David A. Rammelt
Vice Chair, Litigation Practice Group; Co-Chair, Business Litigation Practice Group
He / Him / His
Overview
For over two decades, David has represented more than 100 public and private companies and has served as lead trial counsel in more than two dozen jury trials, class action lawsuits, TRO and injunction hearings, and arbitrations.
David’s trial practice is focused primarily on high-stakes, complex business litigation, class actions, intellectual property and sports litigation. He has tried or successfully resolved cases for clients in a variety of matters involving banking and finance, toxic tort, securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and shareholder disputes, antitrust violations, unfair competition claims, patent and trademark disputes, distributor disputes, real estate disputes, consumer class actions, product and warranty litigation, and contract disputes. David has appeared in hundreds of lawsuits filed in state and federal courts throughout the United States, including numerous jury trials in Chicago, Illinois, as well as trials in California, Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas.
In 2020, David and his team of more than 40 Benesch partners and associates were selected to serve as National Trial Counsel for a publicly traded technology company to handle all of the company’s commercial litigation, class actions and consumer litigation. In 2016, David led a team selected by a major oil and energy company to serve Panel Litigation Counsel, and in 2008, he and his team were selected as National Counsel for a global manufacturer of recreational products. Many of these engagements are innovative alternative fee arrangements, and one fixed-fee model that David and his client developed for handling national litigation was featured in an in-depth article in the Business Section of the Chicago Tribune.
David has handled high-profile cases that have drawn considerable media attention. Cases in which he has appeared as lead trial counsel have been covered by the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times, among others. He has appeared on CNBC and has been quoted in dozens of newspapers and magazines, including USA Today and Crain’s Chicago Business.
What I Do
Featured endorsements
Experience
Defeated class certification and prevailed on Daubert arguments dismissing the opinions of class plaintiffs’ damages and consumer survey experts, successfully arguing on behalf of telehealth company that plaintiffs’ claims involved too many individualized questions regarding injury and damages, rendering class treatment inappropriate.
Representing a national real estate investment company in an arbitration involving alleged breach of fiduciary duty claims.
Representing a private equity fund in connection with a dispute involving investments in movie distribution rights.
Representing a publicly traded manufacturer and seller of FDA Class II medical devices in a series of nationwide consumer class action lawsuits.
Representing a publicly traded consumer products company in connection with a series of states and federal shareholder class action lawsuits allegedly arising from an Initial Public Offering.
Representing a global consumer goods conglomerate in connection with fraud and other claims arising from advertising and media buying services.
Representing a restaurant franchise in connection with fraud and other claims arising from advertising and media buying services.
Representing a global manufacturer of consumer goods in connection with mass arbitration filings.
Representing a global manufacturer of plumbing fixtures in connection with alleged violations of government contracting regulations.
Representing a global manufacturer of consumer goods in a lawsuit alleging anticompetitive conduct and antitrust violations against a healthcare insurer.
Representing a consumer goods company in a defamation lawsuit against a television network.
Lead trial counsel for a global investment bank in a breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy case tried over seven weeks to a successful conclusion before a jury in federal court in Chicago. Successfully barred opposing counsel’s expert economist from testifying under Daubert principles (2010).
Served as lead counsel in shareholder disputes involving Fortune 500 companies, as well as family and privately-held companies. Examples include securing a TRO in federal court to recover and secure corporate assets, as well as defeating attempts by shareholders to obtain TROs in three different cases filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Lead trial counsel in a nationwide consumer class action involving allegedly defective kitchen appliances pending in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2017).
Lead trial counsel in a nationwide consumer warranty class action filed in federal court in Pennsylvania that was resolved successfully for client (2017).
Served as Lead trial counsel for a manufacturer of off-road vehicles in lawsuits pending across the country (2018-2020).
Part of the trial team that successfully defeated a $171 million patent infringement case tried to a federal jury in San Diego, California (2012).
Successfully barred opposing counsel’s two expert witnesses (including another expert economist) at trial, resulting in an immediate settlement at favorable terms for the client the evening before picking a jury in a case pending in federal court. (2010)
Represented a major online retailer in a ground-breaking case filed against an Internet marketing and advertising firm for trademark infringement in connection with its advertising policies. Successfully defeated motions to dismiss and for summary judgment. The case settled shortly before trial and was heralded as one of the nation’s top “Cases to Watch in 2007” by IP Law & Business.
