Michelle L. Kranz
Michelle is a founding partner of the firm of Zoll & Kranz, LLC located in Toledo, Ohio. Michelle has been a plaintiff’s lawyer for the entirety of her practice – over 30 years. She devotes the majority of her time to complex consolidated litigation and class action including advocating for people injured by medical devices, prescription medications or corporate negligence.
Michelle also has extensive leadership experience in professional organizations. She is currently serving as the President of Ohio State Bar Association as well as a Trustee of the Ohio State Bar Foundation and a Trustee for the National Civil Justice Institute. She also served as President of the Toledo Bar Association (2015-2016), as a member of the Council of Delegates of the Ohio State Bar Association, and two prior terms as a Trustee of the Ohio State Bar Foundation.
Michelle was born in Springfield, Ohio. She obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree (cum laude) from Miami University in 1990. She graduated from the University of Toledo College of Law with a Juris Doctorate in 1993 and was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio in 1993. Michelle is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois (2014), Northern (1994) and Southern (2006) Districts of Ohio, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals (1994), the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2007), and the United States Supreme Court (1998).
She is AV Peer Review Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Martindale-Hubbell and is also listed as one of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by the American Trial Lawyers Association. She was designated “Lawyer of the Year” in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation- Plaintiffs in Toledo by Best Lawyers® for 2019. Michelle was also selected to Super Lawyers in 2020, Top Rated Class Action & Mass Torts Attorney in Toledo, OH.
She is married and resides in Wood County with her husband Dean. Their son, Marcus, attends the Ohio State University and their daughter, Samantha, attends Oklahoma State University. They raise beef cattle which they exhibit at both a state and national level. Michelle is an avid golfer and Dean and Michelle have had season tickets to the Detroit Tigers since 1999.
She has held multiple leadership positions in various mass tort litigations. Her leadership positions include or included:
- Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee on Text Messaging Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 1997
- Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Biomet M2a Magnum Hip Implant, MDL No. 2391
- Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and Settlement Oversight Committee, In re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., ASR Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2197
- Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, Gilead Tenofovir Cases (California JCCP 5043); and
- Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and Common Benefit Committee, In Re: Testosterone Replacement Therapy Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2545
- Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee and Liaison Counsel, In Re: East Palestine Train Derailment, Case No. 4:23-CV-00242
Michelle’s other mass tort litigation experience includes:
- In re: Taxotere (Docetaxel) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2740
- In re: 3m Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2885
- In re: Packaged Seafood Products Antitrust Litigation, MDL 2670
- In re: Zofran (Ondansetron) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2657
- In re: Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2592
- In re: Keurig Green Mountain Single-Serve Coffee Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 2542
- In re: Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2502
- In re: Fresenius Granuflo/Naturalyte Dialysate Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2428
- In re: Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2441
- Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation (Transvaginal Mesh), MDL Nos. 2187, 2325, 2326, 2327, 2387, 2440
- In re: Pradaxa (Dabigatran Etexilate) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2385
- In re: Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2342
- In re: Actos (Pioglitazone) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2299
- In re: Polyurethane Foam Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 2196
- In re: Zimmer Durom Hip Cup Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2158
- In re: Yasmin and YAZ (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2100
- In re: Lawnmower Engine Horsepower Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, MDL No. 1999
- In re: Heparin Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1953
- In re: Vioxx ® Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1657
- In re: Sulzer Orthopedics Inc. Hip Prosthesis and Knee Prosthesis Liability, MDL No. 1401
