Tara D. Sutton

Tara Sutton, chair of Robins Kaplan’s National Mass Tort Group, has built a distinguished career in mass tort litigation and is renowned for her dedicated, unyielding commitment to justice. Her career has been marked by steadfast advocacy, and an unrelenting pursuit for accountability over corporate misconduct. Tara stands out as the embodiment of legal excellence representing individuals, governments, and Tribal Nations harmed by defective products or corporate negligence. Her legal acumen and tenacity is evident as she navigates the complex landscape of mass torts — including cases involving defective products, dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, and faulty medical devices.

Her trial practice focuses on representing individuals, governments and Tribal Nations harmed by defective products and fraudulent conduct, including: 

• Co-Lead Trial Counsel in case against a dust remover manufacturer resulting in $7.75 million jury verdict.
• Lead Trial Counsel for the State of Minnesota in litigation against Juul and Altria for unlawfully targeting young people with their products, 27-CV-19-19888, Fourth Judicial District, State of Minnesota.
• Tribal Leadership Committee In re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation, MDL No. 2804 (E.D. Ohio)
• Member of Law and Briefing Committee In re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation, MDL No. 2804 (E.D. Ohio)   
• Court-appointed settlement counsel in Abilify Multi-District Litigation, MDL No. 2734 (N.D.Fl.)
• Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and Co-Chair of Plaintiffs’ Science and Expert Committee, Benicar Multi-District Litigation, MDL No. 2606 (D.N.J.) 
• Member, Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, New Jersey Consolidated Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Stem and ABGII Modular Hip Stem Litigation.
• Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and Chair of Plaintiffs’ Science and Expert Committee, Chantix Multi-District Litigation, MDL No. 2092 (N.D.Ala.) 
• Lead Counsel and Liaison Counsel in Mirapex Multi-District Litigation, MDL No. 1836 (D.Minn.)
• Member, Law and Motions Committee, DePuy ASR Multi-District Litigation.
• Member, Science Committee and Discovery Committee, Vioxx Multi-District Litigation.

Education

• University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., with honors (1992)
• University of Iowa, B.S., with high honors

Representative Matters

Aerosol Dust Remover Abuse: Serving as co-lead counsel, Tara secured a landmark $7.75 million verdict against CRC Industries for its failure to prevent the foreseeable misuse of its aerosol dust remover products. The verdict follows the 2019 death of Cynthia McDougall, who was killed in a vehicle crash after an individual who huffed CRC Duster struck her car head-on. This is the first dust remover case of its kind to go to trial.

State of Minnesota v. Juul Labs, Inc. et al., Case No. 27-CV-19-19888: Lead trial counsel in the State of Minnesota litigation against e-cigarette manufacturer JUUL and Altria for deceptively marketing tobacco products and targeting Minnesota’s youth. After a three-week trial, which settled prior to closing arguments, JUUL and Altria were ordered to pay a total of $60.5 million to the State of Minnesota over an eight-year period. This settlement is the largest per capita of all 48 states and territories that have settled with JUUL. Minnesota was the first state in the nation to go to trial.

In Re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation, MDL No. 2804, Case No. 17-md-02804: Represented 28 Tribal Nations asserting that the manufacturers of prescription opioids grossly misrepresented the risks of long-term use of those drugs for persons with chronic pain, and distributors failed to properly monitor suspicious orders of those prescription drugs, all of which contributed to the current opioid epidemic. Robins Kaplan obtained a historic first in Tribal Government litigation, with a total of $1.5 billion in settlements obtained on behalf of the Tribal Nations. 

Member of plaintiffs’ negotiating committee in Benicar litigation that resulted in a settlement fund of $358 million.

Represented clients in the New Jersey Multi-County Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular Hip Stem litigation, including two Plaintiffs who resolved their cases through the NJ Court’s bellwether mediation program. Co-lead counsel in negotiating a global settlement program for both the multi-county litigation and the federal multi-district litigation, a program valued at over $1 billion.

Lead counsel in Daubert proceedings in JUUL, Abilify, Chantix, and Mirapex litigations, successfully defeating defendants’ challenges to plaintiffs’ scientific experts on causation.

Lead trial counsel in Charbonneau v. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pfizer, Inc. On July 30, 2008, jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiffs for $8,279,300, including $7.8 million in punitive damages for failing to warn of risk of compulsive behaviors, including pathological gambling, from the Parkinson’s drug Mirapex.

