Frank Bayuk

Frank Bayuk is a trial lawyer who focuses on — and has significant experience in — defending foreign and domestic companies in high-exposure product liability and mass tort lawsuits. He has experience in class action and multidistrict litigation as well as in individual tort actions in state and federal courts around the country.

He represents a diverse range of clients in the pharmaceutical, tobacco, automotive, nutritional/supplements, paint/lead pigment, commercial transportation, and energy industries.

Frank has an active tobacco trial practice and is recognized by Law360to be “one of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s go-to first-chairs.” He has represented Reynolds since 2005 in individual and mass action smoking and health lawsuits in various jurisdictions, including in Florida, California, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

Frank currently serves as discovery and trial counsel in numerous Engle progeny cases throughout Florida and has tried 18 cases for Reynolds, many ending in defense verdicts. In 2018, he tried the first punitive damages-only tobacco trial in Florida, resulting in a defense directed verdict after closing arguments.

Frank also has extensive experience defending pharmaceutical manufacturers, including GlaxoSmithKline and Purdue Pharma, in product liability lawsuits pending throughout the country. He has litigated individual and mass action cases involving various pharmaceutical products, including Paxil, Avandia, and OxyContin.

Frank has served as a faculty member for the Emory University School of Law Trial Techniques program, teaching trial tactics to Emory law students. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute.

EDUCATION:

• Florida State University (J.D. summa cum laude 2005; Order of the Coif);
• University of Florida (B.A. with honors 2001)

BAR ADMISSIONS:

• Georgia,
• Florida,
• U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia and Middle and Southern Districts of Florida

CLERKSHIPS : Extern to Hon. Ricky Polston, Florida First District Court of Appeal (Fall 2004)

EXPERIENCE:

• R.J. Reynolds wins complete defense verdict in Morales personal injury suit
• The following represents experience acquired prior to rejoining Jones Day.
  • Managed multijurisdiction Engle tobacco trial docket that comprised of dozens of personal injury/wrongful death lawsuits and conducted and coordinated discovery and trial preparation in the cases. Developed case strategy; took and defended depositions of plaintiffs, fact witnesses, and experts; and drafted and argued procedural, dispositive, and evidentiary motions.
  • Defended GlaxoSmithKline in nationwide litigation alleging link between company’s product and increased risk of suicidality in adult and pediatric patients and increased risk of certain congenital defects.
  • Served as a member of the trial team in Kilker v. GSK, the first “bellwether” trial in Philadelphia’s Mass Tort Program involving allegations of medication-induced congenital heart defects.
  • Defended Purdue Pharma in nationwide litigation alleging link between company’s product and addiction, dependence, and other health consequences.