Source: https://www.shb.com/professionals/m/muehlberger-james
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 18:34:47+00:00

Document:
Jim is the Founding Co-Chair of Shook's Class Action Practice Group and the Co-Chair of Shook's Food & Beverage Practice Group. He has more than three decades of experience successfully defending class actions and multidistrict litigation throughout the county. The leader of numerous litigation teams, Jim has successfully defended more than 100 individual and third-party payor class actions alleging false advertising, unfair business practices, consumer fraud, product liability, and RICO. Jim has tried class actions, successfully argued class action appeals, and resolved purported class actions early and efficiently. He teaches and lectures on class actions and is widely recognized for his experience defending class actions as well as legal and trial strategy.
After interviewing general counsel and legal decision-makers, BTI Consulting Group named Jim a "2016 and 2017 Client Service All-Star," one of approximately 300 attorneys nationwide to receive the honor. BTI’s Client Service All-Stars are leaders in their field who receive this designation because corporate counsel singled them out for "outperforming all other attorneys" in client service. Jim has represented ConAgra Foods, Inc., Goya Foods, Inc., The J.M. Smucker Company, Pinnacle Foods Group LLC, Source Naturals, Inc., Unilever United States, Inc., Allergan, Inc., Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Bayer Corporation, Bausch & Lomb Inc., Delta Air Lines, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline LLC, Lindsay Manufacturing Co., Lorillard Tobacco Company, Inc., Nissan North America, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Philip Morris USA Inc., 7-Eleven, Inc., QuikTrip Corp., Sanofi Synthelabo Inc., and Simon & Schuster Inc., among others, in class action litigation.
As first chair trial counsel, Jim successfully defended what may be the first Rule 23(c)(4) issue class action jury trial involving state consumer fraud allegations in the country, in which the jury returned a unanimous defense verdict. Wilson v. Ampride, Inc. (In re Motor Fuel Temperature Sales Practices Litig.), 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 145976 (D. Kan. Sept. 24, 2012). He served as trial counsel for Lorillard Tobacco Company in a statewide class action trial in which the jury rejected plaintiffs' medical monitoring claim, in one of the first medical monitoring cases to go to trial. Scott v. American Tobacco Co., 949 So.2d 1266 (La. Ct. App. 2007).
Jim enjoys looking for creative and cost-effective ways to resolve class action litigation. Recently, he persuaded plaintiffs’ counsel to dismiss several purported class actions alleging improper food labeling, based on an analysis of the appropriate regulations. His clients appreciate his creative and common sense approach to problem solving. Jim’s philosophy is to focus on the early resolution of matters before trial, to minimize the cost and business disruption to his clients.
Jim is a former chair of Shook's Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He is also very involved in pro bono efforts, having led a team in securing a significant civil rights victory for a class of 11,000 special needs foster and adopted children. Senior U.S. District Judge Scott O. Wright observed that the suit was among the most important cases he has addressed in his 27-year career on the bench. Utilizing an attorneys' fee award donated by the firm, Jim then established "Lawyers for Kids," a charitable foundation which has contributed more than $250,000 to foster and adopted children and their parents.
Missouri Lawyers Media recognized Jim as a 2012 Legal Champion for his role in the successful defense of fuel retailers in the nationwide "Hot Fuel" litigation. Jim's litigation accomplishments have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in Kansas City.
District court granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment based on federal preemption of state law claims in an MDL proceeding comprised of 14 separate class actions. Genentech, Inc., Herceptin (Trastuzumab) Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, 2019 WL 1284176 (N.D. Okla., March 20, 2019).
Court dismissed plaintiff's private attorney general complaint, finding the complaint failed to allege facts establishing actual harm. Hackman v. Goya Foods, Inc., No. 2018 WL 6419943 (D.C. Super. Ct., Oct. 2, 2018, reconsideration denied, Dec. 3, 2018).
