James M. Campbell

Shareholder and President

Biography

James Campbell focuses his practice on civil litigation and the defense of catastrophic product liability, toxic tort, medical device, pharmaceutical, professional liability, and negligence matters throughout the United States. Jim is President of Campbell Trial Lawyers, and has been with the firm his entire career. With a passion for trial practice, Jim has earned his place as a go-to attorney for clients with high-stakes cases. He has tried more than 100 cases in 15 states and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

One of the most highly regarded trial lawyers in the country, James Campbell is recognized by The Legal 500 as one of 8 Leading Lawyers nationwide for Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense: Automotive/Transport. He is listed as one of the Top 10 Most Highly Regarded Individuals in Products Liability Defence by the Who’s Who Legal, and is recognized as a Leading Individual by Chambers USA for Products Liability & Mass Torts: Nationwide. James Campbell is consistently included as one of the Best Lawyers in America for Products Liability Litigation – Defendants. His approach includes a thorough analysis of clients’ ultimate business objectives to achieve results.

Routinely hailed as ‘one of the best’ in his field, James Campbell is an ‘outstanding trial lawyer who can grasp technical issues very quickly’ and ‘achieves tremendous results for his clients’, according to the Legal 500.  

Chambers USA writes: James Campbell is held in very high regard by market sources for his impressive trial capabilities. He is also commended for his keen eye for detail and frequently described as "spectacular," "outstanding" and "persuasive." "We trust him because of results; they speak for themselves. We’ve had nothing but defense verdicts!" report clients.

Jim Campbell serves as trial counsel for clients in industries that include automobiles, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, construction, heavy equipment, recreational products, chemicals, and material handling. One of the firm's principal trial attorneys, Jim serves as national, regional and local trial counsel for a variety of major national and international corporations and insurers, and is responsible for supervising and coordinating litigation not only throughout New England, but other regions of the country.

Jim Campbell is the co-author of a Defense Research Institute monograph regarding the duty to warn and authored a chapter concerning the discoverability of post-accident design changes in product liability actions for the DRI’s Pre-Trial Handbook.

When not in court, Jim enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, water sports and snow skiing.

Representative Experience:

• McGee v. Fanelli Group d/b/a Pleasant Valley Homes
• Featured Case: Campbell Wins Defense of Food Liability Claim
• Featured Case: The National Law Journal Agrees: Factual Development Wins Cases
• Featured Case: Painstaking Biomechanical Analysis Clears Toyota in Airbag Case
• Featured Case: First Electronic Stability System Suit Results in Win for Defense

Representative Experience:

