Anna Aven Sumner is an attorney in the firm’s Products Liability Group, focusing her practice in the areas of mass torts, products liability, clinical trials and medical malpractice. Her trial experience includes a significant defense verdict in an obstetrical medical malpractice trial which was profiled by The National Law Journal as one of 10 “Top Defense Wins of 2005.” Her products liability practice centers on medical device and toxic tort litigation. In addition, she has experience with the early management of litigation risks and resolution of claims outside of traditional litigation. Anna is co-founder of Atlanta Lawyers for Animal Welfare (ALAW), a pro bono organization providing legal services to animal rescue groups.
Anna is a member of the State Bars of Georgia and Mississippi and is licensed to practice law in both states. Before joining Alston & Bird, Anna served as a law clerk for The Honorable Edith Brown Clement on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans.
- Counsel for a Fortune 50 asbestos supplier in connection with litigation in Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
- Counsel for a multinational manufacturer of dialysis equipment for litigation alleging defective design and warning.
- Counsel for a major research and medical institution in connection with clinical trials litigation and medical malpractice litigation.
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"When Is Your Doctor Not Your Doctor: The Intersection of Medical Malpractice and Clinical Trials Litigation,” Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy, July 2006.
July 2006
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“Impending Legal Attacks on Food Ads Should Not Be Welcome in Court,” Washington Legal Foundation Legal Backgrounder, Vol. 21, No. 8, March 2006.
March 2006
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“State Consumer Protection Laws Elevate Food Company Liability Risks,” Washington Legal Foundation Legal Backgrounder, Vol. 20, No. 34, July 2005.
July 2005
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“Clinical Trials Litigation,” Good Clinical Practice: A Question & Answer Reference Guide, 2005/2006.
2005/2006
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"Is the Gummy Rule of Today Truly Better Than the Toothy Rule of Tomorrow? How Federal Rule 68 Should Be Modified," 52 Duke Law Journal 1055, 2003.
2003
- Defense Research Institute
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Georgia
- Mississippi Bar Association