Kristen Rodriguez is a member of Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. She handles a variety of complex commercial and class action litigation, at both the trial court and appellate levels. Kristen leads discovery and briefing in large-scale litigation, and has provided counsel to clients in the areas of contract, tort, advertising, privacy and insurance matters.

Kristen also serves as the chairperson of Dentons’ Latino Professional Network.

Experience

-Obtained summary judgment for Lincoln Benefit Life Company in a putative US$1 billion nationwide class action centered on alleged overcharges to universal life insurance policies, which was affirmed on appeal by the Seventh Circuit in Norem v. Lincoln Benefit Life Ins. Co., 737 F.3d 1145 (7th Cir. 2013).

-Successfully defended Allstate’s replacement cost coverage provisions in two putative class actions alleging violations of New York’s and New Jersey’s standard fire policies. Woodhams v. Allstate Fire & Casualty Co., 748 F. Supp. 2d 211 (S.D.N.Y. 2010), aff’d, 453 F. App’x 108 (2d Cir. 2012); Reddick v. Allstate New Jersey Ins. Co. (S.D.N.Y. 2011).

-Member of the litigation team for Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, in a putative nationwide class action under the federal Video Privacy Protection Act, in which the Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s grant of summary judgment in Redbox’s favor. Sterk v. Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, 770 F.3d 618 (7th Cir. 2014).

-Achieved dismissal of a multi-count defamation action brought by a Chicago public official against the National Broadcasting Company and the Better Government Association (BGA), a government watchdog group, which was affirmed by the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court. Kapotas v. BGA, 2015 IL App (1st) 140534.

Recognition

-Named as one of the 2018 American Bar Association On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers

-Selected to Crain’s Chicago Business list of “Most Influential Minority Lawyers in Chicago,” December 2017

Insights

-Kristen is a frequent contributor to the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Law Practice Journal.

-“Illinois Supreme Court clarifies standing under biometrics law: No actual harm needed,” Dentons client alert, January 30, 2019

Activities and Affiliations

Community Involvement and Pro Bono
Kristen’s pro bono work has included criminal appeals, and she has completed a Public Interest Law Initiative Fellowship in which she represented indigent defendants in felony and misdemeanor cases.Kristen coaches a state champion high school mock trial team and she judges student mock trial competitions at all levels. As a volunteer with the Constitutional Rights Foundation’s Lawyers in the Classroom program, she helps local middle school students understand the US Constitution and our legal system.

Memberships
Kristen has been selected to join the 2016 class of Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows, which is an elite career development program that identifies and mentors the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.

Education

• University of Michigan Law School, 2009, JD
• University of Notre Dame, 2004, BA, cum laude

Admissions and Qualifications

• District of Columbia
• Illinois
• US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• US District Court for the Central District of Illinois
• US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
• US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois