Education

  • University of Central Florida (B.A., 1994, summa cum laude)
  • The American University Washington College of Law (J.D., 1997, summa cum laude)

Admissions

  • District of Columbia and Florida
  • United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Sixth, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuits
  • United States District Courts for the District of Columbia, and the Middle, Northern, and Southern Districts of Florida

Opinions

Heather A. Pigman has broad experience in the defense of complex civil litigation, including class actions, consolidated proceedings, and high value/high profile litigation involving toxic tort, pharmaceutical, tobacco, medical device, RICO, personal injury, and consumer protection cases.  As a part of her practice, she has successfully led litigation and appellate teams opposing class certification or the other consolidated treatment of claims.  She has authored a number of publications addressing various class certification and serial or mass action litigation issues.

In addition to her defense of consolidated claims, Ms. Pigman has substantial experience defending clients in other complex litigation.  She has developed litigation strategies for serial or complex cases nationwide from pre-trial proceedings through trial and appeal. Her experience includes the successful resolution of personal injury claims involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other consumer products at all stages of the process. She has worked on every aspect of trial preparation, argued significant dispositive motions, taken expert and fact depositions, drafted Daubert and other motions, and participated in defending clients at trial.

Ms. Pigman also has substantial experience presenting, defending, and preparing expert witnesses in highly specialized fields, including multiple scientific disciplines, product marketing, and damages.  She routinely works with cross-disciplinary teams to formulate and coordinate medical and scientific defenses for large scale litigation matters.  As a part of her medical and scientific endeavors, Ms. Pigman also regularly reviews various medical and scientific journals to identify potential litigation issues of interest to Firm clients.

Ms. Pigman is is named in the 2023 Washington, DC edition of Super Lawyers for Personal Injury-Products, Defense.  She is a member of the University of Central Florida Foundation’s Board of Directors. The UCF Foundation is a nonprofit organization that focuses on philanthropic efforts to support UCF and its students.

Publications

  • How young women lawyers can build their skills to make them essential to the success of their colleagues and clients.
  • The Road to Denial: An Analysis of the Trends and Bases for Denial of Multidistrict Litigation Requests
  • High Court's Cert Denial Foments Greater Confusion Over Removal of Mass Actions Under Federal Law
  • Unsettling the Settled: Is There A Re-emerging Debate Regarding the Role of Choice-Of-Law In Class Certification Proceedings?
  • Recent Class Certification Decisions Present New Opportunities And Challenges For Defendants
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