Sarah R. London

Sarah R. London joined Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP straight out of law school and developed a personal injury and class action practice focused particularly on women and young people.

She has taken leadership roles in women's, children's, and family and community health cases, including the representation of families whose frozen eggs and embryos were destroyed by cryogenic tank failures, teens suffering serious injuries from predatorily marketed e-cigarettes, victims injured by outdated pharmaceuticals that should never have been sold, and entire communities devastated by poisoned water and other essential natural resources.

"Trials that have been postponed due to the pandemic are now happening," she said. "I'm very busy."

In early May, she was prepping for her co-lead counsel role for the plaintiffs in a bellwether trial in important e-cigarette litigation. Jury selection begins June 15. London represents young people and families accusing Juul Labs Inc. of manufacturing and marketing inherently defective products that bring a heightened risk of stroke and injury for young people. In re: Juul Labs Inc. Marketing, Sales Pratices and Products Liability Litigation, 3:19-md-02913 (N.D. Cal., filed Oct. 2, 2019).

"We're preparing all the parts in this high-profile, important case," she said. "It's a lot of work."

The complaint she filed in the case asserts that Juul's devices and pods are inherently unsafe for anyone under 26 because they deliver the nicotine equivalent of two full packs of old-style cigarettes per pod. In 2020, she and her firm filed a separate federal suit against Juul on behalf of the Boulder Valley School District for violations of Colorado law plus RICO violations. She also represents the State of Hawaii, the Yurok Tribe and the Boulder Valley School District in related actions.

Meanwhile, London is proceeding with litigation in her new cases against a company that makes tests for congenital defects in frozen embryos. A.P. et al. v. Natera Inc., 21-CIV-06237 (S. Mateo Co. Super. Ct., filed Nov. 18, 2021).

Her negligence complaint alleges the company failed to prevent contamination of its genetic tests, resulting in unreliable viability readings that led to termination of stored embryos.

Like an earlier case, she handled for parents whose stored embryos were destroyed by a storage tank leak at Pacific Fertility Center, the Natera case deals with strong feelings of loss for the plaintiffs.

"I've dealt with a number of in vitro fertilization cases," London said. "I'm a mom myself, and the emotion is so intense for these people. There's a lot about being a lawyer that involves research and strategy, but there's also a human side to this work."

- John Roemer