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People: Justin K. Beyer, Partner

Photo of Justin K. Beyer, Partner

Justin K. Beyer

Partner

Chicago
Direct: (312) 460-5957
Fax: (312) 460-7957
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Biography

Mr. Beyer is a partner in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP and a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group.  Mr. Beyer focuses his practice in the areas of product liability, complex commercial litigation, and trade secrets, including seeking and defending against injunctive relief based on claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and breaches of non-competition agreements.

Mr. Beyer has represented plaintiffs and defendants in the agricultural, banking, construction, food processing equipment manufacturing, general manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceutical, real estate development, and transportation industries.  Mr. Beyer also has substantial experience defending manufacturers in cases involving asbestos.

Mr. Beyer has represented clients before state and federal courts throughout the United States, including California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Mr. Beyer is a partner in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP and a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group.  Mr. Beyer focuses his practice in the areas of product liability, complex commercial litigation, and trade secrets, including seeking and defending against injunctive relief based on claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and breaches of non-competition agreements.

Mr. Beyer has represented plaintiffs and defendants in the agricultural, banking, construction, food processing equipment manufacturing, general manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceutical, real estate development, and transportation industries.  Mr. Beyer also has substantial experience defending manufacturers in cases involving asbestos.

Mr. Beyer has represented clients before state and federal courts throughout the United States, including California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Education

  • J.D., University of Illinois College of Law (2004)
    National Moot Court Team, Rickert Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy
  • B.A., Beloit College (2001)
    magna cum laude
    Phi Beta Kappa, Departmental Honors

Admissions

  • Illinois

Courts

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Member of Trial Bar)

Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
    Member, Tort Law Committee
  • Illinois State  Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association

Representative Engagements

  • Advance Brands LLC v. Alkar-RapidPak, Inc. (Northern District of Iowa (2011)).  Trial counsel for Alkar, an industrial oven manufacturer, in product liability action where Plaintiff food manufacturer claimed that a product defect within the oven caused a fire and explosion, resulting in $8.3 million of property damage.  Following a two-week jury trial, Alkar won a complete defense verdict after an hour of jury deliberation.
  • Quinta Essential Foods, LLC v. Pitco Frialator, Inc., et al. (Sup. Ct. New Castle, Delaware (2011)).  Obtained summary judgment for defendant Pitco on two separate complaints in product liability actions, where plaintiff alleged that defects in Pitco’s fryers caused fires in two different fryers on two separate occasions.
  • Magellan Behavioral Health, Inc. v. Washuta (District of Maryland (2010)).  Successfully defended against entry of TRO based on plaintiff’s allegations that defendant violated non-competition agreement.  Shortly after court’s ruling, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed its case.
  • Cigna Corporation v. United Healthcare Services, Inc., et al. (District of New Jersey (2010)).  Successfully defended against entry of TRO based on plaintiff’s allegations that defendant employee violated non-competition agreement and that United Healthcare tortiously interfered with Cigna’s contracts.  Shortly after the court’s ruling, the parties settled their dispute.
  • Belvedere v. G.S. Blodgett Corporation, et al. (Sup. Ct. Los Angeles, California (2009)).  Obtained summary judgment on wrongful death complaint, where plaintiff alleged that product defect in Blodgett’s ovens caused plaintiff’s decedent to contract mesothelioma.  Successfully argued that executrix’s claim was time barred.
  • Donlen Corporation v. Wheels, Inc. (Cir. Ct. Cook County, Illinois (2009)).  Successfully defended against entry of TRO in consumer fraud matter where plaintiff claimed that Wheels had used confidential information to bid against plaintiff in the automobile fleet management industry.  Shortly after the Court denied the plaintiff’s motion for TRO, the parties settled the dispute through a walk-away agreement.
  • Pitney Bowes, Inc. v. Lustig (District of New Hampshire (2009)).  Successfully obtained TRO, prohibiting former employee from unfairly competing and violating the terms of non-competition agreement.  Following entry of the TRO, the parties settled the dispute, resulting in terms more favorable for Pitney Bowes than the original non-compete agreement.
  • Fullman v. Middleby Marshall, Inc., et al. (Cir. Ct. Cook County, Illinois (2009)).  Obtained summary judgment on wrongful death complaint, where plaintiff alleged that product defect in Middleby’s ovens caused plaintiff’s decedent to contract mesothelioma.  Successfully argued that plaintiff failed to satisfy its causation burden and plaintiff’s claims were barred by Middleby’s successor liability defense.
  • Kaminski v. Middleby Marshall, Inc., et al. (Cir. Ct. Brown County, Wisconsin (2008)).  On eve of summary judgment arguments, after Middleby’s motion for summary judgment was fully briefed, plaintiff voluntarily dismissed Middleby with prejudice from wrongful death case, where plaintiff alleged that defect in Middleby’s ovens caused plaintiff’s decedent to contract mesothelioma. 
  • Clemmons v. Precious Moments Company, Inc. (Middle District of Tennessee (2008)).  Obtained complete defense verdict following week-long jury trial, in case where plaintiff sought to stop launch of Precious Moments’ new product line based on Precious Moments’ alleged copyright infringement.

Presentations

  • “Tort & Insurance Law Updates,” 2013 Spring Symposium (March 15, 2013)

Publications

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