Represented manufacturer against $20 million in damages claimed to have resulted from a high speed collision at night between a semi-tractor trailer truck and a motorcycle in Houston, Texas (2011).
Lead trial counsel and directed trial team representing a global manufacturer of plumbing fixtures in an environmental toxic tort case tried to a jury in Cook County, Illinois. The case was resolved before the jury rendered a verdict (2013).
Lead trial counsel in a case tried to a jury in verdict in Missouri involving catastrophic burn injuries following a boat explosion (2014).
Represented a yacht manufacturer in a breach of warranty and design defect case tried to a defense verdict in Cook County, Illinois (2015).
Lead trial counsel in a case pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County involving a yacht sinking on Lake Michigan, resulting in the deaths of three young professionals (2016).
Co-counsel in a case involving a treadmill tried to a favorable verdict in Cook County, Illinois (2011).
Obtained a defense verdict in a case tried to a jury in Chicago, Illinois, in a case involving a single-vehicle rollover accident in California, in which it was alleged that plaintiff’s spastic quadriplegia resulted from defective roof design.
Obtained a defense verdict in a case tried to a jury in St. Louis, Missouri, in which it was alleged that plaintiff suffered permanent injuries as a result of a defective seat belt design.
Served as trial counsel and obtained a defense verdict in a case tried to a jury in in federal court in Paducah, Kentucky in which it was alleged that inadequate seat belt design caused crippling injuries.
Handled more than a dozen lawsuits involving real estate disputes, including a 2007 dispute over a commercial lease; a multi-million dollar dispute over a Bahamian real estate development; and a 2003 dispute over a $50 million Caribbean resort that involved simultaneous proceedings in New York, Las Vegas, Florida and Nassau.
Handled more than 100 cases for vehicle manufacturers involving vehicle accidents allegedly resulting from design or manufacturing defects in automobiles (or trucks) or related components. Tried or co-tried four jury trials involving catastrophic injuries alleged to have resulted from accidents allegedly caused by defective automobile, truck or crane designs. All of these cases resulted in defense verdicts at trial. None were overturned on appeal.
Served as lead trial counsel and secured a complete defense verdict for Fortune 500 company after a two-week jury trial where the plaintiff claimed that the design of over 125,000 commercial treadmills were defective.
Represented various clients, including several NFL players and an NFL Defensive Player of the Year in sports-related business disputes.
Handled more than 700 cases for more than a dozen product manufacturers and/or retailers of consumer products, bicycles, treadmills, strength equipment, boats, marine engines, pharmaceuticals, and liquid propane, among others.
Defeated class certification and prevailed on Daubert arguments dismissing the opinions of class plaintiffs’ damages and consumer survey experts, successfully arguing on behalf of telehealth company that plaintiffs’ claims involved too many individualized questions regarding injury and damages, rendering class treatment inappropriate.
Successfully barred opposing counsel’s two expert witnesses (including another expert economist) at trial, resulting in an immediate settlement at favorable terms for the client the evening before picking a jury in a case pending in federal court. (2010)
Obtained a defense verdict in a case tried to a jury in Chicago, Illinois, in a case involving a single-vehicle rollover accident in California, in which it was alleged that plaintiff’s spastic quadriplegia resulted from defective roof design.
Part of the trial team that successfully defeated a $171 million patent infringement case tried to a federal jury in San Diego, California (2012).
Obtained a defense verdict in a case tried to a jury in St. Louis, Missouri, in which it was alleged that plaintiff suffered permanent injuries as a result of a defective seat belt design.
Lead trial counsel for a global investment bank in a breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy case tried over seven weeks to a successful conclusion before a jury in federal court in Chicago. Successfully barred opposing counsel’s expert economist from testifying under Daubert principles (2010).
Co-counsel in a case involving a treadmill tried to a favorable verdict in Cook County, Illinois (2011).
Handled more than a dozen lawsuits involving real estate disputes, including a 2007 dispute over a commercial lease; a multi-million dollar dispute over a Bahamian real estate development; and a 2003 dispute over a $50 million Caribbean resort that involved simultaneous proceedings in New York, Las Vegas, Florida and Nassau.
