The September edition of Lawdragon’s Lawyer Limelights spotlights Wagstaff & Cartmell, a premier mass tort boutique that tackles the nation’s toughest cases with a personal, client-first approach.

We are proud to share that Ty Hudson has been named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers, marking his second consecutive year receiving this prestigious honor.

This annual list recognizes the top attorneys in the nation who specialize in representing plaintiffs in securities and other business litigation. Ty’s continued recognition reflects his exceptional advocacy, deep financial litigation expertise, and unwavering commitment to achieving results for our clients in high-stakes, complex disputes.

Ty joins six other Wagstaff & Cartmell attorneys recognized across various 2025 Lawdragon lists — a testament to the strength, depth, and excellence of our litigation team. These honors underscore the firm’s dedication to representing individuals, businesses, and institutional clients in some of the most challenging legal matters across the country.

We congratulate Ty and all our recognized colleagues for this well-deserved recognition and thank our clients and peers whose trust and support make this work possible.

Wagstaff & Cartmell is proud to announce that the firm and two of its attorneys have received prominent recognition in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA, one of the legal industry’s most respected and rigorous ranking guides.

This year marks a significant milestone for the firm, with two new firm-wide rankings and individual honors for attorneys Tom Cartmell and Sarah Steen Ruane across multiple categories.

Firm Rankings:
Band 1 – Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs (USA – Missouri)

Band 3 – Product Liability: Plaintiffs (USA)

These rankings highlight Wagstaff & Cartmell’s growing national reputation in complex litigation, particularly in plaintiff-side trial work and product liability matters.

Individual Rankings:
Tom Cartmell

Band 1 – Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs (USA – Missouri)

Band 2 – Product Liability: Plaintiffs (USA)

Sarah Steen Ruane

Band 1 – Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs (USA – Missouri)

Band 4 – Product Liability: Plaintiffs (USA)

Chambers and Partners evaluates law firms and attorneys based on in-depth research, peer feedback, and client interviews. These rankings reflect the firm’s unwavering commitment to excellence, strategic advocacy, and successful outcomes for clients nationwide.

“We’re honored by this recognition from Chambers USA,” said Managing Partner Marc Erickson. “It’s a testament to the hard work and talent of our team and the trust our clients place in us every day.”

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our clients and peers, and congratulations to Tom, Sarah, and the entire Wagstaff & Cartmell team for this well-earned recognition.

 

Wagstaff & Cartmell, LLP is proud to announce that partner Brandon Henry has been inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) as part of the 2024 class.  ABOTA dedicates itself to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment, which guarantees the right to civil jury trials. Membership in this prestigious, invitation-only organization is reserved for experienced trial lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional skill, integrity, and dedication to the practice of law.

In addition, Mr. Henry was also recently inducted into the International Society of Barristers (ISOB). The ISOB is an exclusive honor society of outstanding trial lawyers, with a membership that is highly selective and by nomination only. Members are recognized not only for their courtroom excellence but also for their commitment to the highest standards of ethics, collegiality, and professionalism.

These honors reflect Brandon’s commitment to excellence in trial advocacy and his ongoing contributions to the legal community.

The Court en Banc has announced the appointment of Tricia Campbell to serve a three-year term on the Federal Practice Committee for the Western District of Missouri. This prestigious appointment underscores Tricia’s commitment to excellence in the legal profession and their dedication to fostering collaboration between the judiciary and legal practitioners.

The Federal Practice Committee is comprised of thirteen distinguished members from across the Western District of Missouri. Serving as a vital liaison between the bar and the Court en Banc, the Committee plays an instrumental role in enhancing communication and mutual understanding between the judiciary and the legal community.

The Committee meets three to four times a year, with subcommittees convening more frequently as needed. Its responsibilities include reviewing proposed changes to local rules, providing recommendations, and spearheading special projects such as community outreach initiatives and education programs aimed at strengthening public engagement with the legal system.

 

The Eleventh Circuit upheld a $2.5 million judgment against Coloplast Corp., confirming that Virginia Redding’s claim regarding defective pelvic mesh was filed within the appropriate time frame. The court found that her 2009 symptoms were not sufficiently alarming to suggest the mesh was defective, unlike the significant symptoms she experienced in 2014, which justified her filing within Florida’s four-year statute of limitations.

The panel supported the jury’s decision that Redding reasonably believed her early post-surgery issues were normal complications, as her doctor didn’t indicate any serious concerns. It wasn’t until the more severe symptoms in 2014 that Redding was alerted to the potential defect in the mesh.

