Charmaine Harris
Senior Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Related services and key industries
Biography
Charmaine K. Harris's practice focuses on medical device, products liability defense and other complex litigation. She is a lead associate for a Fortune 500 Company defending its product liability and premises liability claims arising in state and federal courts nationwide. In that role, Charmaine conducts discovery depositions, represents the client at mediations and negotiates settlements. Additionally, Charmaine is also experienced in defending asbestos and employment-related disputes.
Prior to law school, Charmaine was a senior mechanical design engineer in Medtronic, Inc.'s Neuromodulation business unit. As a medical device engineer, she designed, tested and improved spinal cord stimulation devices. She is a named inventor on five patents for these devices. Her prior career as a medical device engineer gives her a sophisticated understanding of technologically complicated cases.
Professional experience
Collapse all- JD, William Mitchell College of Law, 2011
- BS, Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, 1998
- Minnesota State Bar
- Won a landmark victory for a multinational conglomerate corporation operating in industry, worker safety, US health care, and consumer goods in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) lawsuit, securing dismissal of one of the 10 largest MDLs in the country.
- Won a complete defense verdict for a global innovation manufacturing company in the first product liability multidistrict litigation MDL bellwether trial in Minnesota Federal District Court
- Collaborated with the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc., the Minnesota Historical Society, members of the Federal Bar, and other supporters, to successfully secure the posthumous pardon of Max Mason, who was wrongfully convicted of raping a white woman in 1920. The posthumous pardon was the first ever in Minnesota history, in commemoration of the 100-year anniversary of Mason's conviction and the brutal lynching of three Black circus workers in Duluth.
- Won summary judgment based on federal preemption for a medical device manufacturer in 44-case "mini MDL" in Minnesota state court where the plaintiffs alleged that ICD batteries failed prematurely.
- Won complete defense verdict in Minnesota Conciliation Court on behalf of multinational oil and gas corporation against Plaintiff who claimed that a brand of motor oil destroyed his vehicle's engine.
- Won summary judgment for one of the largest global producers of wet wipes and coffee filters, in Minnesota Federal District Court. In this putative nationwide class action, multiple municipalities alleged that flushable wipes were clogging their sewer systems.
- In this consolidated litigation in Cook County, Illinois state court over 40 plaintiffs allege that a can of aerosol cooking spray suddenly and without warning exploded causing personal injuries and property damage. The firm's defense of the largest global producer of cooking spray products is underway.
- In trial peparation for multidistrict litigation, worked with defense experts, including selection and preparation for deposition and trial testimony.
- Future Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2020, 2021
- Team of the Year Award, Bair Hugger™ MDL, Minnesota Lawyer Magazine, 2019
- Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2019
- Up & Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer Magazine, 2017