Overview
Jennifer Karpinski Singh is a civil defense litigator who focuses her practice on product and chemical regulation and litigation. Jennifer has tried cases to verdict and guides clients from a diverse variety of industries through the complexities of the litigation process. She negotiates advantageous settlement agreements and counsels clients on the Green Chemistry Initiative, California Safer Consumer Products Regulations, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and enforcement policies of the California Air Resources Board. Jenny also provides strategic defense and preventative compliance advice regarding Proposition 65, including navigating the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) safe harbor practices, product testing and exposure assessments, labeling requirements, enforcement actions, and defense and indemnification disputes throughout the supply chain.
Jennifer has significant experience in product liability defense and has assisted in the national representation of prominent consumer product and electrical device manufacturers, retailers, and distributors in high-exposure actions. She has practiced in matters involving product labeling, warnings and recalls, fire and explosions, design defect, breach-of-warranty, and issues arising under the Consumer Product Safety Act. Jenny has secured summary judgment in state and federal courts across the United States, successfully defended companies in consumer product putative class action lawsuits, and participated in multiple arbitrations and mediations to favorable outcomes.
- California
- Illinois
- J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law, 2005
- B.A., Duke University, 1999
Representative Matters
Environmental Litigation
- Representing pharmaceutical company in California appellate case establishing that federal regulation of drug warnings under the Food Drug & Cosmetics Act preempt Proposition 65 warnings for generic over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.
- Representing multiple leather goods manufacturers in industry-wide enforcement action involving the chemical hexavalent chromium under California regulation.
- Successfully defended various food and consumer product manufacturers against enforcement actions for failure to demonstrate a violation under Proposition 65.
Product Liability / Mass Tort
- Achieved summary judgment dismissal for product manufacturer through Daubert exclusion of expert testimony in fire product liability case, including wrongful death and property damage claims in the case of Presley v. Lakewood Co., 553 F.3d 638 (8th 2009), cited and relied upon in the 2014 edition of the Federal Evidence Manual.
- Defeated class certification in class action against nationwide distributor of recalled toy product, affirmed by Seventh Circuit.
- Successfully defended multiple product liability claims as national counsel for premier product manufacturer in fire and explosion cases, including property damage, catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims.
Commercial Litigation
- Represented renowned live production company in 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging a First Amendment violation and malicious prosecution claim, winning dismissal of case and attorneys’ fees, affirmed on appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Secures California Proposition 65 Win on Behalf of Client Gulf Pacific Rice
March 19, 2024
California Consumer Chemicals Law Blog
Senate Bill 54 on Target and Paving Road to “Waste-Free Future”
January 18, 2024
California Consumer Chemicals Law Blog
Assembly Bill 496 Lays the Regulations on Thick for the Cosmetics Industry
October 17, 2023
California Consumer Chemicals Law Blog
The Impact of the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act (H.R. 4288) on Proposition 65
October 10, 2023
California Consumer Chemicals Law Blog
Can Your Company Use the “Safe Harbor” Defense to Escape Liability Under Prop 65?
September 26, 2023
Publications
Do the New Proposition 65 Regulations Apply to Small Property Owners?
Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute
July 2019
Publications
California Proposition 65 Listings and Constitutional Non-Delegation: Glyphosate as a Case Study
Washington Legal Foundation: The Legal Pulse
September 2017