Partner
CurrentStephen Oertle defends sophisticated clients in high-stakes medical malpractice and product liability lawsuits nationwide. His practice includes the defense of mass torts and multidistrict litigation.Represent the corporate parent of over 50 hospitals, as well as individual hospitals, in cases involving medical negligence, wrongful termination, and unfair trade practices actions, often where extended life care plans or the possibility of punitive damages lead to high-exposure cases.Represent multiple automobile manufacturers and suppliers in product liability actions involving catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims.Defended a major motorcoach manufacturer in multiple-fatality rollover crash litigation involving extensive document production.Represented a major pharmaceutical company in multiple nationwide product liability cases, including cases involving allegations that various medications caused suicidality, breast cancer, and birth defects.Defended an international fast food company in a premises liability case involving allegations that poor training and supervision of employees and poor security resulted in the aggravated battery of a term pregnant woman, resulting in neurological injuries to her fetus. Despite a demand of $7.5 million a month before trial, WTO settled the case extremely favorably on the morning of jury selection.Won summary judgment on all claims in a federal civil rights case involving allegations against a rural hospital that a deaf patient had been forcibly restrained and denied a sign language interpreter. After remand to state court, WTO achieved a nuisance value settlement.
