Ruth Dapper

Associate
San Diego
About

Ruth Dapper dedicates her practice to representing life sciences companies, including in complex civil litigation and compliance matters. Her litigation practice includes defense of product liability lawsuits (multidistrict and coordinated proceedings), class actions, and commercial disputes in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Ruth counsels clients on emerging regulatory and compliance issues, including on topics such as manufacturing, promotion, physician interactions, and risk management.

Ruth has published in the Federal Courts Law Review, Notre Dame Law Review Reflection, the Federal Lawyer, and the Bencher. Federal courts around the United States have cited Ruth's publications in their orders.

Ruth began her legal career with clerkships in federal trial and state appellate courts.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and InvestigationsLife SciencesRegulatory and Government AffairsClass ActionsHealthcare Enforcement and Compliance
Bar admissionsCaliforniaMinnesota
CourtsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States District Court for the Central District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Southern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the District of Minnesota

Experience

Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Experience 
  • Defended leading life sciences company in federal and California Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings lawsuits arising out of a permanent medical device, including on development of regulatory experts, medical experts, and strategic resolution of tens of thousands of claims
  • Defended global pharmaceutical company against litigation involving thousands of claims and medical monitoring and consumer fraud class actions
  • Defended global pharmaceutical manufacturer in licensing dispute relating to use of cell line, including international depositions
  • Defended pharmaceutical company in consumer class action litigation relating to over-the-counter product
Other Complex Litigation Experience 
  • Obtained summary judgment for a national technology company in a putative class action asserting federal and state claims in federal court
  • Defeated class certification in lawsuit alleging state and federal claims against government contractor in federal court
  • Represented national transportation company in defeating class certification in a putative state-wide class action
  • Represented national retailer in obtaining summary judgment in a putative state-wide class action in state court
  • Obtained summary judgment in arbitration, dismissing all claims against multiple education institutions
 

Awards

  • Ruth was selected to the SuperLawyers list of Rising Stars in 2019-2025
Education
  • J.D., University of St. Thomas, 2012
    magna cum laude
  • B.A., University of Minnesota, 2009
    with High Distinction

Seminars

  • "Presenting and Challenging Expert Witness Testimony at Trial," 2016
  • "Legal Issues Regarding the 'Internet of Things,'" 2016
  • "Perspectives on Disabilities, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota In-Court Seminar," 2014

Prior Experience

Before joining DLA Piper, Ruth worked at another global law firm, litigating class actions and representative (Private Attorneys General Act) lawsuits. 

Judicial Clerkships

  • Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia, United States District Court, Southern District of California
  • Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Jeanne J. Graham, United States District Court, District of Minnesota
  • Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Wilhelmina Wright and John P. Smith, Minnesota Court of Appeals

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Federal Bar Association
  • California Lawyers Association
  • Athena San Diego
  • Associate, Barrister, Louis M. Welsh American Inn of Court, (2015-2018)
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Connect

Phone

+1 619 699 2752
(Work, San Diego)