Geoffrey Coan is a litigator who focuses his practice in products liability, drug and medical device and complex litigation. A significant portion of his practice involves serving as national coordinating counsel to medical device and pharmaceutical companies.
A selection of Mr. Coan’s representative cases includes:
- Actively serving as national counsel for a generic drug manufacturer in consolidated actions pending in multiple jurisdictions involving allegations that the drug metoclopramide caused various neuromuscular disorders, including tardive dyskinesia.
- Defending a distributor of an orthopedic product focused in the small bone and joint market in litigation arising out of the implantation of joint spacers.
- Actively serving as national coordinating counsel for a pharmaceutical company in multidistrict litigation arising out of the use of contaminated heparin.
- Actively serving as national counsel and providing risk management services for an orthopedic and spine medical device manufacturer in products liability actions involving various products.
- Defending a pharmaceutical company in a class action arising out of the use of prescription flea and tick powder.
- Served as national coordinating counsel for a medical device company in mass tort litigation arising out of the use of a pain pump to deliver medication to the shoulder following arthroscopic surgery.
- Served as national coordinating counsel for a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in litigation arising out of a professionally labeled OTC product.
- Defended a leading manufacturer of plastic baby bottles in a class action lawsuit involving allegations of injuries resulting from ingestion of Bisphenol-A.
Mr. Coan joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in May 2010. Previously he was a partner in the Boston office of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP.
He began his legal career in 1992 in the United States Navy, Judge Advocate General’s Corp. He left active duty in 1999. He continues to serve in the Navy Reserves.
Mr. Coan has been the recipient of a number of awards and recognitions throughout his career, including:
- MEDMARC Attorney Honor Roll (2011, 2010, 2009, 2007 and 2006)
- MEDMARC Attorney of the Year (2008)
- Included in Massachusetts Rising Star List, New England Super Lawyers Magazine (May, 2005)
- Biggest Defense Wins of 2004, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (June, 2005)
- Navy Achievement Medal, representation of 10 midshipmen during the cheating scandal at the United States Naval Academy (1994)
- Thomas M. Debevoise Moot Court Competition Winner (1990)
- Moot Court Advisory Board (1990-1991)
- Outstanding Student in the Insurance Department, University of Hartford (1988)
Mr. Coan is on the Product Liability Committee of the Council on Litigation Management, where he co-chairs the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Subcommittee.
He is a member of the Defense Research Institute, New Hampshire Bar Association and the JAGC Reserve Officer Association.
Mr. Coan's publications include:
- “Seven Best Practice,” co-author, Litigation Management, Fall 2011.
- “The Equestrian Helmet Standard in the United States,” published in the Sports Law Journal, Fall 2001.
Mr. Coan’s presentations include:
- “Successful Strategies for Managing Mass Torts,” Council on Litigation Management Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 2011.
- “Defending Devices: Rx for Success,” Medmarc Annual Attorney Seminar, Bend, Oregon, June 2009.
- “Combating the Product Liability Virus,” Medmarc Insured, live webinar, March 2009.
- “Combating the Product Liability Virus,” Medmarc Broker Seminar, Palm Springs, California, February 2009.
- “Personal Injury Basics,” Massachusetts Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Boston, Massachusetts, 2007.