Ruth A. Bahe-Jachna

Ruth A. Bahe-Jachna has more than 30 years of experience working on and managing large-scale litigation matters, including numerous MDL proceedings. She regularly defends clients in class actions and product liability and consumer fraud litigation in state and federal courts, as well as in employment-related class actions and FLSA collective actions. Her experience includes the representation of telecommunications clients, including a major U.S. trade association representing wireless manufacturers and carriers, various wireless and landline service providers, and a tower siting company. She represented the trade association in multiple lawsuits spanning a 10-year period concerning health and safety issues related to wireless phone emissions. Ruth also counseled a major telecommunications provider with respect to potential class action exposure in connection with one of its acquisitions. She regularly counsels clients, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers, on a wide variety of product safety and risk management matters, including providing guidance on U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reporting requirements, recall issues and appropriate recall processes, and drafting release and waiver forms, warning labels, and warranties. Ruth also has represented clients in qui tam litigation involving retail sales and use tax issues in Internet sales, and in litigation alleging violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. She also has wide-ranging appellate experience.

Ruth studied in Japan from 1979 to 1982 and represents Japanese clients in various litigation and product liability matters. She has given presentations internationally on U.S. product liability law and class actions.

For 16 years, Ruth developed and oversaw intensive “hands on” training for the firm’s National Litigation Practice. She now has developed a curriculum for use in training those involved in American Indian trial court systems and regularly serves as Faculty for the firm’s American Indian Tribes Criminal Trial Advocacy Trainings.

Concentrations

•Litigation and MDL proceedings
•Class actions
•Product liability litigation and counseling
•CPSC recalls, reporting, and counseling
•Telecommunications
•American Indian Tribes criminal trial advocacy training

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Recipient, Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program’s Executive Director’s Award, 2019
•Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Products Liability Litigation Department of the Year,” 2018
•Listed, Leading Lawyers Network, 2011-2020
• Top 100 Women Lawyers in Illinois, 2012, 2018
•Team Member, a Law360 Employment Practice Group of the Year, 2011 & 2013
•Team Member, a Law360 Product Liability Practice Group of the Year, 2011
•Team Member, a Law360 Appellate Practice Group of the Year, 2010
•Presidential Scholar, U.S. Department of Education, 1976