Tom Cullen has been a partner at Goodell, DeVries, Leech & Dann, LLP in Baltimore, Maryland since 1993. His practice is focused in products liability and toxic tort defense. Mr. Cullen has represented clients in the pharmaceutical, chemical and industrial product industries for over 20 years. He has taken cases to verdict in over 15 states and represented clients as National Trial Counsel across the country.
Mr. Cullen has been named a Maryland Super Lawyer in 2007, 2008, and 2009 in the field of product liability and toxic tort defense. In 2008, Mr. Cullen received the Maryland Leadership in Law Award for his commitment to leadership and mentoring in the State of Maryland.
As part of the national trial counsel defense team for Bayer, Mr. Cullen represented Bayer in litigation involving hemophiliacs claiming exposure to HIV and the contraction of AIDS and hepatitis from the administration of blood factor concentrates. His responsibilities included the supervision of a team of associates, nurses and paralegals in the management and defense of over 150 individual actions pending in over 15 states as well as a multi-district litigation and a national class action. He also participated in the development of legal and medical defenses and trial strategy, and developed experts in the fields of hematology, virology, hepatology, infectious diseases and regulatory affairs. He continues to represent Bayer as trial counsel in PPA litigation and actions involving alleged injuries due to the use of prescription medicines in jurisdictions across the country.
As National Counsel for Vermont Talc., Mr. Cullen participated in the national defense of over 3500 product liability actions alleging lung injury from exposure to commercial talc in industrial settings. Mr. Cullen participated in the development and implementation of a coordinated defense strategy including the hiring and management of local counsel, creation of a document repository, the review, analysis and computerization of documentation, the coordination of discovery, and the development of medical defenses and experts. In addition, Mr. Cullen conducted hundreds of discovery depositions of plaintiffs, fact witnesses and expert witnesses, and prepared and participated in the trial of individual actions.
Mr. Cullen has participated in a number of comprehensive product liability audits, including the analysis of litigation involving exposure to silicates and chemicals, and an analysis of potential product liability claims against a new medical product to be introduced in the U.S. market. Mr. Cullen has also participated in the defense of actions alleging death and personal injury due to failure or fear of failure of mechanical heart valves.
Mr. Cullen has extensive experience in lead paint litigation, serving as Maryland trial counsel for insurers providing coverage to landlords and property management companies involved in litigation alleging permanent injury to children exposed to lead paint. Mr. Cullen, as lead trial counsel, has taken several cases to verdict in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
As National Trial Counsel for Crown Equipment Corporation, Mr. Cullen has tried actions in various states alleging injuring due to the defective condition of material handling equipment. Mr. Cullen has tried cases in numerous jurisdictions across the country for Crown, including MD, TX, TN, AR, MS, WV, NY and NJ.
Since 1987, he has represented clients in numerous product liability and toxic tort actions involving: elevators and escalators; mechanical equipment such as forklifts and oil fired heaters; wheels; construction equipment; vaccines; medical devices; prescription and over the counter medicines; and various chemical exposures.
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University of Memphis (B.A. 1984)
University of Memphis (J.D. with Honors, 1987)
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- IADC
- Defense Research Institute
- Maryland Association of Defense Trial Counsel
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Lecturer, Maryland Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Applications of Comment k to Section 402A, Restatement of Torts (2d)
Lecturer, Defense Research Institute, Trial Techniques Seminar, Evaluation and Defense of Actions from the Beginning
Lecturer, Network of Trial Law Firms, Litigation SuperCourse, Managing Experts
Lecturer, Mealey's Drug Litigation Conference, Trial Procedures
Lecturer, Network of Trial Law Firms, Litigation Management, Multi-District Litigation
Lecturer, Mealey's Lead Litigation Conference, Defending The Landlord
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