Lori Andrus

Lori E. Andrus specializes in representing individuals who have been harmed by dangerous pharmaceuticals or medical devices, defrauded or discriminated against by large corporations, or sold defective products. Ms. Andrus also has considerable experience in individual personal injury cases and employment discrimination cases. Ms. Andrus has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating (AV) for legal ability and ethical standards.
Ms. Andrus prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts across the country. In one of her most memorable litigation experiences, Ms. Andrus and a team of plaintiffs’ lawyers represented a class of crawfish farmers whose crops were killed by pesticides. The case, West v. G&H Seeds, et al., Case No.99-C-4984-A, State of Louisiana, 27th Judicial District Court, Parish of St. Landry, settled during trial for $45 million.
Ms. Andrus is also a recognized leader in mass torts. She is currently an appointed member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Yaz/Yasmin J.C.C.P. litigation in California State Court. Previously, she was a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Ortho Evra Multidistrict Litigation, in federal court in Ohio, and served as the Co-Chair of the Science/Experts Committee in the Guidant Heart Device Multidistrict Litigation in federal court in Minnesota.
Ms. Andrus, originally from Louisiana, completed her undergraduate work at Boston University, earning cum laude distinction. Between college and law school, Ms. Andrus worked for two Members of Congress in Washington, D.C., first for U.S. Representative Rick Boucher from Virginia, then for U.S Representative James Hayes, from Louisiana. After graduating with honors from Duke University School of Law, Ms. Andrus joined the law firm of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, where she was promoted to partner after five years of practice. As a partner at Lieff Cabraser, Ms. Andrus played a leadership role in nationwide consumer class cases and defective pharmaceuticals cases.
An active lecturer, Ms. Andrus has presented on numerous legal topics for professional groups. In 2012, Ms. Andrus was honored to be invited to lecture at The Impact Fund’s 10th Annual Class Action Conference on the topic of “The Implications of Downsizing Class Actions: Multi-District Litigation, Co-Counseling, Coordination.” Other speaking engagements focused on the Ortho Evra Birth Control Litigation, Proving Damages in the Guidant Heart Device Litigation, and the Liability Timeline in the Bextra/Celebrex Litigation. She has been quoted in The Daily Journal in “For Some, Preemption Looks Like Tort Reform,” in Trial Magazine, “Dangers of Birth Control Patch Come to Light,” and has been published in the American Association for Justice’s Women Trial Lawyers’ Caucus Newsletter, “Hustle and Flow: The Art of Self-Promotion.” Other articles Ms. Andrus has authored or co-authored include “Absent Class Members – Drivers or Passengers on the Highway of Discovery” (presented at the Class Action Symposium, Louisiana State Bar Association, 2001). In May 2012, The Daily Journal featured Ms. Andrus and her partner, Jennie Lee Anderson, in a profile titled “Stepping It Up.” To read the article,click here.
Ms. Andrus serves on the Board of Governors of Consumer Attorneys of California and on the Board of Governors for Emerge America, a women’s political training program. She also serves as Chair of the Women Trial Lawyers’ Caucus of the American Association for Justice (“AAJ”) and is a Member of the San Francisco Trial Lawyer’s Association, the American Constitution Society, Public Justice, Women Lawyers of Alameda County, California Women Lawyers, and the American Bar Association. An active member of the California Bar, Ms. Andrus is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California. Ms. Andrus is also admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.