Rideshare Sexual Assault Mass Tort: Intake, Theories, and the Bellwether Roadmap

Holly earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law in 2009 and her B.A. from Northwestern University in 2003. She was admitted to the Minnesota bar in 2009 and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

In addition to representing injured individuals, she also has represented cities, counties, and Native American tribes in their public nuisance claims against the manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies in the chain of distribution of prescription opioids. (In Re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation, MDL No. 2804, Case No. 17-md-02804.) Holly’s role in these cases was recognized by Minnesota Lawyer, which awarded her Lawyer of the Year for 2022.

Holly served as outside counsel for the State of Minnesota in its public nuisance claims against JUUL and Altria for Minnesota’s youth vaping epidemic. For her role on that case team, including a critical role on the trial team, she again was awarded Minnesota Layer’s Attorney of the Year Award for a second consecutive year.

In addition to her work on behalf of her clients, Holly has shown consistent advocacy for the advancement of women in the legal field. Perhaps most significantly, she co-founded the Women Trial Lawyer Conference, an annual conference for women plaintiff lawyers in Minnesota. At the conference, women participate in networking, skills trainings, and education, with a goal of fostering a network that supports women in the law and helps them advance in their chosen field. In addition to co-founding the conference, Holly sits on the conference planning committee. This work resulted in her receiving the “Member of the Year” award from Minnesota Association for Justice in 2018.

Holly also has devoted substantial time to pro bono matters. She’s represented dozens of transgender and non-binary individuals in obtaining legal name and gender marker changes. More recently, she’s taken on the role of pro bono counsel to World Without Genocide, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the lives of innocent people and prevention of future genocide. Holly has demonstrated again and again her commitment to fairness, justice, and the dignity and humanity of all people through her pro bono work, and her work on behalf of injured individuals and municipalities.

Currently, in addition to representing clients in their claims against Uber and Lyft in the Passenger Sexual Assault MDL and JCCP, she is also part of the team representing survivors of childhood sexual assault while detailed as juveniles as well as infants harmed by baby formula. Her work at Anapol Weiss continues to further her passion for helping others.

When not at work, Holly enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends. She enjoys all the wonderful cuisine and cultural opportunities that Minneapolis and St. Paul have to offer, but also loves quiet time spent reading a good book or game night with friends.