Karen Woodward

Biography

Karen Woodward is a trial attorney who focuses her practice on the defense of class actions as well as complex product and professional liability matters.  Ms. Woodward has extensive experience coordinating national and statewide litigation against tobacco, medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as defending these entities and other product manufacturers in individual products liability actions involving catastrophic injuries. She has also successfully handled actions against directors, officers, broker-dealers and attorneys. She heads the Los Angeles office’s Professional Liability group and is active in Sedgwick’s Class Action Task Force and Co-Chairs the Drug & Medical Device Practice Group.

Ms. Woodward works in collaboration with her clients to serve their business and strategic objectives.  It is her professional mission to provide legal services that are value-based.  To this end, Ms. Woodward’s case management practices are specifically tailored to the demands of a particular action, in conjunction with her client’s needs, and with an emphasis on forward thinking and efficiency at all times. 

Litigation Matters

Ms. Woodward’s litigation experience includes:

Obtaining dismissal on Summary Judgment in favor of product manufacturer on high profile, statewide consumer fraud class action involving claims of deceptive practices and conspiracy and seeking disgorgement of profits and restitution. Summary judgment was obtained after the class had been certified, all discovery (including all experts’ depositions) had been completed, and just prior to commencement of trial. Coordinating statewide pharmaceutical litigation involving over 4000 plaintiffs and a defense team of over 40 individuals, including development of case management guidelines and court orders, direction of case-specific discovery, expert preparation, depositions of plaintiffs and treating physicians, as well as pre-trial preparation.  Managing nationwide litigation involving allegedly defective medical device, including oversight of local counsel, coordination of all discovery, and working with company personnel and scientists to develop the corporate story of the case. Obtaining Judgment on the Pleadings of consumer fraud claims against commercial lending entity, saving the client from production of information relating to its other customers and what would have been massive discovery relating to those customers. Obtaining Summary Judgment in foodborne illness case involving brain-damaged infant, with damages claims in excess of $30 million. Obtaining nominal settlement against director in breach of contract case on the eve of trial. Successfully resolving broker-dealer actions after aggressive motion practice. Handling matters relating to attorney breaches of loyalty, fiduciary duty, and other acts of alleged negligence.

She has also procured favorable results for her clients — from negotiating early settlement to prevailing on dispositive motions to obtaining defense verdicts at trial — in numerous individual products liability and general liability actions.

Affiliations, Activities and Accomplishments

Ms. Woodward is admitted to practice in Texas (1996) and California (1999).  She is also admitted to practice in the Fifth and Ninth Circuit Courts as well as various U.S. District Courts in California and Texas.

Ms. Woodward is a proud member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, for which she serves on the Live Standards Training Program Committee and is a State Chairperson for California.  In this capacity, Ms. Woodward worked with other committee members to develop a “Trial Practices” program that has been offered throughout the country. She also Co-chairs the ABA Mass Torts Committee’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Subcommittee.

As the Chairperson of Sedgwick’s Los Angeles Women's Forum, she is dedicated to the recruitment, retention and advancement of female attorneys.  She has facilitated and/or presented a variety of programs aimed at serving this constituency, including career advancement, business development, and networking seminars.

Since 1998, Ms. Woodward has served as an attorney for the Something of Value Program, sponsored by the National Panhellenic Conference.  She travels to college campuses around the country to present a mock trial program and facilitate conversation among students about avoidance of risky behaviors.

Presentations and Publications

Panelist, “Successful Strategies for Managing Mass Torts,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance's Annual Conference 2011 (March 23, 2011). Panelist, “What to Do When Your Case Becomes a Mass Tort,” American Bar Association's 2011 Environmental, Mass Torts & Products Liability Committees Joint CLE Seminar (January 29, 2011). Panelist, “Navigating the Fall-Out from Preemption: Preserving the Defense in Your Device Cases and Developing Strategies for FDA Testimony in Drug Litigation,” American Conference Institute’s 15th Anniversary Drug and Medical Device Litigation (December 7-9, 2010). Panelist, “How to Value a Case,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance Annual Conference (March 24, 2010); Speaker, “Legal Ethics for the Modern Lawyer,” co-presented at the offices of a Sedgwick client (October 29, 2009); Speaker, “Tales From the Trenches - Lessons Learned from Broker Dealer Trials,” co-presented at the offices of a Sedgwick client (August 26, 2009); Co-author, Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices Statutes chapter; Iowa Consumer Fraud Act chapter, 50 State Survey of Consumer Fraud Law, American Bar Association, (Fall 2009). Speaker, “Creative and Strategic Use of Written Discovery,” Sedgwick U. (February 18, 2009). Moderator, “Help Us Help You: The Medical Device Case from an Expert’s Perspective,” ABA Medical Device Conference, Fort Worth, Texas (October 7, 2008).

Education

Ms. Woodward graduated cum laude with a B.A (1992) in government and religion from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Ms. Woodward received her J.D. (1996) from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas. While at SMU, she was inducted into the Order of the Barristers and named Outstanding 3L Advocate. She participated on ten state and national mock trial and moot court teams.

Education

No information available.

Admissions/Licenses

• Bar Admissions: CA