Whitley’s Whitney Butcher Appointed to Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for Hip Resurfacing Multidistrict Litigation

Associate Whitney Butcher has been appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the Smith and Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing multidistrict litigation by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Multidistrict litigation is a procedure that allows the courts to consolidate and handle similar cases more efficiently.

Butcher’s selection is part of the Court’s case management order that also includes selections for the multidistrict litigation’s Lead Counsel and Liaison Counsel. Together, these groups form the leadership structure to “organize, simplify and streamline the handling of these matters on behalf of all plaintiffs, consistent with the fair administration of justice,” according to the official order.

Butcher has extensive experience in Whitley Law Firm’s dangerous drug and defective medical device practice area. Recognized as a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, she was also appointed to the Discovery Committee in the Granuflo Federal Multidistrict Litigation.

The 13-attorney Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee is responsible for advising the Lead Counsel on plaintiffs’ pretrial activities, as well as discovery, trial and potential case resolution.

Butcher will work with the Committee on crucial litigation functions such as research, briefing, discovery, trial preparation and expert retention and consultation. She may also be involved with related Subcommittees on discovery, law and briefing, science and pretrial depositions.

Butcher explained, “I am honored to be appointed to the Committee. I will advocate for our clients and make sure their rights and interests are being well-represented. Whitley Law Firm goes to great lengths to understand our clients’ perspectives and I look forward to applying this personal approach to my work on behalf of plaintiffs in the Smith and Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing multidistrict litigation.”