James Heffner

    Senior Associate
    San Diego
    Direct: 619.819.2426
    Main: 619.557.0404

    Practice Focus:

    Jim Heffner is a Senior Associate in the San Diego office of Morris Polich & Purdy where he is a member of the Product Liability practice group. His current practice focuses primarily on medical device and pharmaceutical companies, ranging from litigating individual cases to managing and litigating mass tort actions.

    Jim started his practice in the San Francisco office of Reed Smith where he represented clients in the banking, manufacturing and legal industries in financial services and general commercial litigation matters. While at Reed Smith, Jim gained extensive experience representing financial institutions in fair credit reporting, fair debt collection and consumer lending actions in both state and federal court. Jim also spent considerable time assisting pharmaceutical companies in mass tort litigation, navigating government investigations and satisfying government compliance requirements.

    Jim has dedicated considerable time to pro bono matters. He represented two individuals in a section 1983 civil rights action against state and federal law enforcement officers. Additionally, he assisted with a class action on behalf of students with diabetes resulting in sweeping changes to diabetic care provided by public schools throughout California.

    Education

    • J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law, magna cum laude
    • B.S., Arizona State University, W.P. Carey School of Business, Business Management

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California

    Bar Admissions

    • California

    Speeches and Publications

    • "The Expert Ethicist and Product Liability Litigation," ABA Products Liability Newsletter, Vol. 19, Issue 2 (Summer 2008)
    • "An Undue Burden on an Otherwise Feasible Defense: California Courts’ Burden on the Defendant Moving for Summary Judgment Based on Federal Preemption in Certain Medical Device Cases," USF Law Review (April, 2006)
    • "Judge Must Specify Reason Why New Trial Was Granted," Daily Journal (July 26, 2005)