Associate Board Member

Teaching Positions

Adjunct Professor of Political Science, Indiana University – Indianapolis (taught courses in judicial politics and criminal law)

Personal Interests

Running, traveling, and mentoring

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