T: 612-343-3214
E: myoung@blackwellburke.com
W: www.blackwellburke.com
Mary S. Young is an experienced litigator whose national practice is focused on defending complex matters across a broad range of substantive legal areas, including product liability, consumer fraud class actions, wage and hour class actions, commercial and employment disputes. She has in-depth experience serving as national coordinating counsel for Fortune 500 companies. Currently, Ms. Young is national coordinating counsel for one of the world’s largest global innovation and manufacturing companies coordinating the defense of over 4,500 lawsuits pending in a medical device product liability multidistrict litigation. The defense team, of which Ms. Young was a part, won a complete defense verdict in the first bellwether trial in Minnesota Federal District Court in May 2018 when the jury agreed with the defense that the warming device did not cause surgical site infections.
Ms. Young is also national coordinating counsel for two Fortune 500 companies coordinating the defense of product liability and premises liability claims arising in state and federal courts nationwide. In these roles, she handles a diverse array of legal claims and is focused on vigorously protecting the companies’ legal and business interests while efficiently driving the cases toward resolution.
Ms. Young’s practice also focuses on class action defense. She secured a defense victory for a US Fortune 200 food manufacturer in a case filed in federal court, District of Minnesota, alleging false advertising of the company’s snack bars. Ms. Young also defended a food manufacturer against a class action, on behalf of California purchasers, alleging that a probiotic yogurt product did not promote digestive health as advertised. The defense successfully moved for de-certification of the class’s claims for damages, including its claim for punitive damages, and settlement was achieved shortly after de-certification. Ms. Young has defended employers in wage and hour class actions lawsuits in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and California.
Before joining the firm, Ms. Young practiced in the complex litigation group at Lane Powell PC in Seattle, Washington.
Ms. Young is the founder and first president of the Minnesota Mother Attorneys Association (MMAA). MMAA is a legal organization dedicated to promoting the career excellence of mother attorneys. While practicing in Seattle, she was an active member of King County Washington Women Lawyers, serving on its board of directors (2006–2008) and as co-chair of its Judicial Evaluation Committee (2007–2011).
Last updated October 2018
