Stephen J. Krigbaum

Overview

Since the mid-1980s, Stephen Krigbaum has represented manufacturers of consumer, pharmaceutical, and chemical products as lead counsel in mass tort, class actions, and other complex litigation in state, federal, and appellate courts. Representative clients include Johnson & Johnson, Union Carbide Corp., RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co., Takata Corp., Philip Morris USA Inc., and Dow Chemical Co.

In addition to his courtroom experience, he has held management and executive level in-house legal positions in the United States and Asia for the Altria group of companies (including Philip Morris and Kraft Foods) and for Dow Chemical Co.

Stephen also served as special counsel to Tyco International to assist in managing the post-Kozlowski fallout. His approach to advocacy in the courtroom and client counseling is informed by 35-plus years of experience.

Experience

• Lead counsel for global consumer product and pharmaceutical company in the defense of all Florida litigation in state and federal courts involving claims of asbestos-related disease from use of consumer talc products.
• Lead Florida and local MDL counsel for Japanese manufacturer of allegedly defective automotive airbags.
• Lead and managing counsel for global chemical company in the defense of all asbestos personal injury and wrongful death actions filed in state and federal courts throughout Florida.
• Representing cigarette manufacturer in the defense of hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death actions as its primary courtroom advocate at the trial court level in select Florida jurisdictions.
• Representing, counseling, and drafting for cigarette manufacture on state legislative issues.
• Representing cigarette manufacture in managing post-judgment supersedeas bonds in all Florida litigation.
• Representing and counseling Korean parent corporation wrongfully targeted for civil litigation in connection with the Deepwater Horizon matter.
• Representing global pharmaceutical company as its South Florida counsel in the defense of wrongful death actions relating to prescription pain patch medication.
• Representing global chemical companies and supplement manufacturers in connection with putative class actions and personal injury litigation in state and federal court.
• Representing and managing defense of global chemical company in putative class actions, mass actions, and individual lawsuits filed in state, federal, and provincial courts in the United States and Canada involving alleged injurious exposure to herbicides and agricultural chemicals including Agent Orange and products containing 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), pentachlorophenol, methyl bromide, and chlorpyrifos.
• Representing chemical company and managing its defense in mass actions and individual lawsuits filed in U.S. state and federal courts; Cases involve alleged injurious exposure and soil and groundwater contamination from chlorinated solvents including perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and 1,1,1-Trichloroethane.
• Representing construction and glass fiber product manufacturer as lead counsel in multiple actions alleging RICO violations relating to manufacture, marketing, and sales of certain roofing products in Florida.
• Representing construction and glass fiber product manufacturer as lead counsel in statewide putative class actions involving alleged soil and groundwater contamination resulting from alleged defects in double-wall fiberglass underground storage tanks used to store petroleum products throughout Florida.
• Representing German corporate parent of global chemical companies in mass actions filed in state court in Florida by most of the Ecuadorian shrimp industry alleging wrongful exposure to fungicide products manufactured by subsidiaries of the German parent.
• Representing tobacco company in RICO and product liability litigation brought by the state of Florida in Palm Beach County for reimbursement of billions in historical Medicaid expenses allegedly attributed to smoking, including primary responsibility for prosecuting all discovery and counterclaims against the state of Florida based on its own manufacture of tobacco products.
• Representing tobacco company in nationwide litigation brought by state attorneys general seeking reimbursement of historical Medicaid health care expenses.
• Stephen worked with a small team to finalize and he successfully implemented (in multiple jurisdictions) the landmark Master Settlement Agreement between the domestic tobacco industry and the state attorneys general in the late 1990s.

Recognition

• Most Effective Lawyers Award, Daily Business Review (2016)

Professional & Community Involvement

• American Bar Association
• The Florida Bar
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• Product Liability Advisory Council (1991–1992)
  • Case Selection Committee
• The Federalist Society
• Valparaiso University School of Law
  • National Council Member (2003–present)

Credentials

Areas of Focus