Court denied third-party payor class action. Int'l Union of Operating Eng'rs, Local No. 68 Welfare Fund v. AstraZeneca PLC, No. MON-C193-03 (N.J. Super. Ct., July 2, 2018).
Appeals court affirmed dismissal by district court, holding that purported multistate class action was preempted by federal law. Gustavsen v. Alcon Laboratories, Inc., 2018 WL 4057381 (1st Cir., Aug. 27, 2018).
District court dismissed plaintiff's proposed nationwide class action because plaintiff failed to plausibly allege actual damages. Sabo v. Wellpet, 282 F. Supp. 3d 1040 (N.D. Ill. 2017).
Court dismissed purported multistate class action based upon federal preemption. Gustavsen v. Alcon Laboratories, Inc., 272 F. Supp. 3d 241 (D. Mass. 2017).
District court granted defendant's motion to dismiss putative nationwide class action based on plaintiff's failure to plead actual injury under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Businesses Act. Sabo v. Wellpet, 2017 WL 1427057 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 21, 2017).
Appeals court vacated the grant of class certification for failure to plead an actionable injury and remanded to the district court with directions to dismiss the case with prejudice. Eike v. Allergan, 850 F. 3d 315 (7th Cir. 2017).
Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed a slack-fill action complaint after the defendant filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. Pepper v. Boulder Brands, Inc., No. 16-06512 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 27, 2016).
Court granted motion to stay a "Nothing Artificial" claim based upon the primary jurisdiction of the FDA. Thornton v. Pinnacle Foods Group LLC, 2016 WL 5793193 (E.D. Mo. Sept. 30, 2016).
Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed purported multistate class action after defendant filed a motion to dismiss and to strike class allegations. Sensenig v. WellPet, No. 16-50021 (N.D. Ill. June 17, 2016).
Court granted motion to stay “All Natural” claim based upon the primary jurisdiction of the FDA. George v. Blue Diamond Growers, 2016 WL 1464644 (E.D. Mo. Apr. 14, 2016).
Court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss a purported multistate class action based upon lack of Article III standing. Cottrell v. Alcon Laboratories Inc., 2016 WL 1163163 (D.N.J. Mar. 24, 2016).
Court dismissed a purported nationwide class action filed by 18 plaintiffs from nearly as many states, ruling it did not have jurisdiction over the out-of-state plaintiffs. DeMaria v. Nissan North America, Inc., 2016 WL 374145 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 1, 2016).
Court granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss a purported class action based on federal preemption of the plaintiff’s Missouri Merchandising Practices Act claim that a multivitamin contained less nutrient levels than the labeled amounts. Dougherty v. Source Naturals, Inc., 148 F. Supp. 3d 831 (E.D. Mo. Dec. 8, 2015).
Court granted the defendant's motion to dismiss a class action complaint for failure to allege ascertainable loss under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. In re Avandia Marketing, Sales Practices & Prods. Liab. Litig., MDL No. 1871, 100 F.Supp.3d 441 (E.D. Pa. Apr. 16, 2015).
Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed a purported class action. Bray v. Simon & Schuster, Inc., No. 14-258 (W.D. Mo. June 25, 2014).
Plaintiff dismissed a purported class action with prejudice. Hussain v. Delta Airlines, Inc., No. 14-333 (W.D. Mo. June 19, 2014).
Court granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss a purported class action based on lack of Article III standing. New England Carpenters Health & Welfare Fund v. GlaxoSmithKline, 2014 WL 4119410 (E.D. Pa. 2014).
Court granted the defendant's motion to dismiss a third-party payor class action based, in part, on federal preemption. Thompson v. Allergan USA, Inc., 993 F.Supp.2d 1007 (E.D. Mo. 2014).
Plaintiff dismissed case after the court granted the defendant's motion to strike the class allegations. Levy v. Pfizer, Inc., No. 12-2266 (E.D. Mo. Sept. 30, 2013).
Appeals court reversed district court and held that the defendant met the Class Action Fairness Act jurisdictional requirements. Levy v. Pfizer, Inc., 719 F.3d 884 (8th Cir. 2013).
Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed a purported class action after the defendant filed a motion to dismiss. McLaughlin v. ConAgra Foods Inc., No. 1216 - CV 20904 (Cir. Ct. of Jackson Cty. Mo. 2013).
Unanimous jury verdict in favor of the defendants in statewide consumer fraud class action. American Fiber and Cabling LLC, v. BP Products North America Inc., No. 07-2053 (D. Kan. Sept. 24, 2012).
Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed a purported class action. Rohrbough v. Pinnacle Foods Group, No. 12-757 (W.D. Mo. 2012).
Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed a purported class action. Bryant v. Pinnacle Foods Group, No. 12-5817 (C.D. Cal. 2012).
Dismissal of drug pricing overcharge claims; unanimous U.S. Supreme Court held that the plaintiff did not have a cause of action against the defendants. Astra USA, Inc. v. Santa Clara County, 131 S.Ct. 1342 (2011).
Class certification denied. Judy v. Pfizer, Inc., No. 042-01946-02, 2010 WL 3001745 (Mo. Cir. Ct. July 27, 2010).
Class certification denied. Arlt v. Lindsay Corp., No. C109-324 (Neb. 5th Dist. Ct. Apr. 23, 2010).
Class certification denied. County of Santa Clara v. Astra USA, Inc., 257 F.R.D. 207 (N.D. Cal. 2009).
Class certification denied. In re Neurontin Marketing, Sales Practices, and Product Liability Litig., 257 F.R.D. 315 (D. Mass. 2009).
Class certification denied. In re Neurontin Marketing, Sales Practices, and Product Liability Litig., 244 F.R.D. 89 (D. Mass. 2007).
Class certification denied. In re Pharmaceutical Indus. Average Wholesale Price Litig., 230 F.R.D. 61 (D. Mass. 2005).
Class certification denied. Cocca v. Philip Morris Inc., 2001 WL 34090200 (Ariz. Sup. Ct. July 21, 2001).
Class certification denied. Aksamit v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., No. 97-3636-23, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18880 (D.S.C. Dec. 29, 2000).
Certification of medical monitoring class denied. Hansen v. American Tobacco Co., 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11277 (E.D. Ark. 1999).
Class certification denied. Emig v. American Tobacco Co., 184 F.R.D. 379 (D. Kan. 1998).
Product Testing Program Implementation: Balancing Transparency and Risks, Grocery Manufacturers Association 2019 Legal Conference, March 5, 2019.
Class Action Litigation Update—Highlighting Recent Substantive Trends and Rule 23 Procedural and Doctrinal Developments, FoodBev Exchange Conference, October 17, 2018 (with Tom Sullivan).
Trends in Consumer Goods Class Action Litigation, Grocery Manufacturers Association 2018 Legal Conference, February 28, 2018 (with Naoki Kaneko).
BMS Personal Jurisdiction Decision and Implications for Defeating Purported Nationwide Class Actions, Grocery Manufacturers Association Litigation Group, September 27, 2017.
Update on Glyphosate Litigation, Grocery Manufacturers Association Litigation Group, July 26, 2017.
Update on Consumer Fraud Class Action Trends and Legislative Response, Update of the Law CLE, June 22, 2017 (with Cary Silverman).
Handling the Consumer Fraud Class Action, International Association of Defense Counsel Webinar Presentation, May 24, 2017.
The Food Court: Trends in Food and Beverage Class Action Litigation, (U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, February 2017) (with Cary Silverman).
Recipe for Primary Jurisdiction Goes "Natural," Law360, Nov. 21, 2016 (with Elizabeth Fessler).
Oversize Drug Packaging Suits Are A 'Waste' For Plaintiffs, Law360, March 10, 2016 (with Lori McGroder & Iain Kennedy).
"All Natural" Class Action Consumer Litigation Update, Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City, January 21, 2016.
