J. Carter Thompson Jr. is chair of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC's product liability and mass tort group and co-chair of the firm's drug, device and life sciences team. He primarily defends drug and medical device cases. He is national product liability counsel for an international health care manufacturer. He serves as lead counsel for the distributor of anesthesia medication in over 200 cases in Nevada and recently served as lead counsel for the manufacturer of a hemodialysis product withdrawn from the market.
A frequent lecturer and author on issues important to the drug and device industry, Thompson is a member of the Product Liability Advisory Council and the Steering Committee of DRI's Drug & Device Committee.
Q: What is the most challenging case you've worked on, and why?
A: In 2001-2002, I served as lead counsel for the manufacturer of a dialysis product withdrawn from the worldwide market. The product was alleged to have caused or contributed to the deaths of patients in Europe, Asia and North America. As a result, we had to deal with multiple regulatory bodies and the laws of numerous jurisdictions. My client’s preliminary investigation revealed that its product was likely associated with some deaths, and the client’s CEO held a news conference and pledged to make things right. With the client’s support, my team was able to successfully resolve more than 125 suits/claims worldwide in less than two years.
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