Kelly Hyman’s Fight Against Industry Titans Is a Never-Ending Battle

Trial lawyer Kelly Hyman is fighting against industry titans in and out of the courtroom, but despite the cases being never-ending and seldom simple, she has no intentions of stopping.

Hyman graduated from the University of Florida's Levin College of Law in 2003. While there, she spent time working as a certified legal intern at the public defender's office handling criminal cases.

“It was my time in the public defender’s office that solidified my desire to help people who needed representation. I knew I wanted to help people,” Hyman remarked.

The early realization informed the types of cases she took throughout her career. By 2016, Hyman had worked on hundreds of cases including complex litigation such as mass tort, and class actions.

"Class actions make it possible for large groups of individuals, harmed by the same entity, to collectively seek justice,” said Hyman as she explained her decision to take those types of cases.

Hyman also worked on  mass tort cases which involved major manufacturers including AMS, Boston Scientific, Endo, and Bard, which had a major impact on the lives of many women.

It was alleged that transvaginal mesh caused infections and required additional surgeries. The mesh also migrated, causing further health issues. Many cases were settled, with one of the largest among them seeing Endo pay $830 million to settle 20,000 cases.

“In these types of cases, it’s not only the plaintiffs who are affected but also their partners and families. That’s why I advocate so tirelessly for my clients. They are seeking justice and I want to give that to them,” remarked Hyman.

Hyman also participated in the tobacco litigations, playing a role in the Engle tobacco litigation, a class action decertified by the courts which involved major players like R.J. Reynolds and Phillip Morris. 

“I’ve worked cases where I’m by myself at depositions or hearings, representing a plaintiff against a team of lawyers. It creates a David versus Goliath mentality. It is important the plaintiffs have access to justice, and it is ultimately up to the jury to make a determination as to the damages that the Plaintiff will receive as compensation for their injuries and harm,” says Hyman.

Hyman also worked on 3M cases that saw military service members and veterans sue the company due to allegations of defective earplugs. The suit was supported by a study revealing increased tinnitus rates “among active-duty service members” from 2001 to 2015.

The case began in 2016, with 3M only settling this year after a significant battle in court. The $6 billion settlement involved nearly 260,000 lawsuits.

There is a never-ending battle for justice going on around us every day. Hyman is involved in additional cases including defective CPAP machines, NEC baby formula, and sex trafficking. Despite the flood of cases, Hyman expressed no desire to do anything else:

“Knowing I’m helping people and making a difference in their lives is the driving force behind my decisions.”

Hyman also shares her legal expertise on Court TV, Law & Crime, and major networks including MSNBC, BBC, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox News.