James P. Muehlberger & Iain L. Kennedy, The Glass Half-Empty Class Action: Slack-Fill Litigation, Law360, August 3, 2015.
James Muehlberger, Jennifer Stevenson & Madeleine McDonough, The Rise of Consumer Fraud Class Action Lawsuits Against Cosmetic Companies and Tips for Defending Them, Who's Who Legal, June 2015.
Food and Beverage Industry Litigation Update, Grocery Manufacturers Association Consumer Complaints Management Conference (May 15, 2015).
James P. Muehlberger & Jeff Lingwall, The Satisfaction of A Refund, Or Your Class Action Back, Law360, April 29, 2015.
James P. Muehlberger & Jeff Lingwall, Plaintiffs Look Beyond Labels And Toward Product Testing, Law360, February 23, 2015.
Move Over Caveat Emptor, Meet Caveat Venditor, Law360, January 2, 2015.
Panelist, Good Law, Bad Practice: Misuse and Abuse of Missouri's Merchandising Practices Act, American Tort Reform Association and Missouri Chamber Legal Foundation CLE Program (November 5, 2014).
How To Fight The Rising Tide Of Cosmetic Class Actions, Law360, June 3, 2014.
Making an Issue Out of It: The Trial of a 23(c)(4) Class, 2013 DRI Class Actions Conference (July 26, 2013).
Scott Lauck, Hot Fuel Team: Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Legal Champions, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, Jan. 2013.
Does 'Wal-Mart' Doom Expansive Reading of Rule Authorizing Class Actions for 'Particular Issues'?, The National Law Journal, July 11, 2012.
Food-Related Class Action Litigation: What's Hot?, Agribusiness/Food Safety CLE Webcast (May 24, 2011).
Elaine Meyer, Plaintiffs Lose Class Cert. Bid in Mo. Neurontin Case, Law 360, July 2010.
Missouri Class Actions and the Merchandising Practices Act, Missouri Judicial Advanced Trial Skills/Complex Litigation Seminar Course (April 30, 2010).
How Product-Related Risk Management Can Be a Lifeline for Your Company, Sixth Annual Update of the Law (June 25, 2009).
Managing Class Action Litigation Challenges: Winning Strategies for Tackling Certification, Experts, Damages, International Class Actions and CAFA, American Conference Institute’s Managing Complex Litigation: The 6th National In-House Senior-Level Defense Litigation Forum (February 27, 2009).
Analyzing the Provisions of and Differences Between State Consumer Protection Statutes To Develop an Aggressive Defense Strategy, Drug and Device Forum on Defending Consumer Fraud Claims (September 23, 2008).
Analysis of New Developments and Trends in Class Action Certification, ACI Forum on Positioning the Class Action Defense for Early Success (September 26, 2007).
Certification Claims Come Under Tighter Scrutiny, The National Law Journal, December 4, 2006.
Lawsuits Without Injury: The Rise of Consumer Protection Claims, Harris Martin Litigation Watch, October 2006.
Eighth Circuit Joins Growing Number of Circuit Courts in Rejecting the Eisen Rule in the Class Certification Determination, Missouri Association of Defense Counsel Newsletter, Summer 2005.
Class Action Appeals: Rule 23(f) and its Jurisprudence, ABA Class Action and Derivative Suits, Summer 2005.
Court's Use of Daubert-Lite Standard During Class Certification Proceedings is Analytically Less Filling, ABA Class Action and Derivative Suits, Fall 2004.
Missouri Court Leads the Way in Utilizing Full Daubert Analysis During Class Certification Proceedings, Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Newsletter, Fall 2004.
An Overview of Lone Pine Orders in Toxic Tort Litigation, Defense Counsel Journal, October 2004.
Misplaced Reliance on Eisen and ‘Lower’ Daubert Standard Leads to Certification of Historic Class, For the Defense, September 2004.
Kansas Supreme Court Clarifies Class Certification Standards, Kansas Association of Defense Counsel Newsletter, Summer 2004.

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