Charles S. Zimmerman Extended Bio

Bucky Zimmerman, founding partner of Zimmerman Reed, is a nationally recognized leader in complex and class action litigation. He frequently speaks at industry conferences, CLEs and is the author of a newly published book on complex litigation. During more than 30 years of practice, Bucky has successfully represented thousands of clients through individual actions and nationwide class actions. His cases have involved the tobacco industry, pharmaceutical companies and shareholder actions. Bucky has served as lead counsel, PSC member and liaison counsel in numerous major pharmaceutical and medical device cases over the last 15 years. He currently serves as Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel in the Guidant MDL 1708, Medtronic MDL 1726 and Baycol MDL 1431. Through his leadership in these and other groundbreaking cases, Bucky continues to advance the interests of his clients and the legal profession.

In addition to his case work, Bucky continues to lecture and periodically teach courses on complex litigation and working with the media in high profile cases for a variety of organizations including the Minnesota State Bar Association, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, the University of Minnesota Law School, William Mitchell College of Law, the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA) and Mealy's Publications. In 2006 Bucky authored “Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation,” a mass tort manual published by Thompson/West.

Through his solid leadership and abilities as a litigator and negotiator, Bucky continues to serve and advance the interests of the firm's clients and the legal profession. He has been recognized yearly as a “Super Lawyer” by Minnesota Law & Politics since 2000.

Bucky is a 1972 graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School. He also received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and was a three letter winner, Williams Scholar, and captain of the varsity U of M tennis team his junior and senior years. Mr. Zimmerman is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association obtaining national ranking, and has won gold and silver medals at the world Maccabiah and Pan American Maccabiah games.

Charles Zimmerman is admitted to practice before, and is a member in good standing of, the Bar of the State of Minnesota and the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, District of Colorado, District of North Dakota, and the United States Supreme Court. He is also admitted to the Third, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth United States Circuit Courts of Appeals.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Juris Doctor

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Bachelor of Arts, History & Political Science

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA)
Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA)
Federal Bar Association
Minnesota Bar Association
Hennepin County Bar Association
Bar Association of the Fifth and Eighth Federal District Court

CASE RESUME & RECENT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

DEFECTIVE DRUGS AND DEVICES

In re Baycol Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1431 (Appointed lead counsel in third largest MDL in the U.S. by Judge Michael J. Davis)
In re Breast Implant Litigation, MDL 926 (Member of the seven person Lead Counsel Committee pursuant to order of United States District Judge Carl Rubin in the nationwide class action involving silicone gel breast implants)
In Re: Guidant Corp. Implantable Defibrillators Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1708 (Appointed Co-Lead Counsel and Liaison Counsel)
In re Medtronic Implantable Defibrillators Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1726 (Appointed Co-Lead Counsel)
In re Norplant Contraceptive Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1038 (Appointed to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee by Judge Richard Schell, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas)
In re Propulsid Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1355 (Appointed to Plaintiffs' Steering Committee by Judge Eldon Fallon)
In re St. Jude Medical, Inc. Silzone Heart Valves Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1396 (Appointed to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee by Judge John Tunheim)
In re Telectronics Pacing Systems, Inc. Accufix Atrial "J" Lead Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1057 (Appointed to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee by Judge S. Arthur Spiegel, United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio)
In re Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Implants Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1001 (Named to the five person Plaintiffs' Steering Committee by Judge Paul Magnuson, United States District Court for the District of Minnesota)
In Re: Viagra Products Liability Litigation MDL 1724 (Appointed Plaintiffs Liaison Counsel)
In re Consolidated Zicam Product Liability Cases, Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County

CONSUMER LITIGATION

Castano Tobacco Settlement Negotiating Team (Appointed to the Negotiating Team and participated in the National Tobacco Settlement negotiations with the Attorneys General, public health representatives, and major tobacco companies)
In re Castano Tobacco Litigation (Appointed to the Plaintiffs Steering Committee)
In re Mortgage Escrow Deposit Litigation, MDL 899 (Appointed class counsel in numerous cases against various mortgage servicers certified as a class action by Judge James B. Zagel)
Sara Lee Meat Contamination Litigation [Cress et al. v. Sara Lee Corp.], (Appointed Lead Counsel by the State of Illinois Supreme Court)
Scott v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., et al., (Appointed to Plaintiff’s Steering Committee)