PROFILE
Cheryl Zak Lardieri is a partner with the firm. Ms. Lardieri has a diversified national litigation practice. Ms. Lardieri has represented companies in contract and commercial disputes, fraud, business tort claims, and employment matters. In addition, Ms. Lardieri has represented manufacturers of a wide variety of products, including machinery, prescription drugs, medical devices, tobacco products, dietary supplements, dialysis solution, and pedicle screws in class action litigation and in individual cases in state and federal courts nationwide.
Upon graduating from law school, Ms. Lardieri was a law clerk to the Honorable Alan M. Wilner, former Chief Judge of the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. After her clerkship, Ms. Lardieri was an associate at a regional law firm, practicing in the products liability and toxic tort areas. Ms. Lardieri later joined an international law firm, where she practiced in the areas of complex commercial litigation, insurance matters, professional negligence, construction litigation, and product liability.
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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
2009 – Present Goodell, DeVries, Leech & Dann, LLP – Partner
2004 – 2009 DLA Piper, LLP (US) – Partner
1998 – 2004 DLA Piper, LLP (US) – Associate
1996 – 1998 Miles & Stockbridge, P.C. – Associate
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Product Liability and Pharmaceutical Litigation
- Judgment notwithstanding the verdict obtained in favor of defendant machinery distributor in product liability/industrial accident where plaintiff alleged permanent brain injury.
- Summary judgment obtained on behalf of manufacturer of dialysis solution in product liability/recall case.
- Summary judgment obtained on behalf of manufacturer of x-ray machine.
- Representation of a major pharmaceutical company in class action and individual lawsuits, alleging cardiac injuries as a result of the use and labeling of diet drugs.
- Representation of a major tobacco company in class action and personal injury lawsuits, alleging lung cancer and respiratory disease.
- Representation of a major pharmaceutical company in personal injury action, alleging side effects from the use of an anti-malaria drug.
- Representation of a manufacturer of pedicle screws in personal injury actions, alleging injuries as a result of defective design and manufacture of product.
- Representation of a product manufacturer in asbestos personal injury actions.
Insurance Matters
- Motion to dismiss granted on behalf of insurance company in putative nationwide class action.
- Motion for summary judgment obtained on behalf of insurance company in putative nationwide class action.
- Defense jury verdict in class action brought against insurance company as a result of the company’s exit from the global medical malpractice insurance business. (Case written up in The National Law Journal’s “Defense Hot List” (8/21/06))
- Drafted brief, argued, and won decertification from national class action to state-only class for insurance company as a result of the company’s exit from the global medical malpractice insurance business.
- Summary judgment obtained on behalf of insurance company in putative Iowa class action arising from the company’s withdrawal from the medical malpractice insurance business. Summary judgment was affirmed on appeal.
Professional Negligence
- Summary judgment obtained on behalf of defendants, a large international law firm and lawyer for the firm, in a legal malpractice case. Summary judgment was affirmed on appeal.
- Summary judgment obtained on behalf of defendant, a partner in a large international law firm, in a legal malpractice case.
Commercial Litigation
- Obtained Plaintiff’s jury verdict in excess of $3 million in contract dispute and piercing the corporate veil case after a month-long jury trial. The case was affirmed on appeal.
- Dismissal obtained in favor of defendant in a multi-million dollar securities fraud case.
- Obtained $2 million settlement in favor of plaintiff client in a contract dispute where opposing party filed counterclaim.
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EDUCATION
The University of Dayton (B.A., 1990)
The University of Baltimore (J.D., magna cum laude, 1993)
Heuisler Honor Society
The University of Baltimore Law Forum
Labor Law Moot Court Team
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COURT ADMISSIONS
Court of Appeals of Maryland
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
United States District Court for the District of Maryland
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
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