David Thorne

David B. Thorne  serves as national and trial counsel to manufacturers in recurring product liability and personal injury litigation. He defends Fortune 500 companies in both state and federal court in cases involving complex scientific and medical claims, including, toxic tort, diacetyl, asbestos products, cigarette products, medical devices, premises liability and other types of product liability claims.

David has represented cigarette manufacturers in cigarette and asbestos litigation throughout the country, trying several cases to verdict. He has also advised clients on asbestos abatement issues, premises liability claims and claims by independent contractors and employees.

David also represents clients facing personal injury claims as a result of mold exposures, both in class actions and individual lawsuits. He has written an article on mold litigation and coordinates the practice group at Shook counseling clients on mold remediation, litigation and indoor air quality.

David was also lead counsel for a defendant in one of the bellwether cases involving consumer exposure to diacetyl, representing the employer of an individual alleging exposure from a product sold by the company.

David has served as trial counsel representing Philip Morris USA in a series of smoking-and-health cases known as Engle-progeny litigationfiled throughout the state of Florida.

He has coordinated defense strategy and tried cases in a number of venues in Florida, including Jacksonville, Miami and Palm Beach.

In one recent case in which David served as trial counsel, the jury returned a defense verdict in less than one hour finding that the plaintiff was not a member of the Engle class.

Education:

• J.D., with distinction, University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law, 1993
• B.S., cum laude, Texas Christian University, 1989

Bar Admissions:

• Florida
• Kansas
• Missouri
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, District of Kansas

Memberships:

• Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
• Kansas Bar Association
• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
• The Missouri Bar

Clerkships:

• The Hon. Elwood Thomas, Missouri Supreme Court