Arabelle's background is in civil litigation with emphasis in the areas of products liability, life sciences, and asbestos litigation. She handles all aspects of the litigation, from the answer or demurrer to the drafting and analysis of discovery to the drafting and arguing of dispositive motions and trial support.
In the area of products liability, the primary focus of Arabelle's practice is the representation of manufacturers and distributors of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biologics in a broad range of product liability claims as well as other complex litigation matters in both the state and federal levels. For example, she has participated in multi-district litigation involving contact lens solution and multi-party product liability litigation involving pain pumps and cold therapy devices.
In the area of asbestos litigation, Arabelle has represented a wide variety of companies brought into asbestos personal injury and wrongful death cases in California and under the federal Multi-District Litigation courts. She has developed substantial expertise in the management of mass torts and actively participates in all aspects of litigation, including discovery, plaintiff, percipient and expert witness depositions, dispositive motions and other pre-trial motions and trial preparation.
Arabelle has an LL.M. in International Legal Studies from Georgetown University Law Center where her course of study included international business transactions, international negotiations, and intellectual property law. She obtained her J.D. from one of the top law schools in the Philippines and was a member of the Law Journal in her junior and senior years.
Before joining MPP, Arabelle worked as an associate at a plaintiff's firm, where she was involved in all aspects of civil litigation, and has experience in family and employment law. Prior to that, she also worked as a corporate attorney in Manila and clerked at the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
Speeches and Publications
· "Replacement Parts Doctrine Upheld in California Asbestos Case"
2/2/2012, Email Alert - Replacement Parts Doctrine Upheld in California Asbestos Case
After years of ambiguity and debate, the California Supreme Court has now clearly recognized the Replacement Parts Doctrine in a unanimous decision that reversed a Court of Appeal opinion that would have allowed manufacturers to be held liable for injuries caused by products that they did not manufacture, sell, or distribute.