Summary

Ryan focuses much of his practice on complex litigation, especially mass tort actions and multi-district litigation involving pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Over the last several years, he was part of the national counsel team defending one of the world’s largest orthopedic manufacturers against more than 3,000 individual product liability lawsuits relating to hip implant devices. He has a particular interest in the area where legal and complex medical issues overlap, and has deposed more than 150 orthopedic surgeons in nearly every state in the country.

Additionally, a substantial portion of Ryan’s practice is presently devoted to product liability defense involving industrial machinery. He serves as national outside product liability counsel for a large manufacturer in investigations and litigation over economic losses and injury claims arising from fires, explosions, water damage, equipment failures, and product contamination. Ryan works regularly with mechanical and chemical engineers, certified fire investigators, metallurgists, and other specialized experts in evaluating root cause to provide clients with advice as early as possible so they can make cost-effective legal and business decisions based on solid scientific and engineering analysis. 

Ryan is presently defending clients in mass tort litigations relating to sports concussions and hernia mesh devices. He served as co-lead counsel for several pharmaceutical manufacturers in multi-district litigation in the Eastern District of Kentucky captioned In re Darvocet, Darvon and Propoxyphene Products Liability Litigation, and obtained dismissals of every case against the firm’s clients in the pre-discovery phase of the litigation.

Ryan’s personal injury and product liability practice spans state and federal courts in Ohio, Kentucky, and jurisdictions throughout the United States. He is experienced in all aspects of the litigation process, including pre-suit investigations, bench and jury trials, arbitrations, and mediations. Other representative matters include:

  • Defense of retailers and manufacturers in product liability claims.
  • Representation of both individuals and retailers in slip and fall and construction site accidents.
  • Defense of medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors.
  • Representation of both individuals and business entities in automobile, trucking and pedestrian accidents, many of which included death or permanent and catastrophic injuries. 

Ryan is also a trained mediator, having recently completed the intensive Mediating the Litigated Case program at the Straus Institute at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, one of the world’s leading academic and training centers for alternative dispute resolution.  

Ryan grew up in a small town in Northeastern Kentucky, and it was there that he learned that a lawyer’s professional reputation — with clients and adversaries alike — is their most important asset.  His practice is always guided by that fundamental principle.  He has been recognized by Best Lawyers of America for “Product Liability Litigation – Defendants” in 2021 and 2022. He was previously recognized as a “Top Local Plaintiff Litigation Star” in Ohio for Personal Injury and Product Liability in the first three editions of Benchmark Plaintiff, and was also named a 2016 Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation. Ryan is a 2012 graduate of the Leadership Northern Kentucky program. One of only 50 members, he was selected on the basis of demonstrated leadership ability, as well as evidence of community interest and commitments.

Ryan received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English, graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Kentucky, and his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he was a member of Order of the Coif. In law school, he served as a staff member of the Kentucky Law Journal and had the highest score in his class in trial advocacy. Ryan is admitted to practice in the State of Ohio, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky.

Awards

  • “Top Local Plaintiff Litigation Star” Honoree,  Benchmark Plaintiff

  • “Local Litigation Star” Honoree, Benchmark Litigation (2016)

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers of America (2021 – present)

All Service Areas

Education

  • University of Kentucky College of Law (2002)
  • University of Kentucky

Admissions

  • Federal - Eastern District of Kentucky
  • Federal - Southern District of Ohio
  • Federal - Western District of Kentucky
  • Federal - 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • State - Ohio
  • State - Kentucky

Professional Affiliations

  • Cincinnati Bar Association

    Member

  • Cincinnati Bar Foundation

    Member

  • Kentucky Bar Association

    Member

  • Leadership Northern Kentucky

    Member, Class of 2012

  • Ohio State Bar Association

    Member