Carolyn Anderson is Co-Chair of the firm’s Public Client practice and leads the firm’s Securities & Financial Fraud practice groups. Carolyn has successfully represented small investors, institutional clients, and states in individual and nationwide consumer fraud, securities fraud, ERISA, and antitrust actions. She has served in a leadership role in obtaining numerous significant awards in both individual actions and multi-state actions. Carolyn has also successfully represented clients in individual and nation-wide litigation related to injuries from defective medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs.

ONGOING LITIGATION HIGHLIGHTS

Currently represents Minnesota in its litigation against e-cigarette manufacturer, JUUL, for deceptive marketing and targeting Minnesota’s youth.

In the opioids litigation, Carolyn currently represents two states in their investigations into and litigation involving pharmaceutical manufacturers, drug distributors, and pharmacies for their roles in the ongoing opioid crisis.

Member of the Lead Counsel Committee in nationwide litigation involving CenturyLink customers alleging they were overcharged and billed for services they didn’t request or authorize.

Class and Derivative Counsel on behalf of investors in the Morgan Keegan Open End Mutual Funds litigation. Involved in briefing, strategy, experts, discovery, and settlement: $125 million settlement reached after eight years of litigation, including resolution of claims against the auditor.

Co-leading the legal team representing the State of New Mexico in its litigation against Visa and MasterCard, including directing case strategy, working with experts, and serving as primary mediation counsel.

Co-Lead Counsel and trial team member representing the City of Farmington Hills pension fund in its litigation relating to Wells Fargo’s securities lending program: $62.5 million settlement reached two days prior to trial was set to begin.

Leading the TVM (transvaginal mesh) litigation at the firm, representing hundreds of individual clients in the medical device litigation, including depositions, expert discovery, briefing, and litigation and settlement strategy.

Representing the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office in an action brought by Google, regarding the legality and enforceability of a Civil Investigative Demand to Google issued by the Attorney General.

Worked with a coalition of offices of four state attorneys general and led the legal team representing the State of Mississippi, asserting consumer fraud and antitrust claims in an action against LCD display manufacturers. During the course of litigation, the State’s claims were removed to federal court. The legal team successfully opposed this removal at the District Court and presented oral argument in a parallel MDL that resulted in a favorable order preserving the State’s claims. After Defendants’ successful appeal to the Fifth Circuit, the State petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court regarding a Circuit split on the removal standard. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Mississippi, reversing the Fifth Circuit’s decision and clarifying the standard for removal of state actions under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA). Mississippi ex rel. Hood v. AU Optronics Corp, 571 U.S. 161 (2014).

In prior representation, Carolyn led a legal team in a case brought by investors against American Express Financial Advisors, challenging that company’s practices and breaches of fiduciary duty with its investing customers. The case, brought under the Investment Advisor Act, resulted in a $100 million settlement.

Carolyn represented large groups of investors with significant losses involving Merrill Lynch, AIG, and Lehman Brothers. She also successfully represented Midwest farmers/shareholders who challenged an ethanol plant’s merger with Archer Daniels Midland; the case was resolved weeks prior to trial.

In addition to serving in positions of leadership in ongoing litigation, Carolyn represents one hundred faith-based, not-for-profit organizations - pro bono - related to their losses from the $3.6 billion Petters Ponzi scheme. She was appointed by the federal judge to serve as Assistant Liquidating Trustee under the supervision of the Court and the Liquidating Trustee for assets being distributed to some of those investors. In United States v. Petters, No. 08-cv-05348 (D. Minn.), the Firm worked with the Department of Justice and the court-appointed receiver, to successfully recover and distribute millions of dollars to these victims pursuant to a settlement with a Petters’ financier.

Carolyn maintains strong ties with individual state attorneys general, state pension fund officers, and other institutional investors. She is a frequent lecturer at colleges and law schools, and has served as a legal education faculty member on the topics of complex litigation, legal ethics, and securities law.

Carolyn graduated from Trinity College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, in Psychology. She received her law degree cum laude from Hamline University School of Law where she was a Dean’s Scholar, received the Cali Award for Excellence in Constitutional Law, and served on Hamline Law Review, where her case note article was selected for publication. Carolyn also studied law at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel in course-work focusing on Law, Religion, & Ethics. Carolyn was previously honored as Rising Star of Law and, from 2014 to 2021, has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by her peers in Minnesota.

Carolyn is admitted to practice before, and is a member in good standing of, the Bar of the State of Minnesota, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First, Fifth, and Eighth Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition to these courts, Carolyn works on cases with counsel nationwide.