Fernandez-Martinez, Alfredo

Kelly Conrad has experience in a broad range of litigation matters, with an emphasis on large product liability, complex litigation, and toxic tort cases. In addition, Kelly has assisted in briefing matters before federal and state courts of appeals.

Kelly is currently a member of the legal team representing Mattel in congressional and state investigations and a nationwide putative class action arising from the company's voluntary recalls of certain toys. In the litigation, plaintiffs from 13 different jurisdictions assert noninjury product liability claims. The litigation was consolidated by the MDL panel and is ongoing.

Kelly's significant litigation experiences include serving as a member of the team that litigated cases brought by cities, states, and other public entities against the firearms industry, including the highly publicized trial of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People v. AA Arms, Inc., et al., Case No. CV 99-3999 (E.D.N.Y., J. Weinstein) that was tried to a defense verdict, including a unanimous (12-0) advisory jury verdict of no liability as to Jones Day's client, Colt's Manufacturing Company. The defense win was recognized as one of the top 10 defense verdicts of 2003 by The National Law Journal.

Kelly also contributed to the defense of Sherwin-Williams in a public nuisance lawsuit brought by the city of Milwaukee seeking abatement of lead paint in housing units throughout the city (City of Milwaukee v. NL Industries Inc., Circuit Court, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, 2001:CV003066). Shortly before trial and in response to motions filed on behalf of Sherwin-Williams, the city severed and effectively dismissed the Sherwin-Williams entity involved. The case ultimately resulted in a jury verdict in favor of the remaining defendant.

Kelly's other significant litigation experiences include working on the team defending R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in the state attorneys general litigation, serving as a member of a small team defending a physician search and consulting firm during the arbitration of a contract dispute, and participating for many years in the defense of a safety products company in individual occupational exposure product liability lawsuits involving hundreds of claimants and entailing extensive deposition experience. In addition, Kelly's experience includes defending a major credit reporting agency against numerous cases brought by individuals, including a case that resulted in a summary judgment order in favor of Jones Day's client. Kelly worked on the appellate briefing of that order, which was ultimately affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She also has participated in the defense of product liability matters involving Jones Day clients Occidental Chemical and Parker Hannifin.