Professionals

Samantha Lerner

Partner

Co-Chair, Complex Commercial Litigation Practice

Overview
Experience
Credentials
Insights & News

Co-chair of Winston’s Complex Commercial Litigation Practice, Samantha is a trial lawyer who concentrates her practice on complex commercial and patent litigation. Her lengthy service as chair of the Chicago office chapter of Winston’s Women’s Leadership Initiative and appointment to Chair of the firmwide Hiring Committee demonstrate her commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal community.

Key Matters

Highlights of Samantha's experience include the following:

Complex Commercial Litigation

Currently representing a multinational food processing and commodities trading company in a suite of class action lawsuits in Illinois federal court alleging that the company’s trading in ethanol and ethanol futures violated the Commodity Exchange Act and Sherman Act, in addition to several state-law claims.
Currently representing a multinational food processing and commodities trading company in class action lawsuits in Illinois state court alleging claims of trespass and nuisance in relation to the company’s use of groundwater and carbon sequestration.
Currently representing a global insurance provider in a first-of-its-kind case challenging Illinois’ Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA). On behalf of the putative class, plaintiff sought millions of dollars in statutory damages on the grounds that our client had unlawfully considered family medical information in connection with life insurance applications. Winston moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing that the provision of GIPA does not apply to life insurance, and the court agreed, dismissing plaintiff’s claims with prejudice.
Successfully represented a global insurance providerin a putative class action filed in Ohio state court alleging it had wrongly refused to pay amounts owed under property insurance contracts. After successfully removing the complaint to Ohio federal court, we reached a favorable settlement below the potential cost of defense.
Obtained a jury trial victory on behalf of an innovator in long term care pharmacy technology in a billion-dollar bet-the-company case. Following a month-long trial, a jury in the Eastern District of Texas rendered its verdict in less than a day, finding against the plaintiff and for Winston’s clients on the plaintiff’s claims for trade secret misappropriation, fraud, and infringement of four patents.
Obtained an 8–0 verdict on behalf of a life-sciences company in a retrial of an employment case that had previously resulted in a widely reported US$25.7 million verdict (while being handled by other counsel). At the time, the verdict was one of the largest employment verdicts in Ohio history and was among the top 100 verdicts in the nation in 2002. Winston took over the case in 2006 and obtained two mistrials before trying it for a third time, when the jury rendered a verdict in our client’s favor after an eight-day trial.

In addition, Samantha has successfully represented one of the largest insurance companies in the US in multidistrict litigation defending against antitrust and various state law claims; won an arbitration on behalf of a global healthcare corporation on a complex breach-of-contract matter; procured the return of stolen trade secrets for large branded pharmaceutical companies and financial institutions; and defended a global healthcare corporation in a class action concerning the sale of enteral feeding and nutrition products.

Patent Litigation

Currently representing an electronics company against allegations of patent infringement related to videoconferencing technology. Plaintiff initially asserted two patents, and Winston successfully invalidated one of the patents on the grounds that the patented concept was not patent eligible under 35 U.S.C. § 101.
Currently representing a medical device company against allegations of patent infringement related to AAA stent grafts. Plaintiff asserted infringement of one patent. After a week-long jury trial that ended in a mistrial, Winston successfully obtained new constructions for the relevant claim terms.
Currently representing a pharmaceutical company against allegations of patent infringement related to smoking cessation drugs.
Obtained a jury verdict of infringement on behalf of company credited with inventing a novel solution for setting up and connecting telephone calls using multiple phone numbers on a single mobile device against a significant market player. Despite the defendant’s argument that it launched a competing product first, the jury rejected defendant’s invalidity and prior use defenses and awarded our client millions of dollars for infringement. (W.D. Tex.)
Successfully invalidated the latest expiring patent in a branded pharmaceutical company’s portfolio for the drug Otezla®, effectively shortening the brand’s monopoly by several years to the benefit of Winston’s client, a major generic pharmaceutical company. (D.N.J.)
Successfully defended a large financial institution against a patent infringement suit related to its mobile banking technology. After winning a favorable claim construction ruling and motions to strike the plaintiff’s post claim construction infringement theories, the plaintiff agreed to a stipulated dismissal of the case and final judgment in favor of Winston’s client in order to seek an appeal. The Federal Circuit affirmed, providing a decisive win for Winston’s client. (N.D. Tex.)

