- Served as senior, in-firm coordinator for the firm's role as liaison counsel for the manufacturer of medical devices involved in multiple Federal Multi-District Litigations, which included coordinating and managing over 20,000 cases and assisting with preparations for consolidated trial.
- Participated on in-court trial team for automotive manufacturer, defending against allegations of a defective occupant restraint system and specifically, a defective airbag cover that plaintiff claimed caused third-degree burns to her face.
- Obtained a voluntary dismissal for an automobile manufacturer at the beginning stages of litigation where a traumatic brain injury was alleged in an airbag failure to deploy case. The dismissal was obtained shortly after the complaint was answered and before any discovery commenced.
- Obtained summary judgment for a pressure cooker manufacturer against allegations of severe burns as the result an alleged product defect.
- Successfully defended an automobile manufacture, resulting in a voluntary dismissal from plaintiff in a wrongful death failure to deploy airbag defect case where the passenger airbag deployed, but the driver airbag did not deploy in an unbelted, head on collision.
- Defended and obtained Court ordered dismissal of automobile manufacturer against allegations of a defective supplemental restraint system that plaintiff alleged resulted in a L-2 compression fracture.
- Vigorously defended and obtained successful settlement for commercial vehicle manufacturer in consolidated property damage subrogation fire action where it was claimed that seven-figures in property damages occurred as a result of an alleged defect in a tractor-trailer.
- Negotiated favorable settlement in a half million-dollar subrogation fire case related to allegations of alleged negligence in the servicing of a waste oil heater.
- Vigorously defended and obtained successful settlement for automobile manufacturer against allegations of defective seatbelt and airbags that resulted in a fractured T-12 injury.
- Represented commercial vehicle manufacturer in triple wrongful death action involving flammability and product defect allegations.
- Represented a national manufacturer of respiratory protection equipment in multiple products liability mass litigation cases.
- Represented clothing distributor and obtained favorable settlement in personal injury lawsuit involving allegations of flammability defect in a skirt that plaintiff alleged resulted in burns to over 60% of her body.
- Represented the manufacturer of chemicals before the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel on a third-party claim whereby all manufacturing defendants received voluntary dismissal of all claims against them. Represented the same manufacturer in corresponding class action in West Virginia state court, where the manufacturing defendants received summary judgment.
- Successfully defended engineering firm against allegations of professional negligence in personal injury and property damage claims involving dozens of plaintiffs.
- Obtained successful settlement for engineering firm for allegations related to surveyor's professional negligence in connection with boundary survey performed in conjunction with the sale and acquisition of commercial property.
- Represented distributor of garbage truck rear loaders in personal injury action.
- Represented a national retail home improvement store in multiple premises liability claims.
- Represented an automotive manufacturer in a personal injury case arising from an alleged defect in the acceleration/throttle cable.
- Represented a heating and air conditioning manufacturer in a wrongful death case arising from alleged defects in an industrial HVAC unit.
- Represented a transmission and transaxle manufacturer in a personal injury case involving brake and transaxle design in a lawn tractor.
- Represented a fabrication and construction company in personal injury litigation.
- Represented a rental car company in a personal injury lawsuit.
- Represented an automotive manufacturer in multiple property damage and subrogation claims relating to an allegedly defective speed control deactivation switch.
Overview
Elizabeth Taylor has over a decade of experience as a trial lawyer, focusing her work on the defense of drug and medical device manufacturers and automotive and industrial equipment manufacturers in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. Elizabeth has unique experience representing product manufacturers in large-scale litigation in West Virginia's state and federal courts. Elizabeth prides herself on her ability to listen to her client's goals and devise effective and efficient strategies to accomplish those goals and bring about favorable results — whether by obtaining voluntary dismissals; successfully resolving cases in the courtroom through vigorous discovery, case work- up, and motion practice; or at trial.
Beginning as a senior associate, Elizabeth was responsible for the local management of the defense of a medical device manufacturer in Federal Multi-District Litigation, which at the time was the largest active multidistrict litigation and one of the largest MDLs in history. Elizabeth served as a senior in-firm coordinator for her firm's role as liaison counsel, which required her to coordinate and manage over 20,000 cases in seven Federal MDLs. Throughout her career she has also managed and defended cases for the manufacturer of personal protective equipment in products liability mass litigation cases in West Virginia, appeared before the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel, and has experience in all phases of litigation, from pre-litigation assessments on through trials and appeal.
Elizabeth is a 2006 graduate of West Virginia University College of Law, where she was a member of the 2005 National Moot Court Team and she served as a Student Attorney in the Legal Clinic. Prior to law school, Elizabeth studied History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated in 2003.
Prior to joining Thomas Combs & Spann in 2020, Elizabeth was a Member of Flaherty Sensabaugh & Bonasso PLLC, where she worked from 2006 to 2019.
Representative Legal Experience
Publications
- The Scoop on the FDA's Updated Approach to the Dietary Supplement Market, IADC Drug, Device and Biotechnology Committee Newsletter May 2019
- Transvaginal Mesh Litigation - Creating a "New" Bellwether Process, Defense Research Institute Newsletter (2014)
- Impact of W.Va. Code_ 55-7-24 on Settlement and Litigation Strategies from the Defense Perspective, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia Fall 2007 Newsletter
Awards & Honors
- AV Preeminent® Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubble®
- Listed, West Virginia Rising Stars (2013 - Present)
- National Moot Court Team, West Virginia University College of Law
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award: Post Modern Jurisprudence, West Virginia University College of Law
- President, Democratic Law Caucus, West Virginia University College of Law
- President, West Virginia Fund for Law in the Public Interest, Inc., West Virginia University College of Law
- Dean's List, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bar Admissions
- West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
- United States District Court, Northern District of West Virginia
- United States District Court, Southern District of West Virginia Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
Professional Organizations
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) - WV State Membership Chair
- Kanawha County Bar Association - Asst. Treasurer, 2012 - 2015
- Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
- Defense Research Institute