Joanna E. Herman is an associate in the Litigation Department of the San Diego office of Morrison & Foerster LLP. She has experience with product liability litigation, pharmaceutical litigation, aviation litigation, and general commercial litigation matters. Ms. Herman has argued dispositive motions in state and federal court, and attended numerous hearings. She has also taken numerous depositions. Ms. Herman advises several clients regarding product liability issues including warning labeling requirements, the current status of California’s product liability laws, and defenses in anticipation of issues raised in litigation.

In 2007, Ms. Herman was nominated as a “Top Young Attorney” in the San Diego Daily Transcript.

Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster LLP, Ms. Herman was an associate in the San Diego office of Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP where she was a summer associate in 2002. Ms. Herman was also a summer associate for Coughlan, Semmer & Lipman LLP in 2001. Ms. Herman spent a year working as an Assistant to the Executive Director & Development Associate at the New York State Trial Lawyer’s Association, Inc. (1998-1999) in New York, and a year working at LASPAU: Academic & Professional Programs for the Americas (2000) in Cambridge, Massachusetts prior to entering law school.

Ms. Herman’s representative cases include:

• Greek Litigation: Ms. Herman is currently working on a product liability/aviation case arising out of a fatal CH-47D Chinook helicopter crash in Greece. Ms. Herman is working with expert witnesses to prepare pre-trial motions and reports, drafting dispositive pre-trial motions, and helping to develop defense theories.
• Afghan Chinook Litigation: Representation of Honeywell International, Inc. in a case arising out of a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.
• Pharmaceutical Litigation: Ms. Herman is currently representing a major pharmaceutical company, defending the company against various product liability claims filed across the United States.
• General Aviation Cases: Representation of airlines in personal injury suits. Ms. Herman has handled all procedural aspects of the case from depositions, court appearances, and preparation for trial until eventual settlement.
• Commercial Litigation: Ms. Herman is currently representing a large corporation in a real estate dispute. Ms. Herman is coordinating procedural aspects of the case, preparing discovery, and drafting and arguing dispositive motions.
• In a pro bono action, Ms. Herman represents 62 individuals alleging breach of contract, fraud, and violation of unfair business practices act as result of wedding photography scam.
• Representation of company in case alleging consumer fraud and violation of section 17200 and the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act.

Ms. Herman’s representative publications include:

• Herman, Joanna and Lee, Jae Hong. “The Political Question Doctrine: A Potential Weapon for Military Contractors,” Skywritings, Spring 2008.

Ms. Herman received her B.A. degree from Columbia College, Columbia University (magna cum laude, 1998) and her J.D. from Harvard Law School (2003). During law school she was part of the Hale and Dorr Legal Services Center at Harvard Law School. Ms. Herman is a member of International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA) and was formerly a member of the Wallace Inn of Court. She is admitted to practice in the state of California, and the Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California.