George Ritchie focuses his practice on complex business and class action litigation. He represents domestic and international clients in class action litigation and in individual cases in state and federal courts across the country. George handles corporate litigation including corporate governance and breach of contract matters. He has extensive experience in the defense of product liability cases for a wide variety of manufacturers, including prescription drug, medical device and food companies. George offers his clients unique and diverse experience in technology-oriented litigation matters including intellectual property and copyrights.
George regularly provides pre-litigation analysis and advice to clients, and has lectured extensively on the importance of pre-litigation planning and expert witness development.
SIGNIFICANT MATTERS
· Represented major pharmaceutical company in class action and individual lawsuits alleging serious cardiac injuries as a result of the use and labeling of diet drugs. Conducted class and expert discovery and handled mediation of hundreds of cases nationwide.
· Represented a book component printing manufacturer against a German manufacturer of computerized printing machines and its U.S. subsidiary in a U.C.C. breach of warranty and breach of contract lawsuit. Obtained a $2 million judgment after a seven day trial in federal court. The verdict was affirmed on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
· Obtained dismissal of a $300 million breach of contract action against a national retailer of home improvement products and services. Client has used the decision in successful defense of similar lawsuits across the country.
· Investigation and successful resolution of a multi-million dollar dispute between a major U.S. food producer and a Southeast Asian manufacturer involving intellectual property, product liability and U.C.C. issues.
Professional and Civic Involvement
· Member, Board of Directors, Shakespeare Festival
· Member, Baltimore City Bar Association
· Member, American Bar Association (ABA)
· Member, ABA's Maryland Defense Counsel Business Litigation and Drug & Medical Device Committees
· Member, Defense Research Institute
Publications and Lectures
· Co-author, "Identifying Trade Secrets: A Condition Precedent for Trade Secret Litigation," Intellectual Property Litigation, published by the Intellectual Property Committee of the ABA Section of Litigation, Summer, 2011
· Author, "Know Before You Go: A Condition Precedent to Trade Secret Litigation," published in the ABA IP Litigation Group Newsletter, Fall, 2010
· Panel Member, "Mass Tort Litigation Strategies," for the DRI Section of Product Liability, Fall, 2008
· Webcast presenter, "U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Medimmmune v. Genetech (Reverse Licensing Payments)," Winter, 2006
· Presenter, "What To Do First: Mass Tort Litigation," Mealey's Emerging Product Liability Conference, Spring, 2004
· Presenter, "Toxic Mold Liability & Litigation," for Harken Builders, Columbia, MD, Summer, 2003
· Presenter, "Lessons Learned from Silicone Breast Implant Litigation," Mealey's Emerging Product Liability Conference, Spring, 2003
· Author, "Draft Book Chapter on Silicone Breast Implant Litigation," for the American College of Trial Lawyers, Spring, 2002
· Presenter, "Deposition Techniques/Strategies for Phen/Fen Plaintiffs," DLA Piper In-house presentation, 1999
· Presenter, "Failure to Warn Liability for Foreign Language Warning Labels," for U.S. Japan Institute, Fall, 1996
News
May 25, 2010, George Ritchie Joins Gordon, Feinblatt's Litigation Group