Daily Journal Again Names Ruth Kahn to List of Top Women Lawyers in California

(May 12, 2011, Los Angeles) — For the fifth time since 2006, Ruth Kahn, a partner in Steptoe & Johnson LLP’s Los Angeles office, has been named to the Daily Journal’s list of the Top 75 Women Litigators in California.

In a profile featured in the May 11 issue of the Daily Journal, the editors write that Ms. Kahn “has made a name for herself specializing in science-heavy toxic tort cases.”  In particular, the editors recognize her defense verdict for Southern California Edison in a product liability case in which the plaintiffs claimed that a cable splicer's exposure to wood preservatives on poles jointly owned by his employer caused him to develop multiple myeloma.

The editors write that “the victory was a big one" not only because Southern California Edison avoided paying millions of dollars in damages, but because if the company had lost, the case would have, according to Ms. Kahn, opened “the floodgates to litigation by other workers who happened to develop medical conditions later in their lives.”

The profile of Ms. Kahn also recognizes her recent toxic tort victories for Exxon Mobil and Texaco Downstream Properties, Union Oil Co. of California and Chevron Corp., and Shell Oil.

“With the types of chemicals I defend, when they are used the way they are intended, they don’t hurt people,” Ms. Kahn is quoted as saying in the profile.  “I look at the facts and separate what is known from what is unknown.  No two products are exactly the same, and the differences are fascinating.”

You can read the entire list of Top Women Lawyers and accompanying profiles on the Daily Journal website (subscription required).

About Steptoe

Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm widely recognized for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions.  The firm has more than 500 lawyers and other professionals in offices in Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix and Washington.  For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.