Biography

Heather Weakley has been a partner with DeHay & Elliston, LLP. in Los Angeles and Walnut Creek, California since 2017.  She concentrates her practice on Mass Tort Litigation and Product Liability Defense.  She has been involved in Asbestos Personal Injury Litigation since 1998.  She has first and second-chaired numerous jury trials in California with the potential for multi-million dollar awards resulting in successful verdicts, hung jury or favorable resolutions. 

Prior to joining DE in 2017, Ms. Weakley practiced with the law firms of Armstrong & Associates, LLP in Oakland, California, Morris Polich & Purdy, LLP in Los Angeles, California and Stone & Hiles, LLP in Beverly Hills, California.  As a partner at Morris Polich & Purdy, LLP, she spent a majority of her time as national counsel in medical device multi-district litigation. As national counsel, she has extensive experience supervising teams of attorneys doing electronic document review/production up to significant trial preparation.

Trial Experience

2018 - First-chaired five week jury trial, defending asbestos fiber supplier in a joint compound exposure case with three other defendants.  

2018 - After commencement of jury selection defending an asbestos fiber supplier, case resolved for a mutual waiver of costs. 

2016 - After commencement of jury selection defending an asbestos fiber supplier, case resolved for a mutual waiver of costs. 

2016 - First-chaired three week jury trial, defending asbestos fiber supplier in a bystander joint compound exposure case with two other defendants.  

2009 - First-chaired three week jury trial for large cardiovascular equipment manufacturer filed by plaintiffs claiming manufacturing and design defects in medical device which caused significant injury to plaintiff.  After jury deliberated for only three and a half hours, they decided unanimously for the defense. 

2009 - Resolved case on first day of trial.  Plaintiff heir contended her husband died from mesothelioma which she claimed was caused by exposure to asbestos containing products manufactured by numerous defendants.  Represented only remaining defendant.

2008 - After two months of a jury trial, with several defendants remaining, case successfully resolved for client with potential for multi-million dollar defense verdict.  Plaintiff alleged he was diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured by defendants.

2007 - Second-chaired landslide jury trial lawsuit between two property owners in the Hollywood Hills.  Unanimous defense verdict in fifteen minutes after a three week trial.

2007 - Second-chaired wrongful death jury trial wherein heirs claimed decedent died of asbestos-containing products while in the Navy.  Hung jury with two alleged asbestos-containing product manufacturers remaining.  On retrial, represented only remaining defendant, and in less than one day jury awarded a unanimous defense verdict. 

1999 - First-chaired a bench trial filed against an owner of a large fast food chain by proving plaintiff committed fraud.

1999 - Awarded defense verdict by jury against plaintiffs who committed fraud.

1997 - First-chaired personal injury trial with plaintiff obtaining significantly less verdict than settlement demand. 

1997 - Certified TAP (Trial Advocacy Program) Trial Attorney.  Obtained trial certification with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office after an intensive two month trial training program.  Subsequently, successfully tried, as first chair, three jury trials and one bench trial as a TAP prosecutor with the City Attorney’s office, West Los Angeles District.