R. Lawrence Purdy, Attorney

Larry Purdy is a litigation partner in Maslon's Product Liability and Mass Tort Litigation group specializing in the defense of major medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers in complex, nation-wide product litigation.  Larry has represented clients in product liability claims and lawsuits venued in virtually every state as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  A significant portion of his practice deals with the issues of federal preemption and regulatory control over claims involving FDA-approved medical devices.  He has tried a variety of cases in jurisdictions around the country involving both medical and non-medical products.

Larry also served as pro bono trial counsel for the plaintiffs in two landmark United States Supreme Court cases involving race-conscious admissions policies at the University of Michigan.  As a consequence of  his involvement in the Michigan cases, he has frequently been invited to discuss the role of race in college and university admissions.  His campus appearances included invited presentations at the Universities of Texas, Michigan, and Colorado, as well as appearances at the law schools at Arizona State University, the University of Minnesota, William Mitchell College of Law, Hamline University, St. Thomas University, Valparaiso University and Northwestern University.  In addition, Larry has addressed numerous local, state and federal bar associations on the topic of race.

• Texas City Refining, Inc. v. Graver Tank & Mfg 1991

• Neville Bros. v. Cook Paint & Varnish, Inc. 1982

• Grutter v. Bollinger, et al. 2003

• Grutter v. Bollinger 2003

• Gratz v. Bollinger 2003

• Goldkist, Inc. v. Texas Utilities Electric Co. (fka Texas Power & Light), et al. 1992