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PrintEDUCATION
1985, B.A., magna cum laude, Tufts University1988, J.D., Northeastern University School of Law
1988-1989, Law Clerk, Superior Court of Massachusetts
BAR ADMISSIONS
Connecticut District of Columbia Maine MassachusettsCOURT ADMISSIONS
U.S. District Court, District of MassachusettsU.S. District Court, District of Maine
U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
INDUSTRIES
PRACTICE AREAS
Business and Commercial Litigation
MEMBERSHIPS & AWARDS
BIOGRAPHY
Michelle Schaffer represents clients in high stakes civil litigation matters. Her diverse practice includes defending multinational corporations in complex products liability, toxic tort, pharmaceutical and premises liability cases as well as representing small businesses and individuals in general liability and commercial disputes. Throughout the past 30 years, Michelle has defended automotive manufacturers and suppliers in product liability, warranty and consumer claims and she has served as regional and national counsel addressing certain types of pattern defect theory litigation. Michelle has extensive trial experience and appears in the state and federal courts throughout New England.
Michelle enjoys leadership positions in the legal community. She is the immediate past President of the Massachusetts Chapter of American Board of Trial Advocates. In addition, she is a past President of the Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association and the Massachusetts Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. She has served as a member of the Massachusetts Joint Bar Committee on Judicial Appointments and is a former Chair of the Defense Research Institute’s Lawyers Professionalism and Ethics Committee. For many years, Michelle served on the Editorial Board for the Massachusetts Law Review. She currently is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association Civil Litigation Section Council. Michelle is a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education conferences and has published extensively on topics relating to substantive areas of her practice, discovery techniques and trial practice in general.
Michelle was selected to the 2020 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation – Defense. She was selected as a 2015 Top Women of Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2008 and is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated. In addition, she was honored with acknowledgement by America’s Top 100 Attorneys in Massachusetts. Michelle is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and of the American Bar Foundation.
Representative Experience:
- DeMond, et al. v. Project Service, LLC, et al.
- Barack et al v. American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
- Michael Eason v. Marriott International, Inc.
- Perez v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc..
- Arthur Decato v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc.
- Ryan v. Marriott Corporation
- Meticulous Discovery and Physical Reconstruction of Accident Scene Exonerate Summer Camp
- Da Silva v. Ford Motor Company
- Morse v. Ford Motor Company
- Giannini v. Ford Motor Company
- Haughton v. Hill Laboratories
- Willick, Adm. v. Ford Motor Company
- Siminovitch v. Home Depot, USA, Inc.
- Buizon v. Sherwin Williams
- Luk v. Marriott
- Samuels v. Marriott
- Jackson v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc.
- Rand v. Vessel Services, Inc. and Swiss Army Brands, Inc.
- Federico, Adm. v. Ford Motor Company
- Franchisor versus Franchisee Liability
- Knoster v. Ford Motor Company
- O’Connor v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc.
- Diduca v. General Motors Corporation
- Body Magic v. The Sherwin-Williams Company
- Stimpson v. Marriott Corporation
- Murphy v. Komatsu
- Anzivino v. Uniroyal Goodrich tire Company
- Russell v. Harvard Community Health Plan
- Cameron v. Otto Boch Orthopedic
- Aprile v. Eaton Corporation
- Rodriguez v. Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co.
- Breault v. Marriott Corporation
- Burgess v. General Motors Corporation
- Lee v. Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
MEMBERSHIPS
- Federal Bar Association
- Immediate Past President, Massachusetts Chapter, 2014-2015
- President, Massachusetts Chapter, 2013-2014
- President Elect, Massachusetts Chapter, 2012-2013
- Vice-President, Massachusetts Chapter, 2011 – 2012
- Secretary, Massachusetts Chapter, 2010 – 2011
- Treasurer, Massachusetts Chapter, 2009 – 2010
- Executive Board, Massachusetts Chapter, 2008 – 2009
- Co-Chair, Young Lawyers Division, 1993 – 1994
- Massachusetts Defense Lawyers’ Association
- Immediate Past President 2018 – Present
- President, 2017 – 2018
- Vice President, 2016 – 2017
- Secretary, 2015 – Present
- Treasurer, 2014-2015
- Executive Board, 2011-2014
- Defense Research Institute
- Member, State or Local Defense Organization (SLDO) Relationship Committee, 2006 – 2008
- Chair, Lawyers Professionalism and Ethics Committee, 1999 – 2001
- Nominating Committee, 1998
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Civil Litigation Section, 2015-present
- Complex Commercial Litigation Section, 2014-2015
- Joint Bar Committee on Judicial Appointments, 2012 – 2013
- Nominating Committee, 2012, 2013, 2018
- Associate Editor, Massachusetts Law Review, 1991-1998
- American Board of Trial Advocates (“ABOTA”)
- President, Massachusetts Chapter, 2018 – Present
- Vice President, Massachusetts Chapter, 2017-2018
- Secretary, Massachusetts Chapter, 2016-2017
- Treasurer, Massachusetts Chapter, 2015-2016
- American Bar Association
- Tort and Insurance Practice Committee
- American Bar Foundation
- Fellow
- Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts
- Boston Bar Association
- National Foundation for Judicial Excellence
- Member, State Liaison Committee, 2005-2008
AWARDS
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
- Super Lawyer, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
- Voted a Top Woman in Law by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 2015
Ford emerges victorious in 13 year dealership dispute
December 2018
Jim Campbell, Michelle Schaffer, Curtis Berglund and Hudson Rowland defended Ford Motor Company in a long running 13 year dispute with the Darling dealership in Maine. Ford met its burden of proof that it had good cause to end payments to the Darling’s dealership in connection with the Blue Oval dealer incentive program. The case…
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Ryan v. Marriott Corporation
November 2017
The plaintiff, a 12-year-old girl, claimed $500,000 in medical expenses after allegedly eating an undercooked cheeseburger. The claim was that the burger was contaminated with various bacteria. While in hospital, the plaintiff almost died twice, allegedly as a result of the undercooked meat. This was an extremely difficult case that involved microbiology, food processing and…
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Michael Eason v. Marriott International, Inc.
