Elizabeth (Betsy) Farrington  is a litigator and trial lawyer at Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP, with extensive experience defending FDA-approved technologies in product liability litigations. Working across environmental, pharmaceutical, medical drug & medical device industries, Farrington deals with complex scientific and medical material, assisting her large international client base with matters related to their globally available products.
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Accolades

Chicago Elite

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Position

Partner

Career

Betsy is a dynamic litigator and trial lawyer with a range of complex litigation experience, particularly in nationwide product liability litigation. Betsy has handled all aspects of pretrial litigation in consolidated state court proceedings and in multidistrict litigation from briefing and arguing motions on the pleadings through preparing and deposing fact and expert witnesses. Her work on expert and summary judgment briefing has resulted in the exclusion of numerous experts and pretrial dismissals. And when it has not, Betsy has prepared and examined witnesses at trial and helped successfully defend defense verdicts on appeal.

A decorated former Naval officer, Betsy continues her commitment to service by maintaining an active pro bono practice. She has successfully represented asylum seekers in partnership with the National Immigrant Justice Center. She has also negotiated favorable settlements on behalf of indigent plaintiffs as part of the Northern District of Illinois’ Settlement Assistance Program. And she briefed and argued a direct criminal appeal as part of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Pro Bono Program. Betsy has served as plaintiffs' counsel and amicus curiae in impact litigation. Betsy also serves on the Friends of Prentice Board of Directors and as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Legal Council for Health Justice.

Betsy came to the firm after completing federal judicial clerkships in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Western District of Missouri. She earned her B.S. from the United States Naval Academy and her J.D. summa cum laude from University of Illinois College of Law.

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Key clients

  • Merck & Co., Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC;
  • GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline)

Work highlights

Hired by Medtronic for all U.S-based products-liability litigation relating to a Class III FDA-approved device, co-leading the day-to-day management of the case, and now set to serve as lead trial counsel in upcoming bellwether cases.