Ryan S. Cobbs

Overview

Ryan Cobbs represents manufacturers of consumer, chemical, automotive, and pharmaceutical products involved in mass tort and product liability litigation. Ryan has tried products, insurance, and commercial cases in Florida state and federal courts and has first-chair jury trial experience.

Ryan also has extensive experience leading and managing mass tort defense teams in cases on trial dockets across multiple jurisdictions. His representation in this area includes all aspects of pretrial litigation and trial support, as well as the development and execution of innovative defense strategies designed to eliminate potential liability. He takes a tactical approach to his matters, providing thoughtful counsel and advice that is guided by his clients' overall business objectives.

Ryan also handles a variety of commercial and class action litigation matters, including restrictive covenants, breach of contract, and breach of warranty disputes.

Ryan is the chair of the firm’s Mass Tort and Product Liability Practice.

Experience

• Lead counsel for Fortune 500 global toy company in defense of recalled infant products resulting in product liability and wrongful death litigation pending in coordinated state court proceedings across California and Delaware.
• Lead and managing counsel for Fortune 100 global chemical company in defense against product liability asbestos actions in state and federal courts throughout Florida.
• Lead and managing counsel for Fortune 100 global pharmaceutical and consumer products company in defense against product liability talc actions in state and federal courts throughout Florida.
• National counsel for regional supermarket chain in defense against product liability asbestos actions.
• Counsel for Japanese manufacturer of allegedly defective automotive airbags involved in putative class actions and multidistrict litigation.
• Counsel for Fortune 100 global pharmaceutical company in defense of product liability claims related to transdermal patches.

Representative Cases

• Represented global chemical company in defense against alleged asbestos personal injury claim. Obtained dismissal based on novel issue of law. Kelly v. Georgia-Pacific, LLC, 211 So. 3d 340 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017).

• Represented global chemical company in defense against alleged asbestos personal injury claim. Obtained dismissal based on lack of personal jurisdiction. Waite v. AII Acquisition Corp., No. 0:15-cv-62359, 2016 WL 2346743 (S.D. Fla. May 4, 2016).

• Represented global chemical company in defense against alleged personal injury claim. Defense verdict following jury trial. Taylor v. Georgia-Pacific LLC, No. 14-022141 (Fla. Cir. Ct. 2014).

• Represented regional supermarket chain to enforce restrictive covenants at 100-plus shopping center locations against national discount and dollar store chains. Obtained injunctions across multiple locations. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. v. Dolgencorp, LLC, 746 F. 3d 1008 (11th Cir. 2014); Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. v. Dolgencorp, LLC, 881 F. 3d 835 (11th Cir. 2018).

• Represented insured of national property and casualty insurer in defense of TCPA class action; defeated class certification and obtained dismissal. Amitesh Inc. v. Alpha Imaging Prods. & Servs. Inc., No. 2010-CA-6671-O (Fla. Cir. Ct. 2011). 

• Represented one of the nation’s largest court reporting and litigation services companies in defense of FDUPTA consumer class action; defeated class certification motion and obtained dismissal. In re Motions to Certify Classes Against Court Reporting Firms for Charges Relating to Word Indices, 715 F. Supp. 2d 1265 (S.D. Fla. 2010).

• Represented leading transportation fuel provider in defense of product liability class action regarding ethanol blended gasoline warnings. Kelecseny v. Chevron, U.S.A., Inc., 262 F.R.D. 660 (S.D. Fla. 2009).

• Represented one of the nation’s largest insurers in defense of insurance claim alleging property damage caused by rock quarry blasting; obtained complete defense verdict after jury trial. Castillo v. State Farm Fla. Ins. Co., 971 So. 2d 820 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007).

Recognition

• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Most Effective Lawyer Award, Products Liability, Daily Business Review (2016)
• Florida Rising Stars, Super Lawyers Magazine (2009, 2013–2018)

Speaking Engagements

• "Practical Tips for Counteracting Witness Coaching in the Pandemic and Beyond," 2021 DRI Asbestos Medicine Seminar (November 2021)
• "Mass Torts and General Jurisdiction: The Corporate Defendant's Way Home" (August 2015)

Credentials

Areas of Focus