• McGee v. Fanelli Group d/b/a Pleasant Valley Homes
• Featured Case: Campbell Wins Defense of Food Liability Claim
• Featured Case: The National Law Journal Agrees: Factual Development Wins Cases
• Featured Case: Painstaking Biomechanical Analysis Clears Toyota in Airbag Case
• Featured Case: First Electronic Stability System Suit Results in Win for Defense
• Featured Case: Meticulous Discovery and Physical Reconstruction of Accident Scene Exonerate Summer Camp
• Featured Case: Jury Returns Defense Verdict of Ford Where Plaintiff has $8M in Special Damages
• Featured Case: Jury Rejects $11.5M Wrongful Death Claims vs. Ford
• Featured Case: Drug Makers Look to Campbell for Mass Tort Defense
• Featured Case: Ground Contamination by Heating Oil Prompts Claims
• Rediker v. Toyota
• Fernandez v. Hino Trucks
• Alvarez v. Ford
• Sullivan v. Genie Industries
• Featured Case: Client Cleared in Motorcycle Weave-and-Wobble Death
• Dangutis v. ThyssenKrupp
• Kendrick v. Crown Equipment Corporation
• Barozie v. GE
• Vaz v. Ford Motor Company
• Featured Case: Defense Wins in Unintended Acceleration Case
• Edward Judge v. Pyramid Gun Mall
• Todd McDonald v. Crown Equipment
• Morse v. Ford Motor Company
• Garcia v. Ford Motor Company
• Da Silva v. Ford Motor Company
• Giannini v. Ford Motor Company
• DiPietro v. Alexandria Hotels
• Adair v. Land Rover North America, Inc.
• Trans-Spec v. Caterpillar Inc., 524 F.3d 315 (Ist Circuit)
• Nordensved v. Mini Coach of Boston, Inc.
• Brown v. Crown Equipment Corporation
• Linnen v. Walgreen
• Willick, Adm. v. Ford Motor Company
• Erickson, Adm. v. Angelo Todesca Construction Company
• Klein v. Ford Motor Company
• Peck v. Ford Motor Company
• Kramer, Adm. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
• Gauthier v. Marriott International, Inc.
• Dasti, Adm. v. Ford Motor Company
• Smith v. Home Depot USA, Inc.
• Storozuk v. Cumberland Farms, Inc.
• Vaughn v. Ford Motor Company
• Featured Case: Gosule v. American Automobile Association, Inc.
• Svinland v. Honda Motor Company, Inc.
• Karosy v. Turbocare
• Siminovitch v. Home Depot, USA, Inc.
• Taylor v. Ford Motor Company
• Freitas v. Gaudreau and Dazey Corporation
• Marquez v. Home Depot
• Ford v. Ford Motor Company
• Bowman v. Ford Motor Company
• Garbacki v. Ford Motor Company
• Bialek v. Ford Motor Company
• Scanzani v. Honda
• Towne v. American Isuzu
• Luk v. Marriott
• Berarducci v. Ford Motor Company
• Featured Case: Campbell Helps Establish Celotex Standard in MA
• Miller v. Wang Laboratories
• Federico, Adm. v. Ford Motor Company
• Carter v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
• Scott v. Crown Equipment Corporation
• Knoster v. Ford Motor Company
• Pescatore v. Mead Johnson
• O'Connor v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc.
• Featured Case: Campbell helps Honda Defend Integrity of ATV Design
• Mabey Bridge & Shore, Inc. v. Bieher
• Featured Case: Campbell Defends Insurer in Station Night Club Fire
• Nichols v. Honda
• Moreau v. Crown Equipment Corporation
• Sanchez v. Baker Material Holding
• Royce v. Ford Motor Company
• Fry v. Crown Equipment
• Maldanado v. Ford Motor Company
• Ulm v. Ford Motor Company
• Armao v. Honda
• Allen v. Crown Equipment Corporation
• Smith v. Crown Equipment Corporation
• Buzzell v. Toyota
• Miller v. Robert Bosch
• LeBlanc v. Honda
• Ryan v. Ford
• Scott v. Crown Equipment Corporation
• Kathios v. General Motors Corporation
• Cameron V. Otto Bock Orthopedic Industry, Inc

Publications & Presentations

• Discovery or No Discovery? What is the best litigation system for corporations?, October 2011
  Presentation to The International Corporate Counsel College, 6 -7 October 2011, Paris, France.
• 
  Presentation to the IADC Trial Academy, Palo Alto, California, 2011 and 2012
• Evidentiary Requirements for the Admission of Enhanced Digital Photographs, published in the IADC Newsletter, October, 2002
• Alleged Improper Handling of In-Flight Medical Emergencies: A Cognizable Claim Under the Warsaw Convention?, No.1., International Association of Defense Counsel, Aviation and Space Law Committee Newsletter, Oct. 2002
• Asserting Claims for Sexual Assault Under the Warsaw Convention, International Association of Defense Counsel, Aviation and Space Law Committee Newsletter, No. 10., Aug. 2000
• Skills Workshop: The Best of the Trial Academy: Developing Winning Themes from Opening Statement through Closing Argument, International Association of Defense Counsel - Annual Meeting, Southampton, Bermuda, 2007
• One Company, Two Products and the Art of Defending: The State of the Art and the Trailing Edge of Technology, Defense Research Institute, Product Liability Seminar, 2005
• Lost Opportunity: Sudden Cardiac Death, Defense Research Institute, Damages Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2002
• Effective Use of PowerPoint at Trial, International Association of Defense Counsel - Mid-Year Meeting, Tucson, Arizona, 2002
• Turner v. Play-Fun, Inc.: Mock Trial, American Bar Association - Chinese Law Project, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, 1999
• In-House vs. Outside Experts: When, Why & How You Should Use Each, Defense Research Institute, Product Liability Seminar, 1998
• Issues Management in the Global Economy Communications Strategy, IADC Annual Meeting, 1998
• Defending the Airbag Case: Some Pre-Trial Planning, Strategies and Tactics, Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation, ABA TIPS, 1998
• Turncoat' Witnesses, DRI Products Liability Seminar, 1998
• The Internet and Product Recall, DRI Products Seminar, San Diego., 1997
• The Use of NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) in Litigation, Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation, ABA TIPS, 1997
• Product Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins: Discovery Tips and Issues Regarding Admissibility, Products Liability Seminar, Defense Research Institute, 1997
• Cross Examination of Fact Witnesses, DRI Products Liability Committee, 1997
• Corporate Responses to Massive Discovery Demands, DRI Product Liability Seminar, 1996
• Subsequent Remedial Measures of Third Parties, Defending Material Handling Litigation II A Symposium., 1995
• The Burden of Proving Enhanced Injuries in Product Liability Litigation, ABA TIPS Products, General Liability and Consumer Law Committee Newsletter, Winter, 1995
• Considerations When Deciding Whether to Depose the Plaintiff's Security Expert, Premises Liability for Violent Crimes Seminar, Defense Research Institute, 1995
• Review of Defense Strategies for Component Suppliers in Toxic Tort Cases, The Bulk Supplier Doctrine, DRI Environmental, Hazardous Waste and Toxic Tort Seminar., 1994
• Fifty State Compendium of Product Liability Defenses, Defense Research Institute, Editor and Contributing Author, 1992
• The Duty to Warn and the Duty to Inform: Marketing Defects in Strict Products Liability, The Defense Research Institute, 1989
• Discoverability of Post-Accident Design Changes in Product Liability Actions, Defense Research Institute, Pre-Trial Handbook
• Products Liability Under Massachusetts New Hampshire and Maine Law, Cambridge Law Institute

