Professionals

R. Lawrence Purdy 
Partner

Phone: 612.672.8361
Fax: 612.642.8361
email: larry.purdy@maslon.com

Larry Purdy is a litigation partner in Maslon's Product Liability and Mass Tort Litigation group specializing in the defense of major medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers in complex, nation-wide product litigation.  Larry has represented clients in product liability claims and lawsuits venued in virtually every state as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  A significant portion of his practice deals with the issues of federal preemption and regulatory control over claims involving FDA-approved medical devices.  He has tried a variety of cases in jurisdictions around the country involving both medical and non-medical products.

Larry also served as pro bono trial counsel for the plaintiffs in two landmark United States Supreme Court cases involving race-conscious admissions policies at the University of Michigan.  As a consequence of  his involvement in the Michigan cases, he has frequently been invited to discuss the role of race in college and university admissions.  His campus appearances included invited presentations at the Universities of Texas, Michigan, and Colorado, as well as appearances at the law schools at Arizona State University, the University of Minnesota, William Mitchell College of Law, Hamline University, St. Thomas University, Valparaiso University and Northwestern University.  In addition, Larry has addressed numerous local, state and federal bar associations on the topic of race.

Areas of Practice
  • Litigation
  • Tort & Product Liability
  • Products Liability
  • Mass Torts, MDL and Class Actions
  • Explosions and Fires
  • Drugs and Medical Devices
  • Punitive Damages
  • Federal Preemption
Education
  • William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota, 1977, J.D.
  • United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, 1968, B.S.
Larry Purdy Experience
  • Served as Minnesota counsel for the Council for Tobacco Research, U.S.A. in State of Minnesota v. Philip Morris, et.al.
  • Served as counsel for product manufacturers throughout the United States in which settlements in major product liability cases have been reached.
  • Served as an arbitrator in binding arbitration matters.
Larry Purdy cases Cases & Transactions
  • Gratz v. Bollinger, 123 S. Ct. 2411 (2003)
  • Grutter v. Bollinger, 123 S. Ct. 2325 (2003)
  • Texas City Refining, Inc. v. Graver Tank & Mfg, 822 S.W.2d 252 (Texas 1991)
  • Goldkist, Inc. v. Texas Utilities Electric Co. (fka Texas Power & Light), et al., 830 S.W.2d 91 (Texas 1992).
  • Neville Bros. v. Cook Paint & Varnish, Inc., 671 F.2d 1107 (8th Cir. 1982)

Extended Bio

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