Jonathan Judge counsels and defends manufacturers of juvenile, household, and industrial products in courts throughout the United States. He also defends client interests during Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) investigations, and helps product manufacturers and importers comply with the Consumer Product Safety Information Act (“CPSIA”). Mr. Judge further advises clients on proper insurance coverage, product labeling, product marketing campaigns, and the protection of parent companies from the liabilities of their subsidiary investments.

Mr. Judge defends a wide range of matters, from basic warranty demands to product liability lawsuits seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages. To control client costs, Mr. Judge provides clients with strategies to resolve smaller claims quickly and without litigation. However, not all claims can or even should be settled. For more significant claims, Mr. Judge emphasizes the consistent defense of similar claims to minimize the everyday burdens of litigation for the client.

Mr. Judge serves as national coordinating and regulatory counsel for a leading American manufacturer of household and juvenile products. His other clients have included additional juvenile product manufacturers, a leader in the semiconductor industry, a manufacturer of recycling equipment, and a leading medical society.

Experience

• November, 2011: A complete jury defense verdict for a manufacturer client in a child car seat brain injury case, after a two-week federal court trial in Virginia. The plaintiff had asked the jury for $50 million.
• June, 2011: A complete jury defense verdict for a manufacturer client in a child car seat head injury case, after a one-week trial in Iowa. The plaintiff had asked the jury for millions of dollars.
• April, 2011: A complete summary judgment victory for a manufacturer client in a kitchen child poisoning case, challenging the performance of a child cabinet safety latch.
• April, 2011: A complete summary judgment victory for a manufacturer client in a step stool fall case.
• Throughout 2011: Multiple agreed product exemptions from CPSC for manufacturer / importer clients from burdensome new requirements of the CPSIA.

Publications

"Finding the Real Party in Interest: Using Medicaid Law to Combat the Unreasonable Life Care Plan," Trials and Tribulations (Summer 2009)

"Benefits to Products Liability Litigation: The Self-Critical Analysis Privilege," For the Defense (December 2004)

"Marketers, Be Prepared!" Marketing Management (September/October 2004)

Speeches and Presentations

"Defending Claims for Future Medical Expenses: New Approaches to Present Value and the Collateral Source Rule," (presenter) Defense Research Institute Trial Tactics Seminar, Las Vegas, Nev. (March 18-19, 2010)

"Complexities of Defending Pediatric Orthopedic Injury Claims," (presenter) Defense Research Institute Complex Medicine Seminar, San Diego, Calif. (November 13-14, 2008)

"Preeminent Lawyers — Superstars of Trial," (faculty) Defense Research Institute Seminar, Chicago, Ill. (September 27-29, 2007)

Pro Bono Activities

Mr. Judge has represented several clients pro bono in post-conviction criminal proceedings through the Illinois Appellate Defender's office.