Sarah R. Marmor
Sarah R. Marmor has tried complex cases throughout the United States, in state courts in Illinois, Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas and in federal courts in Illinois, Michigan and New York. Ms. Marmor specializes in product liability, employment law, commercial disputes and private-equity-related litigation and counseling. She also has represented a broad range of clients in civil rights litigation, securities lawsuits, entertainment matters and insurance coverage litigation.
Ms. Marmor has defended clients in product liability claims involving breast implant, tobacco, asbestos, household products and appliances. Through this sophisticated products liability practice, Ms. Marmor has gained significant experience in developing scientific defenses to personal injury and property damage claims – particularly in the disciplines of toxicology and epidemiology. Ms. Marmor was a member of the team that defended a multinational chemical company in the first and only breast implant class action suit ever certified. Ms. Marmor also helped represent the same chemical company in an environmental insurance coverage suit against over 25 insurers in Detroit, Michigan. She helped successfully defend a major tobacco company in a landmark RICO and consumer fraud suit brought by an asbestos trust against the entire tobacco industry. Ms. Marmor has represented a number of corporations in a broad array of commercial and intellectual property disputes, including breach of contract and trademark and patent infringement actions. She also has developed significant experience in consumer fraud litigation, with cases in Madison County, Illinois; Chicago, Illinois; and San Diego, California.
Ms. Marmor's employment law practice comprises counseling in all aspects of this discipline, including discrimination claims, wage and hour issues, employment contracts and non-compete and related matters. Ms. Marmor defends clients in state and federal investigations, and has tried employment contract, discrimination and ERISA claims to successful verdicts in both state and federal courts.
Ms. Marmor has represented clients in a variety of commercial disputes, including breach of contract claims, veil piercing and alter ego litigation, and theft of confidential and intellectual property allegations.
In addition, her practice includes entertainment and nightclub law - both at the contract formation stage as well as in litigation.
Prior to joining Schoeman, Updike & Kaufman, LLP, Ms. Marmor was a partner at Jenner & Block and an associate and partner at Kirkland & Ellis.
Ms. Marmor graduated, magna cum laude, in 1993 from Northwestern University School of Law, where she served as a Comment Editor of the Journal of International Law and Business and received the Order of the Coif. She received her B.A. in comparative literature, magna cum laude, from Princeton University in 1987.
Representative Engagements:
- First-chaired trials in Philadelphia and Denver for a significant private equity fund involving issues of fiduciary duty to creditors and claims of alter ego and fraud. Both trials resulted in defense verdicts for clients.
- Defended major international pharmaceutical company in age discrimination claim. Complete defense verdict after a one-week trial.
- Defended pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer against allegations that a defective medical device led to a patient’s death. Succeeded in obtaining a dismissal with prejudice of the claim on federal preemption grounds.
- Represent municipality and police officers in high profile § 1983 civil rights and Americans With Disabilities Act case.
- Prepared Robinson/Daubert defense in toxic mold case brought by Texas school district which resulted in favorable settlement for client.
- Member of national trial team for a major chemical company in breast implant litigation; prepared expert defenses in toxicology, epidemiology and company history.
- Member of national trial team for tobacco litigation in RICO and consumer fraud case brought by an asbestos trust. Work included preparation of offensive case concerning the history of asbestos litigation and settlements.
- Defended manufacturer of toilet bowl cleaners against consumer fraud class actions in California, Illinois and Florida alleging damage to rubber and plastic parts from product.
- Defended major national retailer in class action consumer fraud claim in Madison County, Illinois against claims of failure to install components with products.
Professional Activities:
EDUCATIONAL:
- Associate Director of two-year project: “Capitalism and the Importance of Trust,” sponsored by Yale University Law School and the Columbia University Center on Corporate Governance. Project participants and advisors included luminaries from the legal, accounting and investment banking professions, as well as academics in relevant disciplines from Yale University, Columbia University and Harvard University.
Service To The Bar:
- Board Member, Aids Legal Council of Chicago, 1998-2006
Recent Publications:
- Co-Editor, Product Liability Litigation Current Law, Strategies and Best Practices, Practising Law Institute (PLI), 2009.
- Co-Author, "Expert Evidence-Law, Strategies and Best Practices", Product Liability Litigation Current Law, Strategies and Best Practices, Practising Law Institute (PLI) 2009.
- Author, The Use of Toxicology in Tort Litigation: A Survey of Federal and State Jurisdictions, American Bar Association, May 2005.
