Jeannie Tinkham joined Bartlit Beck in 2015 following a clerkship in the Northern District of Illinois. Since joining the firm, she has gained substantial experience in complex product liability and mass tort litigation for pharmaceutical and medical device companies in MDL and state court proceedings. For example, she has worked with company witnesses to prepare them for deposition, drafted dispositive and Daubert motions, prepared expert witnesses for trial, developed the facts of cases through case work-up, and deposed fact witnesses and experts. Jeannie also has experience litigating commercial disputes and has experience drafting complaints and arbitration demands in this area.
Jeannie has also gained significant trial experience since joining the firm. In the last few years, she has served on seven trial teams, three of which went to verdict. In 2019, she served as second-chair trial counsel in a commercial dispute between two companies in Nevada state court. Jeannie conducted voir dire and examined four witnesses, including two experts, before the jury.
Representative Matters
Opioids Litigation
National counsel for Walgreens in litigation relating to the distribution and sale of prescription opioids, including over 1,000 cases brought by states, cities, counties, tribes, and private parties seeking recovery in connection with the opioid abuse crisis. MDL in the Northern District of Ohio and numerous related state court cases.
Pelvic Mesh Product Liability Litigation
Counsel for Johnson & Johnson in defense of lawsuits alleging personal injuries caused by pelvic mesh medical devices. Member of trial team led by Bartlit Beck that secured complete defense verdict after three-week jury trial in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Click here and here to learn more about the case.
FortuNet Inc. v. Gaming Arts LLC (Clark County, NV)
Second chair trial counsel for Gaming Arts in two-week jury trial alleging breach of contract and unfair competition claims. Directed two witnesses, including damages expert, cross-examined opponent's expert and fact witnesses, and conducted day-long voir dire to select jury. Second phase of trial led to jury verdict against Gaming Arts. The court reversed the jury's verdict on Gaming Arts' claim for breach of the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing due to manifest disregard of the court's instructions. Case settled.
Xarelto Personal Injury Litigation
National counsel for Bayer in defense of lawsuits alleging personal injuries caused by novel oral anticoagulant Xarelto.
YAZ®/Yasmin® Product Liability Litigation
Counsel for Bayer in nationwide product liability litigation alleging personal injuries caused by the oral contraceptives YAZ® and Yasmin®. MDL in the Southern District of Illinois and coordinated proceedings in California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
LoggerHead v. Sears (N.D. Ill.)
Represented LoggerHead against Sears and Apex in a lawsuit alleging patent infringement, trademark infringement, and several tort claims arising from Sears' sales of Craftsman Max Axess Locking Wrenches. After eight-day trial, won jury verdict of patent infringement, and won jury verdict of willful infringement, entitling LoggerHead to treble damages on top of the $5.97 million award. In post-trial briefing, the court granted a new trial and later granted summary judgment in favor of Sears and Apex, which was affirmed on appeal. Click here (Law 360) and here (Crain's Chicago Business) to learn more about the case.
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Education & Honors
The University of Chicago Law School, 2013, J.D., with High Honors
Kirkland & Ellis Scholar
Member of the Federal Criminal Justice Clinic of the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic
Emory University, 2009, B.A., magna cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
Clerkships
- Honorable Robert Dow, Jr., United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2014-2015
Awards & Recognition
Recognized as a member of Benchmark Litigation's "40 & Under List" (2022, 2023, 2024)
Admissions
- Illinois