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Jessalyn H. Zeigler

Member

Nashville

(615) 742-6289

jzeigler@bassberry.com

https://www.bassberry.com/professionals/zeigler-jessalyn-h/

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As both a seasoned litigator and crisis management strategist, Jessie Zeigler has represented clients in some of the nation’s most high-profile cases over the last 25 years. From her defense of opioid cases, 2,500 Fen-Phen cases and victories on behalf of automobile industry clients that saved hundreds of millions of dollars, Jessie has always returned successful results in the cases she has handled.

Jessie is currently battling on behalf of an international pharmaceutical company in court rooms across Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia in opioid litigation that has made national headlines. In addition, she is presently defending wildfire litigation with numerous consolidated cases with approximately $35 million at issue.

Recognized by Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation and others as a leader in the field, Jessie is widely regarded as one of the top product liability and environmental lawyers in the country. As chair of the Products Liability & Torts practice at Bass, Berry & Sims, Jessie leads a cross-office team in representing clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to privately-owned companies.

Jessie approaches every new products case with an attention to detail, diligence and agility that enable her to quickly master the science behind the product as well as the product’s history, attributes and value to formulate effective strategies to meet even the most complex and aggressive legal challenges.

Her counsel has saved clients millions in losses across various industries – including pharmaceutical/life sciences, medical device, automotive, chemical, consumer products, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, and pulp and paper – as they have faced claims related to crisis management, environmental, health & safety, products liability, healthcare liability, or contracts. Jessie represents clients in claims related to deceptive business practices under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the False Claims Act (FCA).

Her practice involves:

Products Liability & Mass Torts – Handling class action claims, multi-district litigation (MDL), and single-action claims for various types of product and mass tort cases including pharmaceutical, medical device, food, supplements, asbestos and automotive companies; conducting quality assurance audits of trial team preparations for MDL cases set for trial nationwide; handling warranty/Magnuson-Moss claims; and conducting compliance assistance and handling government investigations by regulatory authorities including recalls and food liability claims under the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) watch.
Environmental, Health & Safety and Toxic Torts – Representing clients in litigation and non-litigation matters related to water rights, contamination (including voluntary programs and federal or state Superfund sites), mold claim defense, toxic torts, citizens suits, FEMA funding appeals, compliance investigations and citations in actions involving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), citizen suits and private rights of action.
Natural Gas – Handling of disputes related to unauthorized natural gas hedging charges, including allegations of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and deceptive business practices under the TCPA and the FCA.
Crisis Management/Catastrophic Loss – Providing timely counsel with a plan of action when a crisis hits, such as death and significant injury events at manufacturing plants, including handling OSHA or other governmental notifications and investigations; notifying and working with insurance providers; immediate identification of necessary experts; evidence preservation; litigation holds; public relations assistance; getting the facility operational; review and updating of health and safety plans; preparation of crisis management plans; and advising and assisting with all actions necessary to prepare for the possibility of litigation.

Jessie is actively involved in the legal profession and currently holds leadership positions in the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) and the Network of Trial Lawyers.

Memberships

The Network of Trial Law Firms, Inc. — Chair (2017), Executive Committee (2016-2018)

Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments (2020-2021)

Nashville Bar Association — Federal Court Committee, Co-Chair (2012, 2013)

Nashville Bar Foundation — Fellow (2016)

American Bar Association — Products Liability Committee; Women in Products Liability Subcommittee, Past Co-Chair; Food & Supplements Subcommittee, Past Co-Chair; Products, Mass Torts and Environmental Joint CLE Program, Co-Chair (2015-2018)

Defense Research Institute — Drug & Medical Device, Medical Liability and Health Care Law Committee; Product Liability Committee; Toxic Torts and Environmental Law

International Association of Defense Counsel — Board of the Foundation (2019); 2020 Annual Meeting, CLE Chair; Product Liability Committee, Chair (2017-2018), Vice Chair (2013-2017)

Federal Court Magistrate Judge Nominating Committee, selected by Chief Judge Kevin Sharp (2015)

American Health Law Association (AHLA)

Representative Experience

Representation of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in Precedent-Setting Opioid Litigation

Bass, Berry & Sims represents Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in numerous separate opioid cases filed in state courts across Tennessee, Virginia and...

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Client Type: Public Company
Outside General Counsel for Growth Stage Wellness Company

Representation of HigherDOSE, a growth stage wellness product and services company, as outside general counsel. We advise the company on corporate entity structure; equity incentives; intellectual property protection; data privacy, including CCPA and GDPR compliance; FDA compliance; commercial contracts; waivers; product safety and advertising matters.

We serve as outside general counsel for HigherDOSE, a growth stage wellness product and services company. We advise the company...

