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Ruth A. Bahe-Jachna has more than 30 years of experience working on and managing large-scale litigation matters, including numerous MDL proceedings. She regularly defends clients in class actions and product liability and consumer fraud litigation in state and federal courts, as well as in employment-related class actions and FLSA collective actions. Her experience includes the representation of telecommunications clients, including a major U.S. trade association representing wireless manufacturers and carriers, various wireless and landline service providers, and a tower siting company. She represented the trade association in multiple lawsuits spanning a 10-year period concerning health and safety issues related to wireless phone emissions. Ruth also counseled a major telecommunications provider with respect to potential class action exposure in connection with one of its acquisitions. She regularly counsels clients, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers, on a wide variety of product safety and risk management matters, including providing guidance on U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reporting requirements, recall issues and appropriate recall processes, and drafting release and waiver forms, warning labels, and warranties. Ruth also has represented clients in qui tam litigation involving retail sales and use tax issues in Internet sales, and in litigation alleging violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. She also has wide-ranging appellate experience.

Ruth studied in Japan from 1979 to 1982 and represents Japanese clients in various litigation and product liability matters. She has given presentations internationally on U.S. product liability law and class actions.

For 16 years, Ruth developed and oversaw intensive “hands on” training for the firm’s National Litigation Practice. She now has developed a curriculum for use in training those involved in American Indian trial court systems and regularly serves as Faculty for the firm’s American Indian Tribes Criminal Trial Advocacy Trainings.

Concentrations

  • Litigation and MDL proceedings
  • Class actions
  • Product liability litigation and counseling
  • CPSC recalls, reporting, and counseling
  • Telecommunications
  • American Indian Tribes criminal trial advocacy training

Capacidades

Experiencia

  • Served as Program Director and Faculty for American Indian Tribes Criminal Trial Advocacy Trainings in Louisiana, Arizona, and New Mexico.
  • Defended champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his company, Mayweather Promotions, in both an MDL proceeding and subsequent 9th Circuit appeal stemming from the Mayweather/Pacquiao boxing match.
  • Represented a wireless telecommunications trade association in multi-district class action litigation alleging that defendants (trade association and wireless service providers) violated United States antitrust laws by conspiring to fix the price of text messages. Obtained summary judgment in favor of defendants; affirmed by United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
  • Represented a wireless telecommunications trade association in multi-district class action litigation and arbitration alleging that defendants violated United States antitrust laws by conspiring to fix the pricing for bulk commercial text messaging.
  • Represented a wireless telecommunications trade association in multiple lawsuits challenging the safety of wireless telephones.
  • Represented a wireless telephone manufacturer in multiple lawsuits alleging harmful exposure to electromagnetic emissions.
  • Obtained dismissal of all claims with prejudice in favor of a wireless telecommunications provider in a putative class action complaint by a customer challenging billing practices and various provisions in form service contract.
  • Represented a non-party wireless tower siting company in responding to a subpoena in litigation between two of its competitors.
  • Represented various companies in putative class actions alleging that the company had violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by sending unsolicited facsimile messages.
  • Represented various companies in putative class actions alleging that the company had violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by placing unsolicited telephone calls.
  • Represented retailers in qui tam actions alleging that defendants violated the Illinois False Claims Act by failing to properly assess and collect sales and use tax on Internet sales made to Illinois customers.
  • Represented a manufacturer of portable x-ray equipment in a contract dispute filed by a hospital customer.
  • Represented a set-top box manufacturer in multiple investigations in the United States and Canada concerning potential safety hazards.
  • Represented a UK-based consumer electronics manufacturer in a U.S. CPSC proceedings related to potential safety hazards.
  • Represented multiple clothing manufacturers in U.S. CPSC proceedings related to potential safety hazards.
  • Represented a U.S. importer of remote-controlled helicopters in U.S. CPSC investigations concerning potential safety hazards.
  • Represented a U.S. importer of electrical power cords in U.S. CPSC proceedings related to potential safety hazards.
  • Represented a U.S. importer of children’s backpacks in an investigation concerning potential safety hazards.
  • Represented a U.S. importer of various consumer products, including heating pads and other household consumer products, in investigations concerning potential safety hazards.
  • Represented a manufacturer of ice cream scoops in U.S. CPSC proceedings concerning potential safety hazards.
  • Represented a component manufacturer in litigation involving allegations of potential safety hazard in end product (refrigerators).
  • Represented numerous home builders in a U.S. CPSC investigation relating to potential safety hazard in Chinese drywall.
  • Represented various retailers and importers in U.S. CPSC proceedings in connection with "made in China" toys and other consumer products alleged to contain excessive levels of lead.
  • Represented a major retailer in U.S. CPSC proceedings relating to powerful tiny magnets alleged to present impermissible safety risks.
  • Obtained summary judgment (upheld on appeal) for Nintendo of America, Inc. in a putative class action in which plaintiffs alleged that they developed visually induced seizures while playing video games sold and distributed by the manufacturer. Coursey v. Nintendo of America, Inc., 309 Ill. App. 3d 1069 (1st Dist. 1999).
  • Coordinated and supervised on-site electronic and paper document preservation and collection for a Fortune 500 company in nationwide product liability litigation.
  • Represented a leading international specialty retailer in a putative class action alleging exposure to excessive amounts of lead and seeking relief in the form of medical monitoring.
  • Represented a Fortune 50 company in two putative statewide class action wage and hour lawsuits.
  • Represented an international real estate services company in Fair Labor Standards Act litigation alleging wage and hour violations relating to hourly employees’ use of personal digital assistants (PDAs).
  • Represented a company in multi-district litigation involving numerous putative class actions relating to identity theft protection and consumer fraud.

Reconocimientos y Liderazgo

  • Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, 2024
  • Team Member, a Law360 "Product Liability Practice Group of the Year," 2011 and 2021-2022
  • Recipient, Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s Executive Director’s Award, 2019 
  • Listed, Leading Lawyers Network, 2011-2024
    • "Top 100 Women Lawyers" in Illinois, 2012, 2018
  • Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Products Liability Litigation Department of the Year,” 2018
  • Team Member, a Law360 "Employment Practice Group of the Year," 2011 & 2013
  • Team Member, a Law360 "Appellate Practice Group of the Year," 2010
  • Presidential Scholar, U.S. Department of Education, 1976
  • Member, The Economic Club of Chicago
  • Member, Wartburg College Board of Regents
  • Fellow, The American Bar Foundation
  • Member, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation
    • Liaison, Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress, Present
    • Managing Director Designate, 2019-2020
    • Co-Chair, Attorney Mental Health & Wellness Task Force, 2018-2019
    • Past Member, Council, 2013-2016
    • Co-Chair, 2015 Annual Meeting
  • Member, Chicago Bar Association
    • Past Chair, Class Litigation Committee
  • Member, Federal Bar Association
  • Member, Seventh Circuit Bar Association

Credenciales

Educación
  • J.D., Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
    • Notes and Comment Editor, Northwestern University Law Review
  • B.A., summa cum laude, Wartburg College
  • International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan
Con licencia para ejercer en
  • Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Bar Association
Idiomas
  • Japanese, Conversacional