Litigation Attorneys Heffner and Mertens Join Hahn Loeser’s San Diego Office

Mr. Heffner began his practice in the Commercial Litigation Group at one of the largest law firms in the U.S., where he represented clients in the banking, manufacturing and legal industries in financial services and general commercial litigation matters. Mr. Heffner litigated cases involving contract disputes, securities class actions, partnership disputes, products liability and breach of various fiduciary duties, gaining extensive experience representing financial institutions in fair credit reporting, fair debt collection and consumer lending actions in both state and federal court. He has also assisted pharmaceutical companies in mass tort litigation, navigating government investigations and satisfying compliance requirements.

More recently, Mr. Heffner’s practice has expanded to include the defense of medical device and pharmaceutical companies in products liability actions throughout the United States. He has also dedicated time to important pro bono matters, representing two individuals in a civil rights action against state and federal law enforcement officers, and assisting with a class action on behalf of students with diabetes which resulted in sweeping changes to the diabetic care provided by public schools in California.

Mr. Heffner earned his B.S. from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business, and his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2006.

Ms. Mertens is experienced in all phases of complex commercial litigation, including discovery, motion practice and appeals and has resolved a broad range of litigation matters through trial, summary judgment and settlement. She has particular experience in product liability, having represented clients, such as medical device and pharmaceutical companies, in a range of related matters including negligence, failure to warn, product defect, and fraud.

Ms. Mertens, a life-long California resident, has experience in civil litigation representing clients in antitrust, fraud and securities class actions. She is licensed to practice in the State of California, a member of the San Diego Bar Association and an active volunteer with the Women’s Resource Fair, sponsored by the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer’s Program. Ms. Mertens earned her B.A. (cum laude) in International Studies from Pepperdine University, and her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2007.