Karen P. Hewitt

Karen P. Hewitt is a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District who now serves as Jones Day's partner-in-charge of the firm's five California offices. She represents companies nationwide in civil and criminal investigations and in complex business litigation.

"There's such a sense of happiness and optimism because we're back in person in all five offices," she said in late April. "It's great to be back together. Also, it's one of the busiest times of my entire career."

Given her administrative duties, Hewitt doesn't get into court as often as formerly, but she's currently leading the defense for Abbott Laboratories Inc. against plaintiffs alleging a scheme of kickbacks to doctors and hospitals to promote use of an Abbott medical device called the MitraClip used in repairing heart valves. Everest Principals LLC v. Abbott Laboratories Inc., 3:20-cv-00286 (S.D. Cal., filed Feb. 14, 2020).

The plaintiff is a whistleblower who claims personal knowledge of alleged schemes and false claims as a former Abbott employee. The U.S. government and more than half the states have joined on the plaintiff's side. Hewitt's motion to dismiss the case is pending before U.S. District Judge Thomas J. Whelan of San Diego.

"This is interesting. The case is about a revolutionary medical device, a really cool thing," Hewitt said. "It lets doctors perform surgery on a beating heart without opening the chest. Patients can go home in 48 hours. I really enjoy working on innovative devices."

In a long-running case, Hewitt is the lead Jones Day partner serving as outside counsel for Walmart in the nationwide series of civil cases arising from the opioid crisis. In November 2021, a federal jury in Ohio found Walmart and other pharmacy defendants liable for their role in distributing the drugs. In re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation, 17-md-02804 (N.D. Ohio, transfer order Dec. 12, 2017).

"We're moving forward toward an abatement trial in May," Hewitt said. That proceeding will determine remedies including damages payments and possible injunctive relief. Further litigation in the massive case continues in 20 states, Hewitt said.

Most of Hewitt's other clients and cases are confidential. She is lead counsel to a major food company in an international money laundering investigation. She is the lead Jones Day partner representing a major league baseball team currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

"One takeaway for me is that I really enjoy having a nice mix of courtroom work and investigations," Hewitt said. "And I'm pleased to see how all of our offices stayed strong during the pandemic."

- John Roemer