Ruth Dapper

Ruth Dapper

Associate
San Diego
About

Ruth Dapper defends life sciences companies in high-stakes products liability and consumer fraud litigation. She represents pharmaceutical and medical device clients in multidistrict litigation, class actions, and complex commercial disputes. Ruth also counsels clients on emerging compliance issues and risk management.

A frequent author, Ruth has published in the Federal Courts Law Review, the Notre Dame Law Review Reflection, the Federal Lawyer, and the Bencher. Her publications have been cited in more than 50 federal court orders nationwide.

Ruth was appointed as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Ruth began her legal career with judicial clerkships in federal trial and state appellate courts.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and InvestigationsLife SciencesRegulatory and Government AffairsClass ActionsHealthcare Enforcement and Compliance
Bar admissionsCaliforniaMinnesota
CourtsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States District Court for the Central District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Southern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the District of Minnesota

Experience

Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Experience 
  • In re: Chantix (Varenicline) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation (No. II), MDL 3050 (S.D.N.Y.): Served as counsel for Pfizer in consumer fraud litigation involving Chantix, a smoking cessation aid
  • In re Zantac (Ranitidine) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2924 (S.D. Fla.): Defended Sanofi in class action and government enforcement actions in MDL and related state court proceedings involving third-party payor, medical monitoring, and economic-loss class actions
  • Defended Bayer in California JCCP and Eastern District of Pennsylvania proceedings alleging injuries related to a permanent contraceptive device
  • Represented a global pharmaceutical manufacturer in a licensing dispute in Los Angeles County Superior Court involving the use of a cell line
  • Defended a multinational pharmaceutical company in putative consumer class action litigation in Los Angeles state and federal courts involving an over-the-counter product
Other Complex Litigation Experience
  • Obtained summary judgment for a national technology company in a putative class action asserting federal and state claims in federal court
  • Defeated class certification in lawsuit alleging state and federal claims against government contractor in federal court
  • Represented national transportation company in defeating class certification in a putative state-wide class action
  • Represented national retailer in obtaining summary judgment in a putative state-wide class action in state court
  • Obtained summary judgment in arbitration, dismissing all claims against multiple education institutions
 

Awards

  • Ruth was selected to the SuperLawyers list of Rising Stars in 2019-2025
Education
  • J.D., University of St. Thomas, 2012
    magna cum laude
  • B.A., University of Minnesota, 2009
    with High Distinction

Bylines

Seminars

  • "Inclusion Means Everyone — Best Practices for Improving Accessibility for In-Person Events," Alameda County Bar Association / California Lawyers Association, 2025
  • "Presenting and Challenging Expert Witness Testimony at Trial," 2016
  • "Legal Issues Regarding the 'Internet of Things,'" 2016
  • "Perspectives on Disabilities, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota In-Court Seminar," 2014

Media Mentions

  • Lawyer Representative for the Southern District of California to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, (2025-2028)

Prior Experience

Before joining DLA Piper, Ruth practiced at another global law firm, where she litigated complex class actions and representative actions under California's Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

Judicial Clerkships

  • Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia, United States District Court, Southern District of California
  • Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Jeanne J. Graham, United States District Court, District of Minnesota
  • Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Wilhelmina Wright and the Honorable John P. Smith, Minnesota Court of Appeals

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Federal Bar Association
  • California Lawyers Association
  • Athena San Diego
  • Associate, Barrister, Louis M. Welsh American Inn of Court, (2015-2018)

My latest insights

Publication
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California Governor issues Executive Order on AI procurement standards and responsible...

6 April 2026

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Phone

+1 619 699 2752
(Work, San Diego)