Francis A. Citera

Francis A. “Frank” Citera is a nationally-recognized trial lawyer representing clients in product liability, toxic torts, class actions and other complex litigation matters in federal and state courts. Frank has over 35 years of experience and is co-chair of the firm’s Product Liability and Mass Torts Litigation Practice and co-chairs the Chicago Litigation Practice. An experienced architect of litigation strategies, Frank defends companies in various industries and business sectors including retailers such as Albertson’s, Claire’s Stores, Inc., Sears, and Whole Foods to technology and electronics companies like Qualcomm, Sony Electronics, and Underwriters Laboratories. He has achieved success in defeating class certification, disputing alleged claims in court, and obtaining summary judgments and outright dismissals prior to trial.

Ranked in Chambers USA for Product Liability: Consumer Class Actions (Band 2), Frank handles multi-state consumer class actions and often serves as national coordinating counsel for companies facing multidistrict and overlapping class action proceedings. He advises clients on risk management, crisis management and communications, and product safety matters and has appeared before federal and state agencies such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board. Frank has been recognized by Chambers USA and Leading Lawyers Network, and The Legal 500 United States describes him as being “highly experienced and capable” and “renowned for his toxic tort and product liability work.”

Concentrations

•Products Liability
•Class actions
•Mass torts
•Environmental
•Civil practice
•Appellate

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2008-2019
•Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005-2020
•Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2017 and 2020
•Band 2, Product Liability, 2020
•Recognized Practitioner, 2017
•Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Products Liability Litigation Department of the Year,” 2018
•Listed, The Legal 500 United States, 2009, 2011-2019
•Environment: Litigation, 2014-2019
•Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense: Consumer Products (Including Tobacco), 2011-2014, 2018-2019
•Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Toxic Tort - Defense, 2018-2019
•Supreme Court and Appellate, 2009, 2017
•Listed, Leading Lawyers Network, 2005-2020
•Listed, Acritas Stars Independently Rated Lawyers, “Star Lawyers,” 2018-2020
•Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms Edition, Law Firm of the Year, Environmental Law, 2016
•Recipient, Alumni Achievement Award, University of Miami School of Law, October 2014
•Member, Winning Team, U.S. News - Best Lawyers Law Firm of the Year in Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency & Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2013
•Team Member, a Law360 Product Liability Practice Group of the Year, 2011
•Team Member, a Law360 Appellate Practice Group of the Year, 2010
•Rated, AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0