In addition, Samantha has participated in patent litigation trials relating to the drugs Emend® IV (D.N.J.), Lidoderm (D. Del.), Temodar® (D. Del.), and Nasacort AQ® (D. Del.).

Capabilities

Intellectual Property

Litigation/Trials

Patent Litigation

Commercial Litigation & Disputes

Key Matters

Highlights of Samantha's experience include the following:

Complex Commercial Litigation

Currently representing a multinational food processing and commodities trading company in a suite of class action lawsuits in Illinois federal court alleging that the company’s trading in ethanol and ethanol futures violated the Commodity Exchange Act and Sherman Act, in addition to several state-law claims.
Currently representing a multinational food processing and commodities trading company in class action lawsuits in Illinois state court alleging claims of trespass and nuisance in relation to the company’s use of groundwater and carbon sequestration.
Currently representing a global insurance provider in a first-of-its-kind case challenging Illinois’ Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA). On behalf of the putative class, plaintiff sought millions of dollars in statutory damages on the grounds that our client had unlawfully considered family medical information in connection with life insurance applications. Winston moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing that the provision of GIPA does not apply to life insurance, and the court agreed, dismissing plaintiff’s claims with prejudice.
Successfully represented a global insurance providerin a putative class action filed in Ohio state court alleging it had wrongly refused to pay amounts owed under property insurance contracts. After successfully removing the complaint to Ohio federal court, we reached a favorable settlement below the potential cost of defense.
Obtained a jury trial victory on behalf of an innovator in long term care pharmacy technology in a billion-dollar bet-the-company case. Following a month-long trial, a jury in the Eastern District of Texas rendered its verdict in less than a day, finding against the plaintiff and for Winston’s clients on the plaintiff’s claims for trade secret misappropriation, fraud, and infringement of four patents.
Obtained an 8–0 verdict on behalf of a life-sciences company in a retrial of an employment case that had previously resulted in a widely reported US$25.7 million verdict (while being handled by other counsel). At the time, the verdict was one of the largest employment verdicts in Ohio history and was among the top 100 verdicts in the nation in 2002. Winston took over the case in 2006 and obtained two mistrials before trying it for a third time, when the jury rendered a verdict in our client’s favor after an eight-day trial.

Patent Litigation

Currently representing an electronics company against allegations of patent infringement related to videoconferencing technology. Plaintiff initially asserted two patents, and Winston successfully invalidated one of the patents on the grounds that the patented concept was not patent eligible under 35 U.S.C. § 101.
Currently representing a medical device company against allegations of patent infringement related to AAA stent grafts. Plaintiff asserted infringement of one patent. After a week-long jury trial that ended in a mistrial, Winston successfully obtained new constructions for the relevant claim terms.
Currently representing a pharmaceutical company against allegations of patent infringement related to smoking cessation drugs.
Obtained a jury verdict of infringement on behalf of company credited with inventing a novel solution for setting up and connecting telephone calls using multiple phone numbers on a single mobile device against a significant market player. Despite the defendant’s argument that it launched a competing product first, the jury rejected defendant’s invalidity and prior use defenses and awarded our client millions of dollars for infringement. (W.D. Tex.)
Successfully invalidated the latest expiring patent in a branded pharmaceutical company’s portfolio for the drug Otezla®, effectively shortening the brand’s monopoly by several years to the benefit of Winston’s client, a major generic pharmaceutical company. (D.N.J.)
Successfully defended a large financial institution against a patent infringement suit related to its mobile banking technology. After winning a favorable claim construction ruling and motions to strike the plaintiff’s post claim construction infringement theories, the plaintiff agreed to a stipulated dismissal of the case and final judgment in favor of Winston’s client in order to seek an appeal. The Federal Circuit affirmed, providing a decisive win for Winston’s client. (N.D. Tex.)

In addition, Samantha has participated in patent litigation trials relating to the drugs Emend® IV (D.N.J.), Lidoderm (D. Del.), Temodar® (D. Del.), and Nasacort AQ® (D. Del.).