Lead trial counsel in Zwayer v. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pfizer, Inc. Case was confidentially settled prior to closing argument.

Confidentially settled more than 280 Mirapex cases represented by Robins Kaplan LLP during Fall of 2008.

Lead trial counsel in first two Chantix MDL bellwether trials; confidentially settled prior to seating jury, leading to settlement of entire MDL.

Trial counsel, State of Minnesota and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Minnesota v. Philip Morris, et al. In May 1998, the case settled after a four-month trial when Tobacco Companies agreed to pay the State and Blue Cross & Blue Shield more than $6.6 billion.

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• Named a "Lawdragon Legend," Lawdragon (2024)
• Shortlisted for “Products Liability Lawyer of the Year,” Euromoney (2024)
• Named to "Top Lawyers List," Minnesota Monthly (2024)
• Named to POWER 30 List, Minnesota Lawyer (2024)
• Named a "Litigation Trailblazer," The National Law Journal (2017, 2023)
• Named to "Inaugural Top Women in Law Class," Minnesota Lawyer (2023)
• Named a "Litigation Star," Benchmark Litigation (2013, 2024 editions)
• Named to the "Top 50 Women Super Lawyers," Minnesota Super Lawyer (2010, 2017-2020, 2023-2024)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2016-2025 editions)
• Listed in "500 Leading Litigators in America," Lawdragon (2025)
• Listed in "500 Leading Lawyers in America," Lawdragon (2016-2024)
• Listed in "500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers", Lawdragon (2023-2024)
• Named a "Leading Practitioner in Products Liability," Chambers USA (2022-2024)
• Named a "Minnesota Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers (2009-2024)
• Recognized by Best Lawyers as the Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in Minneapolis (2016, 2018, 2020, 2023 editions)
• Shortlisted for “Product Liability Lawyer of the Year,” Euromoney (2023)
• Named an "Attorney of the Year," Minnesota Lawyer (2022-2023)
• Named a "Notable Partner in Law," Twin Cities Business (2022)
• Named "MVP of the Year" in Product Liability, Law360 (2015, 2017, 2022)
• Named to the "Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers," Super Lawyers (2018-2020, 2024)
• Named as one of the “Elite Women of the Plaintiff’s Bar,” National Law Journal (2018)
• Presidents Award, Public Justice Foundation (2018)
• Named a "North Star Lawyer" by the Minnesota State Bar Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services (2013-2017)
• Named "Outstanding Women Lawyer," The National Law Journal (2015)
• Recipient of the "Women in Business Award," Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (2015)
• Named "Woman Worth Watching," Profiles in Diversity Journal (September/October 2014)
• Named "Female Powerbroker," Law360 (March 5, 2014)
• Named "Plaintiff Top 150 Women in Litigation," Benchmark Litigation (2013)
• Named to the "Top 100 Women Minnesota Super Lawyers," Minnesota Law & Politics (2009)
• "Member of the Year" award from the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association in recognition of work performed during the tobacco litigation.
• "Newsmakers '98" award from the Minnesota Women’s Press in recognition of extraordinary action taken in the public arena during 1998 that promotes equality, justice and respect for women.
• Named "40 Under 40" by City Business (2000)

Civic

• Public Justice Foundation, a public interest law firm, which pursues high impact lawsuits to combat social and economic injustice, protect the Earth’s sustainability, and challenges predatory corporate conduct and government abuses; Board of Directors (2010-present), Executive Committee (2012-present), Secretary (2013-2014), Treasurer (2014-2015), Vice President (2015-2016), President-Elect (2016-2017), President (2017-2018), Past President (2018)
• Children's Theatre Company; Board of Governors (2011-2018)

Professional

• American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America)
• American Bar Association
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter; Co-Chair, Mass Tort, Multi-District Litigation, and Class Action Practice Group
• Firm’s Professional Development Committee, Co-Chair (2004-2005)
• Hennepin County Bar Association
• Journal of Corporation Law, University of Iowa, Editorial Board (2018) 
• Litigation Counsel of America
• Minnesota Association for Justice (formerly Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association), Board of Governors
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Minnesota Women Lawyers
• Public Citizen
• The Sedona Conference Working Group on Protective Orders, Confidentiality & Public Access (Spring 2004)

