Deanne L. Miller

Deanne’s most recent trial successes include winning a $133 million unanimous jury verdict in an environmental litigation case that was honored as a Top Verdict of 2022 by the Daily Journal. In environmental and toxic tort cases, Deanne helps clients navigate crisis management situations and strategically and effectively resolve large-scale litigation matters.

Deanne’s energy and environmental law background includes issues relating to air quality, soil, and groundwater contamination; toxic and chemical exposures; and energy efficiency and climate change. She represents clients in matters involving state and federal statutes such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; and California Proposition 65. Deanne’s experience also extends to cases involving a variety of hazardous substances and other chemicals, including benzene, silica, hexavalent chromium, petrochemicals, hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, lead paint, dioxins, and asbestos.

Deanne serves as national coordinating and trial counsel for clients in product liability matters in California and other state and federal courts throughout the country and in multidistrict litigation proceedings. In commercial litigation and business disputes, she counsels clients and litigates matters to successful resolution.

Deanne represents a client in a series of high-profile mass toxic tort litigation matters involving alleged contamination in a residential neighborhood. The cases involve hundreds of plaintiffs claiming personal injuries and property damages based on negligence, nuisance, and strict liability claims, among others, allegedly arising from exposure to petroleum hydrocarbon contamination, including benzene and methane. The matters include work with the Regional Water Quality Control Board on the regulatory side and involve complex indemnity issues.

Deanne represents a client in a major Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding involving hundreds of complaints and thousands of private plaintiffs asserting toxic tort claims, class action claims, unfair business practice act claims, and nuisance and trespass, among other claims, as well as government plaintiffs pursuing claims for civil penalties arising from a natural gas leak at a natural gas storage facility.

Deanne served as national coordinating and trial counsel for a major food ingredient manufacturer in serial product liability matters pending in multiple state and federal courts throughout the United States. She developed cost-effective defense strategies across all pending cases and coordinated with local counsel. Deanne and the teams she leads resolved more than 100 cases through effective case management, early motion practice, summary judgment, jury trials, and favorable settlement. Deanne served as a global strategist for these complex matters.

Deanne represented a client in a series of toxic tort cases involving hundreds of plaintiffs who alleged that low-level radiation exposures caused them to develop various cancers and other illnesses. The matters were filed in federal court under the Price-Anderson Act.

Deanne represented a defendant in the high-profile Erin Brockovich–initiated mass toxic tort cases involving Beverly Hills High School, where more than 1,000 plaintiffs alleged that chemicals from operations in and around the high school caused increased incidences of various cancers. Deanne led the defense and successfully argued summary motions to exclude plaintiffs’ experts, resolving the plaintiffs’ claims before trial.

Deanne represented a petroleum industry client in a three-month jury trial involving 42 toxic tort plaintiffs; Deanne’s team achieved a complete defense in favor of the client.