Related Information
Education
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Vanderbilt University Law School
J.D. 1990
Vanderbilt Bar Association, Vice President; Public Interest Fund Award recipient
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Tulane University
B.A., cum laude, 1985
American Studies with concentration in Political Science
American University, Public Administration, Washington semester program, Spring 1984
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Miami University
B.A. 1981-82
Dean's List
Admissions
Kentucky
Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
Service Areas
- Toxic Tort & Environmental Defense
- Business Litigation
- Commercial Disputes - Contracts and Business Torts
- Complex / Large Litigation
- Civil Litigation
- Multi-State, Multi-District and Serial Litigation
- Antitrust and Consumer Protection Litigation
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability (Non-Medical Professionals)
- Torts & Insurance Practice
- Class Action, Mass Action & Multi-District Litigation
- Clinical Research, Clinical Trials and Products Liability Counsel
- Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Device Liability Defense
Industry Experience
- Insurance Carriers/Brokers/Agents
- Pharmaceutical / Medical Devices
- Chemical & Allied Products / Plastics
- Automotive & Manufacturing Facilities
Memberships
- American Bar Association, Section of Litigation (Products Liability and Mass Torts Committees)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI), Drug and Device Subcommittee
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- National Association of Women Lawyers
- Women Lawyer's Association of Jefferson County
- Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI), Former Board Member and Corresponding Secretary; Former Chair of WILPOWER, the WBAI Political Action Committee
Community Involvement
- Stage One Family Theatre, Vice-Chair of Board of Directors
- St. Matthews Fire Protection District, Board of Trustees
- Emerge Kentucky Graduate, Class of 2011
Sarah Grider Cronan has an active civil litigation practice, with expertise in products liability, insurance coverage, bad faith, toxic tort, environmental and commercial matters. She regularly defends complex cases through trial in state and federal courts around the country and has experience in class and mass actions as well as multi-district litigation. Sarah served as supervising counsel for the defense of the unintended sudden acceleration class actions in Tennessee. She also coordinated the defense of medical device litigation nationwide for a Fortune 500 company as its national counsel.
Recent Assignments
- Counsel manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, oil and gas, chemicals, coal and energy, appliances, automobiles, industrial equipment and other consumer products in product liability, toxic tort and employment matters and provide risk management advice.
- Obtained summary judgment for oil company in wrongful death case alleging benzene exposure.
- Resolved professional liability claim at pre-suit mediation for 25% of the demand.
- Defense counsel for America’s largest drug store chain in a complex commercial dispute involving prescription drug plans.
Recent Presentations and Articles
- Co-chair, American Bar Association Environmental, Mass Torts and Products Liability Litigation Committees' Joint CLE Seminar, January 2012
- "Food Law Update," Co-presenter, Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Thirsty Thursday: FDA Safety Modernization Act, May 26, 2011
- Presenter, "Demystifying the MDL Process," ABA Chemical Products and Mass Torts Regional CLE, October 8, 2010
- "Reaching Resolution: Utilizing Multi-District Litigation Beyond Pretrial Proceedings," co-author with Brittany Cross, October 2010
- "Determining Trial Structure for Complex Litigation," Co-author with Holly N. Lankster, ABA Products Liability Newsletter, Spring 2009
- Co-author of Kentucky and Georgia chapters, Federal Jurisdiction Based Upon Removal, ABA Practice Essentials Book ©2008
- Moderator, "David vs. Goliath: Jurors' Perceptions of Trial Lawyers and Their Clients," Mass, Class or Pass—Making Strategic Decisions in the Big Chemical Case, ABA Regional CLE, Wilmington, Del., Sept. 18, 2008 (Program Co-Chair)
- Presenter, Rule 30(b)(6) Depositions: Strategies for Deposing and Defending the Corporation, ABA Environmental Mass Tort and Product Liability Joint CLE Seminar, Snowmass, Colo., January 10, 2008
- Moderator, "Investigative Ethics 2007: What, Where, How, When and Who Should Investigate Personal Injury Claims," American Bar Association 2007 Pharmaceutical Regional CLE Workshop, Nutley, N.J., November 14, 2007
- Co-author, "Should I Google the Jury? And Other Ethical Considerations for the Modern Trial Lawyer," American Bar Association website and podcast, Summer 2007
- Moderator, "Ethical Considerations for Trial Lawyers," Women in Products Liability, ABA Regional CLE, Las Vegas, NV, September 14, 2006
- Moderator, "Women in the Courtroom—Bringing a Product to Life for the Jury through Demonstrative Exhibits," Women in Products Liability, ABA Regional CLE, Atlanta, Ga., November 6, 2003
- Moderator, "Winning Litigation Strategies in the Age of the Vanishing Trial," Women in Products Liability, ABA Regional CLE, New York, N.Y., November 9, 2004
Before Stites & Harbison
Sarah was formerly with the Chicago law firms of Cassiday, Schade & Gloor (1998 to 2002), Burditt & Radizus, Chtd (1995 to 1998) and Peterson & Ross (1990 to 1995).
Besides Stites & Harbison
In her free time, Sarah enjoys traveling, golfing, cooking and spending time with her family.