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Christopher M. Young

Christopher M. Young

Partner
About

Christopher Young is an experienced trial lawyer and litigator who concentrates his practice in the defense of consumer class action litigation, product liability and mass tort litigation, and pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. His clients include life sciences companies, product manufacturers, food and beverage companies, educational institutions, transportation companies and others.

Christopher has been repeatedly recognized by a number of respected legal industry publications and was recently named 2017 "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America in the category of Product Liability Defense Litigation for San Diego.

Christopher represents clients on a local, national and global basis and has extensive experience with the use of various forms of technology to coordinate and support complex mass tort litigation.

Christopher is also a member of DLA Piper's North America Pro Bono Committee and of the firm's Associate Evaluation and Compensation Committee.

CourtsAll California state courtsUnited States District Court for the Southern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Central District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of CaliforniaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

EXPERIENCE

Product Liability Matters
  • Defended The Clorox Company in false advertising litigation relating to nutritional supplement products
  • Defended GreatCall Inc. as national counsel relating to litigation relating to medical alert devices and services 
  • Defended Medtronic Inc in multiple product liability actions relating to intrathecal pain pump medical device products
  • Defended Olympus America Inc in multiple product liability actions relating to duodenoscope medical device products
  • Defended DJO Global Inc as national counsel in complex mass tort litigation relating to cold therapy medical device products, in consumer class action litigation relating to medical device products, and in various other tort and commercial litigation 
  • Defended Magnolia Medical Technologies in false advertising litigation relating to medical device products
  • Represented BTG International in relation to litigation risk assessments for medical device products
  • Defended Aerophile SA in product liability action relating to tethered helium balloon
  • Defended Novo Nordisk in nationwide complex mass tort litigation arising from diabetes medication
  • Defended Veolia Transportation Inc in complex mass tort litigation arising from commuter rail collision involving 25 fatalities and multiple injuries
Class Action Matters
  • Defended Supercuts Inc in consumer class action litigation arising under the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act relating to printed credit card receipts
  • Defended Chattem Inc in consumer class action litigation relating to nutritional supplement products
  • Defended Rite Aid Corporation in consumer class action litigation, commercial litigation, and in response to government investigations relating to regulatory issues
  • Defended Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc in class action litigation relating to marketing of hormone therapy medications
  • Defended American Medical Response Inc and Envision Healthcare Corporation in consumer class action litigation arising from alleged fraudulent marketing practices relating to paramedic training program
  • Defended Olympus Corporation of the Americas in consumer class action proceeding arising from alleged fraudulent marketing of camera products
  • Defended Groupon Inc in nationwide consumer class action litigation arising from alleged fraudulent practices in the marketing and sale of Internet vouchers
  • Defended Chattem Inc in consumer class actions arising from alleged fraudulent marketing of mouthwash products
  • Defended Jamba Juice Co in consumer class actions arising from alleged fraudulent marketing of food and supplement products
  • Defended companies including REI, The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants and Rite Aid Corporation in consumer class action cases relating to refunds of balances on gift cards
  • Defended Bridgepoint Education Inc in nationwide consumer class action litigation arising from alleged fraudulent marketing practices relating to educational institutions
  • Defended the San Diego Union Tribune in consumer class action arising from alleged fraudulent marketing and sale of internet vouchers
  • Defended NextFoods Inc in nationwide consumer class action proceeding arising from alleged fraudulent marketing of probiotic fruit drink product
Other Litigation Matters
  • Defended Dr. Seuss Enterprises in commercial litigation and copyright infringement litigation
  • Defended Bayer Corporation in false advertising and fraud litigation involving aspirin product. Obtained defense verdict after trial
  • Defended major pharmaceutical companies, including Bayer Corporation and Pfizer Inc in nationwide consumer fraud class action litigation involving vitamin product, consumer fraud class action litigation involving pain reliever product, in mass tort litigation involving COX-2 inhibitor medications, mass tort litigation involving cholesterol-lowering medication and mass tort litigation arising from ingredient in decongestant and appetite suppressant products
  • Defended Southwest Airlines in injury lawsuit arising from incident involving unruly passenger aboard aircraft. Obtained defense verdict after jury trial
  • Defended Southwest Airlines in multiple lawsuits arising from runway overrun incident, defended airlines and manufacturers of aircraft parts in product liability and other aviation-related lawsuits, and defended airports and related entities in injury and property damage lawsuits
Languages
  • Spanish
Education
  • J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law 1992
  • B.A., History, Pomona College 1989
    Phi Beta Kappa
    cum laude

Awards

Chambers USA

  • Band 1, California: San Diego Litigation: General Commercial (2020-2024)

The Legal 500 United States

  • Recommended, General Commercial Disputes (2022-2023)
  • Recommended, Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Consumer Products (including Tobacco) (2013-2018, 2021, 2023) 
  • Recommended, Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Toxic Tort - Defense (2017-2018) 
  • Recommended, Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Automotive/Transport (2013-2014, 2016-2018) 
  • Recommended, Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices - Defense (2013-2019)
Additional Awards
  • Recognized, The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 "Lawyer of the Year" in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants in San Diego
  • Christopher was named in The Best Lawyers in America® for his high caliber work in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2023)
  • Christopher has been listed yearly since 2012 in The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice areas of mass tort, class action, product liability and personal injury litigation
  • Christopher was named "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America® in the category of Product Liability Defense Litigation for San Diego (2017)

Seminars

  • Speaker, "The Rise of Global Class Actions," Major Developments in Class Action Litigation, DLA Piper Webinar, July 16, 2019
  • Speaker, Global Class Actions and Collective Redress seminars, June 11, 12 and 13, 2018, Paris, London, and Cologne 
  • CLE Event: Class Action and Collective Redress Update, May 18, 2017
  • Speaker, "Class Actions, Mass Torts & Products: Perspectives from the US and Australia," DLA Piper Insurance Symposium 2017, Sydney, Australia, February 23, 2017
  • Speaker, "Product Liability: Trial Examinations and Outlines," ABA Section of Litigation Roundtable, June 2016
  • Speaker, "Class Actions and Mass Tort Trends," Bridging Borders Seminar, Melbourne, Australia, October 16, 2014
  • Speaker, "Class Actions and Mass Tort Trends," Bridging Borders Seminar, Sydney, Australia, October 14, 2014
  • Speaker, "Defending Against the Pernicious 'No Injury'" Class Action Lawsuit, American Conference Institute, Consumer Products Regulation and Litigation, June 2014
  • Speaker, "Minimizing Company Harm from No-Injury Class Actions", American Conference Institute, Consumer Products Regulation and Litigation, June 2013

Civic and Charitable

  • Advisory Board Member and past Chair of Fundraising Committee, ABA Immigration Justice Project of San Diego

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • Master, American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh Inn
  • San Diego County Bar Association

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