Student Trial Lawyers Association SpeakerDaniel A. O'Fallon Biography Daniel O'Fallon grew up in Helena,Montana. He attended theUniversity of Montana for his undergraduatedegree and attendedthe University of Michigan Schoolof Law. Since 2002, Mr. O'Fallon has ledthe Robins, Kaplan, Miller, Ciresi,Law Firm’s representation of severalMinot, North Dakota families injureddue to exposure to anhydrousammonia released after the derailmentof a Canadian Pacific train.These cases are currently pendingin Hennepin County, Minnesota. In addition, Mr. O'Fallon, alongwith partners Gary Wilson andBruce Finzen heads the firm's representationof over 40 clients injuredby St. Jude Medical, Inc.'s Silzone [trademark] heart valves. St.Jude recalled the Silzone valves inJanuary of 2000 due to a reportedincrease in the number of heartvalve removals due to paravalvularleaks. The firm filed its first caseagainst St. Jude in Ramsey County, Minnesota and continues to handlecases before this court. Mr. O'Fallon and Mr. Finzen alsoheaded the representation of thefirm's many clients injured the "fenphen"diet drug combination. Mr.O’Fallon was also a part of the teamof lawyers handling the Sulzer hipimplant cases. Mr. O'Fallon continuesto evaluate and handle cases involvingthe failures of orthopedicmedical devices. Mr. O'Fallon also evaluates and handlescases involving claims of medicalnegligence against various medicalprofessionals, hospitals, nursinghomes or combination cases involvingmedical negligence and drugs ormedical devices. With KathleenFlynn Peterson, Mr. O'Fallon representedthe family of a young boyinjured when he fell out of thebleachers while attending a hockeygame. The young man died afterreceiving an overdose of a prescriptiondrug at a local hospital. Afterextensive discovery, the plaintiff prevailedon a motion to amend the complaintto assert punitive damages againstthe drug manufacturer. The case settledfor an undisclosed sum, which is believedto be the largest in the history ofMinnesota for the wrongful death of achild. In 2004, Mr. O'Fallon and WendyZeller represented a man who allegedthat negligent medical treatmentfor acute pancreatitis resultedin blindness and cognitive deficits.This case settled prior to trial for $1.15 million. He was also part of the team of lawyersthat represented the State ofMinnesota and Blue Cross/BlueShield of Minnesota against cigarettemanufacturers in the 1990’s. |