Speeches

• Justice and Sovereignty: Representing Native Nations in the Digital Age
  ​Robins Kaplan LLP Trial Advocacy Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 30, 2024)
• Guest Lecturer
  SMU School of Law, Dallas, Texas (March 18, 2024)
• Understanding the Historic Minnesota vs. JUUL Lawsuit Settlement
  Minnesota State Bar Association, Webinar (October 3, 2023)
• Messaging Your Case for the Jury and the Media
  Robins Kaplan LLP 2022 Trial Advocacy Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota (December 15, 2022)
• Benicar Settlement Update
  Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, Nevada (October 20, 2017)
• Benicar Litigation Sprue Like Enteropathy
  Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, Nevada (October 21, 2016)
• Benicar Litigation Sprue Like Enteropathy
  Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, Nevada (October 21, 2016)
• Consumer Watchdogs Drug and Device Litigation
  Robins Kaplan Trial Advocacy Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 13, 2016)
• Benicar Litigation
  Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, Nevada (October 16, 2015)
• Benicar Litigation
  American Association for Justice, Montreal, Canada (July 14, 2015)
• Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Litigation Update
  AAJ Annual Convention, Montreal Canada (July 11, 2015)
• Benicar Litigation
  Panel, Minnesota Association for Justice, Minneapolis, Minnesota (May 15, 2015)
• American Association for Justice Education
  Plaintiff-Only Hot Topics and Trends in Litigation Seminar, Benicar Presentation, San Diego, California (March 25, 2015)
• Benicar Litigation Group Meeting
  AAJ Winter Convention, Palm Desert CA (February 24, 2015)
• American Association for Justice Education’s Stryker Seminar
  New York, New York (December 11, 2014)
• American Association for Justice Education’s
  Plaintiff-Only Hot Topics and Trends in Litigation Seminar, Benicar Presentation, Charleston, South Carolina (December 3, 2014)
• Mass Tort Update
  Minnesota Association for Justice Summer Convention, Alexandria, Minnesota (August 15, 2014)
• Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII Litigation Update
  American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Baltimore, Maryland (July 26, 2014)
• Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Implant Litigation Group Meeting
  American Association for Justice Winter Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana (February 10, 2014)
• 3 Topics How Can My Firm Participate in Mass Torts How to Get Started Hot Cases
  Minnesota Mass Torts Conference, St. Paul, Minnesota (December 3, 2013)
• DaubertFrye Motions in Product Liability Litigation
  Webinar, Strafford (November 5, 2013)
• Opening Statements
  Ohio Association for Justice, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, and Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group, Steamboat Springs, Colorado (March 11, 2013)
• Hot Topics in Pharmaceutical Litigation
  Panel, AAJ's Section on Toxic, Environmental, and Pharmaceutical Torts (STEP), Chicago, Illinois (July 30, 2012)
• Conference Co-Chair
  HB Litigation Conference: Food, Drug and Medical Device Litigation Forum, Minneapolis, Minnesota (April 23, 2012)
• The Demise of Multidistrict Litigation: Myth or Reality?
  2012 American Association for Justice Winter Convention, Phoenix, Arizona (February 15, 2012)
• Taking the Gamble out of Mass Tort Litigation: Jury Focus Groups and the Mirapex Litigation
  Minnesota Association for Justice, Alexandria, Minnesota (August 12, 2011)
• AAJs Topamax Teleseminar: Injuries and Causation
  American Association for Justice (April 6, 2011)
• Masters in Trial on Jury Persuasion
  American Board of Trial Advocates, Columbus, Ohio (September 10, 2010)
• Focus Groups and Development of Themes in the Mirapex Case
  American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (July 13, 2010)
• Preemption in a Post-Levine World
  Minnesota Association for Justice, Alexandria, Minnesota (August 14, 2009)
• Obstacles to Justice
  Iowa Association for Justice Annual Meeting (November 6, 2008)
• So You Are in Federal Court Now What
  MTLA Summer Convention (August 9, 2007)
• Protecting the Public Health Scientific Integrity at Risk
  13th Trial Advocacy Seminar (October 26, 2006)
• Top 10 Cases You Never Saw Coming-Recognizing Mass Torts
  South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, 2006 Fall Seminar (September 6, 2006)
• Defective Drug and Medical Device Litigation
  MTLA Annual Convention (August 12, 2006)
• Commencement Speech
  Hamline University, Paralegal Studies Certificate Program (May 16, 2003)
• Formulating a Discovery Plan in Complex Business Litigation Cases
  MILE Complex Business Litigation Seminar (March 20, 2001)
• Where Theres Smoke Theres Fire An Insiders View of the Minnesota Tobacco Litigation
  Association of University Women, Minneapolis, Minnesota (May 26, 1999)