Redding’s lawsuit, filed in Florida federal court, accused Coloplast of gross negligence and other charges, claiming the defective mesh caused her medical problems. In 2022, the jury ruled in her favor, awarding her $2.5 million and rejecting Coloplast’s argument that the claim was time-barred. Coloplast’s appeal, which contended that the statute of limitations began in 2009 when Redding first noticed issues, was dismissed by the Eleventh Circuit. The panel also denied Coloplast’s request to escalate the matter to the Florida Supreme Court.

 

The gift from Wagstaff & Cartmell will provide free bar preparation to UMKC School of Law students

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Wagstaff & Cartmell Partner Vanessa Gross recently was interviewed for an article in Essence Magazine about cases currently filed against manufacturers of chemical hair relaxer products and their link to a variety of cancers.

Philips Respironics has consented to pay $1.1 billion to settle a slew of personal injury lawsuits and medical monitoring claims arising from a significant recall initiated in 2021. The recall pertained to CPAP, BiPAP, and mechanical ventilators equipped with a flawed sound abatement foam. This foam deteriorated over time, releasing harmful particles directly into the air pathways of the breathing machines.

The settlement was disclosed by Philips today, within an investor earnings report for the first quarter of 2024. Following a mediation with Judge Diane M. Welsh, both the manufacturer and the plaintiffs’ legal representatives reached an agreement to address claims alleging various injuries caused by the defective machines, including cancer, respiratory issues, and lung damage.

Since the initial announcement of the Philips CPAP recall in July 2021, tens of thousands of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have flooded in. These lawsuits encompass millions of devices sold over several decades, all of which contained a polyester-based polyurethane foam designed to mitigate noise and vibrations during nighttime use. However, due to the serious health risks posed by the CPAP foam, users were advised to cease usage unless required for life-sustaining treatment.

In September, Philips declared its intention to allocate at least $445 million in a CPAP recall class action settlement for individuals who purchased, rented, or leased one of the affected devices. Additionally, $34 million was earmarked for health insurance companies and other entities that reimbursed users for replacing the machines. Nonetheless, this settlement did not address individual injury claims from former users or class action claims seeking funding for future medical monitoring.

In the investor report, Royal Philips CEO Roy Jakobs unveiled that the total payouts for the Philips CPAP injury settlement would amount to $1.1 billion, with $40 million to be contributed by insurers and the remainder drawn from the company’s revenues, beginning in 2025. Further specifics of the agreement, such as the average settlement amounts for specific injuries, remain undisclosed, as do options for claimants to pursue further litigation against the company.

The announcement coincided with U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti’s final approval of an economic loss settlement agreement following a conference held on April 25. This new agreement seemingly resolves most, if not all, Philips CPAP lawsuits across the federal court system. However, the company has made it clear that it does not admit any fault or liability in these settlement agreements.

Previously, Jakobs had expressed his anticipation for the company to reach a global settlement for CPAP injury lawsuits within the year. Earlier this month, the company also consented to a decree prohibiting the sale of Philips CPAP devices in the U.S. until they can demonstrate compliance with FDA standards.

Final approval from Judge Conti is still pending for the personal injury and medical monitoring settlement agreement.

In a recent development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a significant recall concerning Abbott/Thoratec Corporation HeartMate left ventricle assist systems, following a series of reported issues that have raised serious concerns within the medical community. This recall comes in light of potential risks associated with the devices, which have been implicated in numerous adverse events, including fatalities.

As of April 15, 2024, the FDA has initiated a recall affecting over 13,500 HeartMate LVAS (Left Ventricle Assist Systems) units that have been distributed over the past decade. The primary concern revolves around the possibility of obstructions developing within the devices, hindering the normal flow of blood through the heart. Such obstructions pose a grave risk to patients, potentially resulting in severe injuries or even death.

The recall specifically targets both the HeartMate II and HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist Systems (LVAS). The FDA’s notification underscores that over time, a buildup of biological material within the devices, often occurring gradually over a span of two years or more, can impede their functionality, thereby compromising their ability to assist in blood circulation effectively.

Designed to aid in pumping blood from the left ventricle into the aorta, these HeartMate devices play a crucial role in facilitating blood flow throughout the body. They are intended for use in adult patients grappling with severe left ventricular heart failure, whether as a bridge to a heart transplant, during recovery from cardiac events, or as a permanent solution in cases where transplantation is not a viable option.

The FDA’s warning highlights the gravity of the situation, citing a concerning tally of 273 injury reports and at least 14 fatalities directly linked to HeartMate LVAS obstruction issues. This recall underscores the importance of swift action to address safety concerns and ensure the well-being of patients reliant on such medical devices.