Memberships & Leadership Positions

• American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Fellow 
  • Member, Massachusetts State Committee
• American Bar Association
  • Dean, 2003 TIPS National Trial Academy 
  • Faculty Member, 2001 TIPS National Trial Academy 
  • Member, Litigation Section 
  •     Member, Pretrial Practice and Discovery Committee 
  •     Member, Products Liability Committee 
  • Member, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section 
  •     Member, Appellate Advocacy Committee 
  •     Member, Automobile Law Committee 
  •     Member, Aviation and Space Law Committee 
  •     Member, International Law Committee 
  •         Vice-Chair, 2003-2004 
  •     Member, Law and Technology Committee 
  •     Member, Products, General Liability and Consumer Law Committee 
  •     Member, Self-Insurers and Risk Managers Committee 
• American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Diplomate
  • Member, National Board of Directors, 2002 - 2011
  • President, Massachusetts Chapter, 2002 - 2004
• Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
• Defense Research Institute
  • Member, Board of Directors, 1996-1998, 2008-2011
  • Products Liability Committee; Steering Committee 1988 
  • Massachusetts State Chair and Massachusetts Delegate to State and Local Defense Organization Committee, 1993-1995 
• Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
• International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Chair, Senior Advisory Committee
  • Member, Long Range Planning Committee
  •  Past President, 2010 - 2011
  • President, 2009 - 2010
  • President-Elect, 2008 - 2009
  • Member, Board of Directors, 2005 - 2011
  • Director, Defense Counsel Trial Academy, Stanford University, 2005
  • Director-Elect, Defense Counsel Trial Academy, Stanford University, 2004
  • Faculty Member, Defense Counsel Trial Academy, University of Colorado, 1997
  • Vice-Chair, Aviation and Space Law Committee, 1993 - 1996; 2001 - 2003
• Boston Bar Association
• Federal Bar Association
  • Executive Committee, Massachusetts Chapter, 1994-1996
• The Florida Bar
• Massachusetts Bar Foundation
  • Life Member
• Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association
  • President, 1992-1993
• New Hampshire Bar Association
• Product Liability Advisory Council
  • Sustaining Member, 1986-present
• Industrial Truck Association
  • Lawyers Committee
• Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
• Society of Automotive Engineers
• Food and Drug Law Institute

Honors & Awards

• Inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
• Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
• A "Leading Individual" in Chambers USA in Products Liability & Mass Torts: Nationwide, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• A "Star Individual" in Chambers USA in Products Liability: Automotive, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• Recognized by The Legal 500 as one of 8 Leading Lawyers nationwide for 2012. This marks the third consecutive year that James Campbell has been named to this list
• Among the Top 10 Most Highly Regarded Individuals in Products Liability Defence in the Who's Who Legal 2011 and 2012
• Selected by his peers for inclusion in "The Best Lawyers in America" in the field of Products Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• AV® Preeminent™ Peer Reviewed in Martindale-Hubbell
• Listed as a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation
• Listed as one of the World's Leading Product Liability Lawyers in the Euromoney Expert Guides
• Listed in the Best of the Best USA for Product Liability in Euromoney Expert Guides
• Listed among the Top 100 Lawyers in New England by Best Lawyers, 2012
• Designated a Super Lawyer since 2005
• Listed in the Who's Who Legal for Life Sciences
• Recognized as among the Top 100 lawyers in Massachusetts and New England by Super Lawyers in 2012