Our food safety lawyers work with food companies nationwide, helping them comply with complex food safety regulations, decrease their food safety risk, prevent unwanted litigation, manage recalls exceptionally quickly and defend high profile foodborne illness claims -- when they do occur.
Over the last decade, the firm has assisted food companies throughout the country on a wide-range of food safety matters involving regulatory compliance, crisis planning and management, and outbreak litigation.
During this period, the firm has defended food industry clients against high-profile foodborne illness outbreak claims in more than 2o states throughout the country (including Arizona, Arkansas, Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin). These have included outbreaks and claims involving a wide-range of foodborne pathogens, including E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, Clostridium Perfringens, Norovirus, Salmonella and Staphylococcus. The firm's food safety team also assists clients with crisis management and other issues in advance of and following major food product recalls.
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Shawn K. Stevens, a member of the firm's food safety team, is one of the only lawyers in America who dedicates his practice entirely to representing the food industry.
Mr. Stevens counsels food industry clients throughout the country (including some of the nation’s largest food producers, national restaurant chains, and several food distributors and grocers) on a wide-range of food safety regulatory and liability issues. Mr. Stevens works closely with clients to identify and appropriately manage risk, plan and prepare for possible crises, and also respond to governmental enforcement actions and recalls. Mr. Stevens also defends industry clients against high-profile foodborne illness outbreaks and claims. Mr. Stevens has additional, wide ranging experience counseling clients in commercial, insurance and medical malpractice disputes.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Stevens also speaks regularly to national and international audiences on issues relating to food safety, regulatory compliance, crisis management, and foodborne illness outbreaks, recalls and lawsuits. Mr. Stevens also serves as a weekly contributor to Meatingplace (as the author of its newest “Legally Speaking” Blog), writes a dedicated monthly food safety column for the National Provisioner, and is a regular contributor to Food Quality Magazine.
Mr. Stevens has also been recognized by his peers as a Wisconsin Super Lawyer Rising Star, and was recently selected as one of Milwaukee's 2011 "Forty Under 40."
Ralph A. Weber, Ralph A. Weber has represented clients in several of Wisconsin’s highest profile lawsuits over the past several decades, and currently litigates for one of the world’s largest companies in food safety cases throughout the United States. His trial experience includes many lengthy jury and court trials. His appellate experience includes multiple oral arguments before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and intermediate appellate courts.
The prestigious international lawyer reference, Chambers Guide-USA, identifies Mr. Weber as a top commercial litigator. He also has been recognized by his peers through selection to Best Lawyers in America, Wisconsin Super Lawyers, and has been selected one of the Best of The U. S.’s list of “Best of Class” service providers in the United States.
An Adjunct Professor at Marquette University Law School, he taught Trial Advocacy for 15 years, and created a jury research and courtroom facility, the Trial Science Institute. In addition to speaking about litigation subjects, Mr. Weber co-edited a best selling book, Dear Americans: Letters from the Desk of Ronald Reagan (Doubleday, 2003).
Mr. Weber served on the Law Review at Columbia University Law School, graduating in 1982, and then served as a Law Clerk for the Hon. Richard D. Cudahy, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He graduated summa cum laude from Marquette University in 1978.
Amelia L. McCarthy, a member of the firm, specializes in general commercial, health care, food and product liability litigation.
She also currently serves as a Municipal Prosecutor for a Wisconsin community and has served as a Public Service Special Prosecutor for the Dane County and Milwaukee County District Attorney's offices.
Throughout the course of her career, Ms. McCarthy has tried over 50 court and jury trials. She also successfully defended four class action lawsuits, obtaining three dismissals with prejudice and one nuisance value settlement without having to proceed through class certification.
Ms. McCarthy has been recognized by her peers through selection to Wisconsin Super Lawyers and was recently named one of Milwaukee's Top "40 under 40" business leaders.
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