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Biography

Carolyn focuses her practice on complex litigation, representing corporate clients in a wide range of products and premises liability, personal injury, commercial disputes, and intellectual property matters. She has significant experience defending clients in all phases of civil litigation in both state and federal courts, including complex and multidistrict proceedings.

Carolyn regularly represents clients in matters involving catastrophic personal injury, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, healthcare, automotive and transportation, industrial equipment, cosmetic products. Her litigation experience includes defending against claims for wrongful death, negligence, breach of warranty, failure to warn, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, and alleged consumer protection violations. She is known for her strategic, detail‑oriented approach and her ability to manage high‑exposure cases through discovery, motion practice, and trial preparation

Other Info About Carolyn

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Served as national strategic counsel for pharmaceutical company in major MDL litigation.

Served as national coordinating counsel for defendant in cosmetic talc litigation.

Served as counsel for medical device manufacturer in personal injury matters relating to product liability claims.

Served as counsel for medical device manufacturer in intellectual property litigation alleging breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Served as counsel for commercial vehicle manufacturer in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases.

Served as counsel for consumer product manufacturer in consolidated personal injury litigation relating to a recall.

Education

Law School

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, J.D., 2012

Undergraduate School

Duke University, B.A., History, 2006

Bar Memberships

Carolyn is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Indiana

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Courts

Carolyn is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

United States Court of Appeals – Seventh Circuit

United States District Court – Northern District of Indiana

United States District Court – Southern District of Indiana

United States District Court – District of Massachusetts

United States District Court – District of Rhode Island

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

Award Selection Methodology

Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2022, 2024

Richard E. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series, Class of 2023

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Defense Research Institute

International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC):
IADC Drug, Device, and Biotechnology Committee – Vice Chair of Engagement and Retention
IADC Product Liability Steering Committee – Vice Chair of Engagement and Retention
IADC 2026 Product Liability Roundtable Steering Committee
IADC 2024 Annual Meeting CLE Steering Committee
IADC Trial Academy

Presentations

Carolyn was invited to speak at the following events:

Speaker, DTCI 31st Annual Conference & Meeting of the Membership | Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso, November 22, 2024.

Featured Guest, IADC Speaks Podcast: “Two Generations, One Profession, One IADC: Carolyn and Randy Riggs”, October 30, 2024.

Speaker, AHPA Webinar | New Technology: Opportunities and Challenges in the Dietary Supplement Industry, April 9, 2024.

Speaker, “In the Spotlight: Managing Multidistrict Litigation,” DRI’s Young Lawyers Seminar, Nashville, TN, June 26, 2019.

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