May 2014
James M. Campbell and Michelle I. Schaffer of Campbell Campbell Edwards & Conroy obtained a summary judgment ruling in the United States District Court District of Massachusetts in a matter involving a negligence claim. The plaintiff, Michael Eason, reserved a room at the Boston Marriott Burlington Hotel and upon arrival to his room Mr. Eason…
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Barack et al v. American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
May 2014
James M. Campbell and Michelle I. Schaffer of Campbell Campbell Edwards & Conroy, Boston Massachusetts represented Honda in the case. The name of the case is 3:09-cv-00565-TLM Barack et al v. American Honda Motor Co. Inc. The plaintiffs Ron and Donna Barack brought suit against Honda stemming from a single vehicle accident by Ron Barack…
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Defense Verdict in Wrongful Death Suit against Toyota in Connecticut
Ford Prevails at Summary Judgment as Court Throws Out New Expert Opinions Introduced in Deposition Errata
CC&O successfully defended Ford Motor Company in a longstanding 13-year dispute
Merck Secures Summary Judgement in NuvaRing Case
Meticulous Discovery and Physical Reconstruction of Accident Scene Exonerate Summer Camp
Da Silva v. Ford Motor Company
PUBLICATIONS
Civil Practice Potluck
Preparing and Defending Daubert Challenges and Creating the Right Defense Strategy to Effectively Cross-Examine Plaintiff’s Experts
Civil Practice Pot Pourri
Investigations and Evaluations – High Risk Cases
Putting Plaintiffs to the Test When they Advance Theories to See What Sticks – Roof Crush, Air Bags, Seat Belts and Beyond
Preparing and Defending Daubert/Frye Challenges and Finding Qualified and Reliable Biomechanical and Accident Reconstruction Witnesses
Preparing and Defending Daubert/Frye Challenges and Finding Qualified and Reliable Biomechanical and Accident Reconstruction Witnesses
Product Liability, Ch. 22
Presenting and Defending Motions to Disqualify
Controlling Bad Behavior: The Court’s Role at Depositions
Representing Insureds: Using Staff Counsel
The Assertion of Privileges in Discovery
Updates: Recent Case Developments in Toxic Torts
Product Liability, Ch. 22
Civil Deposition Practice
Seminar Chair
The Preemption Defense in Environmental Litigation – Alive and Well?
A Guide for New Practitioners on Preparing Discovery Motions for Civil Matters in Superior Court
Preemption by Product Labeling Statutes
Requests for Class Action Certification of Medical Monitoring Claims
The Federal Preemption Defense in Tobacco Litigation Post Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc.
The Evolution of the Pollution Exclusion: From Sudden and Accidental to Absolute and Unambiguous
Introducing Evidence at Trial: The Mechanics of Offering or Opposing the Introduction of Evidence
How to Write and File a Motion and Memorandum
Targeting Lawyers for Prosecution
Program Chair, Discovery Practice in State & Federal Courts
Case Comment
Case Comment, Commonwealth v. Licata
2A Frumer & Friedman
NEWS
Campbell Conroy & O’Neil is Proud to Announce the Attorneys Named in the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
October 2024
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Michelle I. Schaffer: 2024 Defense Lawyer of the Year
June 2024
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Michelle I. Schaffer: Leading with Innovation, Empowering with Vision. Celebrating Women’s History Month
March 2024
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Michelle I. Schaffer named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers®
September 2023
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The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 Edition Includes 22 Attorneys from Campbell Conroy & O’Neil
September 2023
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