Ryan Duffy primarily defends product liability litigation in state and federal courts across the country on behalf of domestic and international manufacturers and distributors. He has successfully led the defense of several mass torts and has extensive experience coordinating litigation across multiple jurisdictions, as well as defending single-plaintiff cases involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals and consumer products. Ryan leads all phases of civil litigation and takes pride in his ability to understand the needs and goals of his clients at the outset of litigation to implement effective and efficient case strategies.

Areas of Focus

Product Liability, Life Sciences & Mass Torts
Ryan helps global corporate families in navigating high-profile product liability litigation involving a wide range of products. His cases often involve FDA-regulated products with intricate scientific and legal issues. Ryan is adept at analyzing the science at the center of his cases to convert complex principles into persuasive legal arguments and defenses. He serves as national litigation counsel for a global medical device manufacturer and has served as national coordinating counsel in several mass torts with highly successful outcomes. Ryan also represents a range of domestic and international product manufacturers and distributors in federal and state courts throughout the United States. Overall, Ryan’s unique experience with consolidated proceedings and federal multidistrict litigation enables him to effectively manage complex product liability litigation.

Ryan’s most recent case highlights include obtaining dismissals in 10 separate bellwether cases in consolidated medical device litigation, and obtaining the dismissal of a multi-plaintiff pharmaceutical product liability case based on federal preemption arguments under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Ryan also has obtained summary judgment in favor of his clients in several other cases involving FDA-regulated products. 

e-Discovery
As a core member of the firm’s e-Discovery Practice, Ryan counsels clients on crafting and implementing strategic e-Discovery measures prior to and during litigation, including individual cases and larger-scale mass torts. Ryan manages and directs all phases of electronic discovery efforts, oversees teams of attorneys during large-scale projects and litigates e-Discovery issues when necessary.

Appellate Litigation
Ryan is a seasoned appellate advocate who has successfully litigated appeals in numerous state and federal jurisdictions. Ryan conducts oral arguments before appellate panels and drafts compelling appellate briefs to position his clients for success in appellate litigation. Most recently, Ryan obtained favorable outcomes before several United States Courts of Appeals after obtaining summary judgments at the district court level.

Professional Liability & Commercial Litigation
In addition to product liability matters, Ryan has substantial experience handling professional liability litigation on behalf of a wide array of clients, including medical professionals, lawyers and other licensed professionals.

    Education

    • American University Washington College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2011)
      • The Administrative Law Review; The Order of the Coif; 2011 WCL Civil Trial Advocacy Award
    • University of Maryland, College Park (B.A., 2006)

    Bar Admissions

    • Maryland
    • District of Columbia

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
    • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
    • Court of Appeals of Maryland
    • District of Columbia Court of Appeals

    Professional Affiliations

    • District of Columbia Bar Association
    • Maryland State Bar Association
    • DRI:  The Voice of the Defense Bar

    Awards & Honors

    • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch™, 2024-2026
    • Selected for inclusion in Washington D.C. Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™, 2017−2024
    • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch in the area of Product Liability Law, 2021-2023

Ryan M. Duffy

Ryan Duffy primarily defends product liability litigation in state and federal courts across the country on behalf of domestic and international manufacturers and distributors. He has successfully led the defense of several mass torts and has extensive experience coordinating litigation across multiple jurisdictions, as well as defending single-plaintiff cases involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals and consumer products. Ryan leads all phases of civil litigation and takes pride in his ability to understand the needs and goals of his clients at the outset of litigation to implement effective and efficient case strategies.

Events

Ryan Duffy primarily defends product liability litigation in state and federal courts across the country on behalf of domestic and international manufacturers and distributors. He has successfully led the defense of several mass torts and has extensive experience coordinating litigation across multiple jurisdictions, as well as defending single-plaintiff cases involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals and consumer products. Ryan leads all phases of civil litigation and takes pride in his ability to understand the needs and goals of his clients at the outset of litigation to implement effective and efficient case strategies.

Ryan M. Duffy

Duffy and Warin Secure Appellate Victory for FINRA in per Curiam Decision

Washington, D.C. partners Ryan Duffy and Kathleen Warin secured an appellate victory on behalf of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after obtaining dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims in federal district court. The plaintiff brought a number of claims against FINRA, including defamation related to a prior arbitration held in FINRA’s arbitration forum. After years of motions practice in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the court granted FINRA’s motion to dismiss, found the plaintiff’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations and arbitral immunity, and denied the plaintiff’s requests for leave to further amend the complaint. The plaintiff appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where the Wilson Elser team obtained summary affirmance in a per curiam decision. The D.C. Circuit found that the district court properly concluded that the statute of limitations barred the claims at issue and that the plaintiff-appellant failed to plausibly allege any exceptions to avoid application of the statute of limitations. This led the D.C. Circuit to grant FINRA’s motion for summary affirmance.

Ryan M. Duffy and Kathleen H. Warin

Duffy, Warin, and Lefko Obtain Summary Judgment for FINRA

Washington, D.C. partners Ryan Duffy and Kathleen Warin and associate Nate Lefko obtained summary judgment in the District of Columbia Superior Court on behalf of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The plaintiff sought to expunge decades-old customer complaints from his registration records and requested wide-ranging equitable relief, including equitable expungement, declaratory judgment, and a permanent injunction. The Wilson Elser team successfully demonstrated that the doctrine of laches barred all the plaintiff’s claims. In granting summary judgment, the Superior Court found that the plaintiff delayed in bringing his claims and material evidence had been lost, which resulted in prejudice to FINRA.  

Ryan M. Duffy, Kathleen H. Warin and Nathan Lefko

Duffy and Warin Secure Precedent-Setting Decision on Appeal for FINRA

Washington, D.C. partners Ryan Duffy and Kathleen Warin obtained a precedent-setting decision in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on behalf of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The case involved the plaintiff’s attempt to remove information from her registration records, which are maintained by FINRA under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The plaintiff asserted claims for equitable expungement, declaratory judgment and a permanent injunction. The District of Columbia Superior Court dismissed the plaintiff’s claims based on collateral estoppel. On appeal, the parties engaged in several rounds of briefings after oral argument related to numerous complex issues raised by the plaintiff-appellant’s claims. Ultimately, the Court of Appeals found the Superior Court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction because the claims at issue arose under federal law and were within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal district courts. Importantly, the court also concluded that the plaintiff-appellant’s equitable claims alleged remedies rather than proper causes of action under District of Columbia law. As a result, the Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims in favor of FINRA. This hard-fought decision provides significant precedential guidance under District of Columbia law and will have a substantial impact on many other equitable expungement claims filed in the District of Columbia.

Kathleen H. Warin and Ryan M. Duffy

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