HOME> ATTORNEY BIOGRAPHIES> JAN E. SIMONSEN
Practice Areas:
Toxic and Mass Torts
Products Liability
Complex General Liability
Professional Liability
Commercial Litigation
Bar and Court Admissions:
Virginia 1988
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia 1988
District of Columbia 1989
United States District Court for the District of Columbia 1989
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 2003
United States District Court for the District of Maryland 2008
Education:
Northeastern University
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Date: 1984
Vermont Law School
Degree: Juris Doctor
Date: 1988
Professional and Civic Organizations:
Bar Association
of the District of Columbia (Member, Litigation Section)
The Virginia Bar Association
The Fairfax Bar Association
The Counsellors (Officer)
The Barristers
DC Defense Lawyers (President, 2001-2002)
The Women’s Bar Association
Defense Research Institute
The American Bar Association
Personal Statement:
Jan E. Simonsen is a Director and Officer of the Firm. She litigates matters involving complex liability claims, retail litigation, mass tort litigation, professional liability, product liability and commercial litigation. Jan represents several large retailers as well as other large business entities including home builders and manufacturers. Jan was named one of Washington DC's Best Lawyers in Personal Injury Litigation for 2010 by Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. She has received an AV (highest) rating from Martindale Hubbell Law Directory.
Jan has been lead counsel in numerous jury and non-jury trials, as well as in arbitrations. Many of these have resulted in reported appellate decisions -several setting important legal precedents, including Dale Hogue v. Donald Hopper, 728 A.2d 611; Patricia Blackwell v. CVS of DC & VA, Inc. (DC) decided in October 2000; Evelyn Everette v. CVS of DC & VA, Inc., (VA); Marvin Valasquez v. Essex Condominium Association, et al. (DC) 759 A.2d 676 (2000); Rochelle Jaffe v. Pallotta Teamworks, et al., 362 U.S. App. DC 398, 374 F.3d 1223.
Jan is actively involved in the National Retail Federation and is a regular speaker at their annual loss prevention convention. She is also actively involved in The National Council of Chain Restaurants. She represents several large retailers in litigation matters, as well as in risk management issues on a national level. Moreover, Jan represents several clients in mass tort litigation in state court, Federal court and the MDL. She has been involved in many product liability cases involving large machinery including cement mixers, boilers, conveyer belts, yachts and cranes and has handled a multi-claim case involving tainted food from a large gourmet retailer in the Metropolitan Washington Area.
Jan is an active member of the DC Defense Lawyers and has served as its president (2001-2002) and served for several years on its Board of Directors. Jan is also a certified court mediator in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and has mediated dozens of cases successfully. She is a participating member of Defense Research Institute (DRI) and has participated actively in the D.C. Bar Association both in its Litigation Section as the Chair of the Steering Committee from 1993-1995 (an elected position) as well as presenting on numerous topics on behalf of local bar associations both in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