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Client Type: Private Company
Representation of a Recycling Corporation in ESOP Transaction

Represented a recycling corporation in the establishment of an ESOP used to acquire 100% of the company in a leveraged transaction in the amount of $51.5 million

We represented a recycling corporation in the establishment of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) used to acquire 100% of...

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Client Type: Private Company
Dismissal of Multiple Plaintiff Products Liability Class Action

Represented a manufacturer in complete dismissal of a multiple plaintiff products liability class action lawsuit

We successfully moved to dismiss a multiple plaintiff class action alleging that our client had engaged in deceptive trade practices...

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Client Type: Public Company
Successful Result in Case Involving Gas Hedging Charges

Represented the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee in a lawsuit against the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia (MGAG) alleging unauthorized natural gas hedging charges imposed by MGAG. The case was resolved very favorably for the Town.

With a team led by Jessie Zeigler, we represented the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee in a lawsuit against the Municipal...

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Client Type: Government
Dismissal of Patent Infringement Case Against Pharmaceutical Company

Representation of a pharmaceutical company in a patent infringement case related to the sale and marketing of a cancer treatment drug

We successfully moved to dismiss a patent infringement case alleging that our client's marketing and sale of a highly successful...

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Client Type: Private Company
Representation of Manufacturers in Asbestos Case

Represented Neles-Jamesbury and Metso Automation in asbestos case ultimately obtaining summary judgment

We obtained summary judgment for Neles-Jamesbury and Metso Automation in an asbestos case set for trial in Knoxville in September...

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Client Type: Private Company
CLARCOR Acquires the Filtration Business of Stanadyne Corporation

Represented CLARCOR in connection with its acquisition of the filtration business of Stanadyne Corporation for approximately $325 million

We represented CLARCOR in connection with its acquisition of the filtration business of Stanadyne Corporation, a portfolio company of Kohlberg...

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Client Type: Public Company
Defense of Personal Injury Claims in Two Class Actions

Currently representing a large consumer products manufacturer in two class action claims alleging our client’s product emits a chemical in an amount higher than the manufacturer disclosed that resulted in personal injury

We currently are representing a large consumer products manufacturer in two class action claims alleging our client's product emits a...

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Client Type: Public Company
Defense of Asbestos Docket Cases for Industrial Manufacturer

Representing a large industrial manufacturer in a large number of individual asbestos cases filed in Knoxville, Tennessee

We represent a large industrial manufacturer in a large number of individual asbestos cases filed in Knoxville, Tennessee. The vast...

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Client Type: Private Company

Publications

Attorneys Examine Complex Requirements of Product Warning Labels

May 22, 2020
Impact of COVID-19 on the Restaurant & Hospitality Industry

March 26, 2020
Jessie Zeigler and Courtney Hunter Examine Recent Supreme Court Opinion in Maritime Cases

June 12, 2019

Past Events

Crisis Response Plans and Deftly Handling Your Company's Emergency

June 20, 2017 | Memphis, Tennessee
Crisis Response Plan Program
Trial-Focused Discovery: You Don't Always Get What You Want, But Get What You Need

May 3 - 5, 2017 | San Francisco, California
ABA Section of Litigation Annual Conference
Crisis Response — Deftly Handling Your Company's Emergency

April 27 - 30, 2017 | Manalapan, Florida
Litigation Management: New Trends and Techniques

Media Mentions & Firm News

Mid-South Super Lawyers 2020 Lists 57 Bass, Berry & Sims Attorneys

December 11, 2020
Bass, Berry & Sims and Firm Attorneys Recognized in Benchmark Litigation 2021

October 9, 2020
91 Attorneys from Bass, Berry & Sims Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021

August 20, 2020

Accolades

Chambers USA — Environment (2020), Recognized Practitioner (2016-2019)

Benchmark Litigation — Local Litigation Star: Tennessee (2019-2021)

Best Lawyers® — Nashville Litigation: Environmental “Lawyer of the Year” (2021)

Nashville Business Journal — “Women of Influence, Trailblazer Category” (2015)

Nashville Bar Association — President’s Award (2014)

Mid-South Super Lawyers (2009-2020)

Top 50 Women Mid-South Super Lawyers (2011-2012, 2016, 2020)

Top 100 Tennessee Super Lawyers (2020)

Phi Beta Kappa

Education

Vanderbilt Law School - J.D., 1993

Order of the Coif
Syracuse University - B.A., B.S., 1990

summa cum laude

Admissions

Tennessee
Kentucky

U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Chambers USA

"Jessalyn Zeigler has over two decades of experience handling environmental litigation for clients in the manufacturing, automotive and healthcare sectors, among others. She is particularly knowledgeable in water rights and environmental-related health and safety issues. A client comments: 'She is a top-notch lawyer: she's extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.'"

From Chambers USA 2020