Lead trial counsel and directed trial team representing a global manufacturer of plumbing fixtures in an environmental toxic tort case tried to a jury in Cook County, Illinois. The case was resolved before the jury rendered a verdict (2013).
Handled more than 700 cases for more than a dozen product manufacturers and/or retailers of consumer products, bicycles, treadmills, strength equipment, boats, marine engines, pharmaceuticals, and liquid propane, among others.
Handled more than 100 cases for vehicle manufacturers involving vehicle accidents allegedly resulting from design or manufacturing defects in automobiles (or trucks) or related components. Tried or co-tried four jury trials involving catastrophic injuries alleged to have resulted from accidents allegedly caused by defective automobile, truck or crane designs. All of these cases resulted in defense verdicts at trial. None were overturned on appeal.
Served as lead counsel in shareholder disputes involving Fortune 500 companies, as well as family and privately-held companies. Examples include securing a TRO in federal court to recover and secure corporate assets, as well as defeating attempts by shareholders to obtain TROs in three different cases filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Represented a major online retailer in a ground-breaking case filed against an Internet marketing and advertising firm for trademark infringement in connection with its advertising policies. Successfully defeated motions to dismiss and for summary judgment. The case settled shortly before trial and was heralded as one of the nation’s top “Cases to Watch in 2007” by IP Law & Business.
Lead trial counsel in a case pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County involving a yacht sinking on Lake Michigan, resulting in the deaths of three young professionals (2016).
Lead trial counsel in a nationwide consumer warranty class action filed in federal court in Pennsylvania that was resolved successfully for client (2017).
Represented various clients, including several NFL players and an NFL Defensive Player of the Year in sports-related business disputes.
Served as lead trial counsel and secured a complete defense verdict for Fortune 500 company after a two-week jury trial where the plaintiff claimed that the design of over 125,000 commercial treadmills were defective.
Served as trial counsel and obtained a defense verdict in a case tried to a jury in in federal court in Paducah, Kentucky in which it was alleged that inadequate seat belt design caused crippling injuries.
Represented a yacht manufacturer in a breach of warranty and design defect case tried to a defense verdict in Cook County, Illinois (2015).
Lead trial counsel in a case tried to a jury in verdict in Missouri involving catastrophic burn injuries following a boat explosion (2014).
Represented manufacturer against $20 million in damages claimed to have resulted from a high speed collision at night between a semi-tractor trailer truck and a motorcycle in Houston, Texas (2011).
Served as Lead trial counsel for a manufacturer of off-road vehicles in lawsuits pending across the country (2018-2020).
Lead trial counsel in a nationwide consumer class action involving allegedly defective kitchen appliances pending in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2017).
Representing a consumer goods company in a defamation lawsuit against a television network.
Representing a global manufacturer of consumer goods in a lawsuit alleging anticompetitive conduct and antitrust violations against a healthcare insurer.
Representing a global manufacturer of plumbing fixtures in connection with alleged violations of government contracting regulations.
Representing a global manufacturer of consumer goods in connection with mass arbitration filings.
Representing a restaurant franchise in connection with fraud and other claims arising from advertising and media buying services.
Representing a global consumer goods conglomerate in connection with fraud and other claims arising from advertising and media buying services.
Representing a publicly traded consumer products company in connection with a series of states and federal shareholder class action lawsuits allegedly arising from an Initial Public Offering.
Representing a publicly traded manufacturer and seller of FDA Class II medical devices in a series of nationwide consumer class action lawsuits.
Representing a private equity fund in connection with a dispute involving investments in movie distribution rights.
Representing a national real estate investment company in an arbitration involving alleged breach of fiduciary duty claims.
No results found
Credentials
Education
- cum laude
- Sherman Minton Moot Court Champion
- Editor, Indiana Law Journal
Clerkships and Bar Admissions
More
- Distinguished Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (2019-2025)
- Listed, Legal 500 Chicago Elite: Commercial Disputes (2025)
- Listed, Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star, 2024 – 2026
- Listed, Illinois Super Lawyers (2018-2019)
- AV®Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
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