Media Mentions

• “In $10.5M Case, Judge Holds That Global Air Duster Producer was Liable For Minnesota Woman’s Death,” The Forum (December 16, 2024)
• "Aerosol Duster Company Must Pay $10.5M Over Woman's Crash Death," Bring Me The News (December 7, 2024)
• "Total Judgment Nearly $10M in Aerosol Abuse Case," Minnesota Lawyer (December 6, 2024)
• “Breaking The Ice: Charting ‘New Path’ For Tribes’ Legal Campaigns, Minnesota Lawyer (October 31, 2024)
• "Chippewa Sue Social Media Giants, Alleging Harm to Teens," Minnesota Lawyer (August 29, 2024)
• "Fond du Lac Band Becomes First Minnesota Tribe to Join Legal Fight Against Social Media Giants," Star Tribune (July 29, 2024)
• "Minnesota Tribal Nation Files Lawsuit Against Social Media Companies," ABC 6 News (July 29, 2024)
• "Tribe Sues Social Media Giants Over ‘Mental Health Crisis’ in First-of-Its Kind Lawsuit in Minnesota," KSTP (July 29, 2024)
• "The Power 30: Tara Sutton, Robins Kaplan LLP," Minnesota Lawyer (July 22, 2024)
• "Litigators of the Week: Robins Kaplan Wins First Trial Against Aerosol Dust Remover Maker," AmLaw Litigation Daily, (May 3, 2024)
• "Company Faces $7.75M Verdict in Crash Death Caused by Huffing Aerosol," Minnesota Lawyer (May 3, 2024)
• "Minnesota vs. Big Tobacco," KFAI (March 14, 2024)
• "U.S. Judge Denies Summary Judgment in Crash Caused by Aerosol Huffing," Minnesota Lawyer (September 7, 2023)
• "Top Women in Law Honorees Announced," Minnesota Lawyer (September 6, 2023)
• "Minnesota gets $60.5M in settlement with Juul, Altria," Minnesota Lawyer (May 18, 2023)
• "Juul And Altria To Pay $60.5M In Minn. Youth Vaping Deal," Law360 (May 17, 2023)
• “Minnesota gets $60.5M in settlement with e-cigarette maker Juul, tobacco giant Altria,” Associated Press (May 17, 2023)
• "Litigator of the Week Runners-Up and Shout Outs," AmLaw Litigation Daily (May 5, 2023)
• "Will Bankruptcy Judge Bend On Halting Talc Cases Against J&J? Juul Settles AG Cases But SF Trial Looms," ALM Litigation: Editor's Picks (April 19, 2023)
• "Minnesota settles case against Juul over marketing e-cigarettes to teens," Star Tribune (April 17, 2023)
• "Minnesota settles lawsuit with Juul over vape marketing to youth," Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (April 17, 2023)
• "Juul, Minn. AG Ink Deal After Close Of Trial," Law360 (April 17, 2023)
• "Vaping trial: Ellison says Juul, Altria 'hooked a generation of Minnesota kids on e-cigarettes'," FOX 9 (March 28, 2023)
• "State's trial begins against e-cigarette maker Juul: A 'new generation' addicted to vaping," Star Tribune (March 28, 2023)
• "2022 Attorneys of the Year: National Prescription Opiate Litigation," Minnesota Lawyer (February 16, 2023)
• "From Tobacco to Opioid Litigation, Robins Kaplan Leader Discusses Helping Tribal Nations, Law Firm Leadership," The National Law Journal (August 2, 2022)
• "Robins Kaplan on the Front Lines of $589M National Opioid Settlement on Behalf of Tribal Nations," Attorney at Law Magazine (March 2022)
• "MVP: Robins Kaplan's Tara Sutton," Law360 (December 21, 2017)
• "The Rustlers Whooped the Rangers," Advocate Capital, Inc. (May 8, 2014)