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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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Whether representing a Fortune 500 company or one of the largest municipalities in Tennessee, Jessie Zeigler has returned successful results for 100 percent of the cases she has handled for clients in a wide range of litigation matters. Her counsel has saved clients millions in losses across various industries – including automotive, food and beverage, healthcare, consumer products, pulp and paper, general manufacturing, chemical, pharmaceutical/life sciences, and medical device – as they have faced claims related to crisis management, environmental, natural gas hedging, 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). She also has more than 25 years of experience in representing clients in environmental, health and safety matters.

Jessie is chair of the firm’s Products Liability & Torts Practice Group.

Jessie is chair of the firm’s Products Liability & Torts Practice Group. 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 immediate counsel 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.
Healthcare Litigation – Defending healthcare providers brought under professional liability claims related to catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death claims.

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

Memberships

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

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)

Representative Experience

Representation of a Recycling Corporation in ESOP Transaction

We represented a recycling corporation in the establishment of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (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
Town of Smyrna Fights Imposition of Hedging Charges

Representing the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee against the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia (MGAG) due to MGAG’s imposition of hedging charges that are costing the Town millions each year

We are representing the Town of Smyrna, Tennessee against the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia (MGAG) due to MGAG's imposition...

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Client Type: Government
Dismissal of Wrongful Death Claim for Paper Manufacturer

Handled the crisis management response/investigation for a large paper manufacturer of an incident that resulted in the death of a subcontract employee

We handled the crisis management response/investigation for a large paper manufacturer of an incident that resulted in the death of...

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Client Type: Public Company

Publications

DOJ Trumpets “First-Ever” Criminal Indictment for Failure to Report Product Safety Issues

April 15, 2019
Jessie Zeigler and Sarah Miller Discuss Protection in Products Liability Cases

July 31, 2018
Jessie Zeigler and Chad Jarboe Examine Witness Preparation in Trials for ABA Publication

December 4, 2017

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

Jessie Zeigler Appointed to Leadership Positions at IADC

February 22, 2019
Mid-South Super Lawyers Lists 72 Bass, Berry & Sims Attorneys in 2018

November 9, 2018
Benchmark Litigation 2019 Recognizes Bass, Berry & Sims and 13 Litigators

October 17, 2018

Accolades

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

Benchmark Litigation — Local Litigation Star: Tennessee (2019)

Best Lawyers in America® — Environmental Law; Litigation: Environmental; Natural Resources Law (2007-2018)

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

Nashville Bar Association — President’s Award (2014)

Mid-South Super Lawyers (2009-2018)

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

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