Sharon R. Markowitz

Experience

Class Actions and Consumer-Protection Litigation

Sharon has represented many large companies in high-exposure cases brought by the Minnesota Attorney General for alleged violations of consumer-protection and public-nuisance laws.

She represents several large companies in high-exposure putative class actions for alleged breaches of warranty, product liability, fraud, and violations of consumer-protection laws.

Sharon has represented the defendant in a putative class action alleging that the defendant deceptively marketed a consumer product purportedly containing total organic fluorine which plaintiff alleged was a proxy for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”).

Sharon represented a property and casualty insurer in multiple class actions involving allegations of improper labor depreciation.

Financial-Services Litigation

Sharon has represented over a dozen banks and mortgage lenders in multimillion dollar suits brought by large private purchasers of mortgage loans, seeking indemnification in connection with settlements they made with RMBS Trustees and government-sponsored entities.

She has represented a loan servicer in an indemnity action brought by a purchaser of distressed loans.

Sharon has represented a defendant in a mortgage loan repurchase action.

Sharon has represented multiple lenders against Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) claims.

Contract Negotiation and Litigation

Sharon has advised dozens of clients on how to navigate force majeure events and how to draft their contracts to minimize their risks in connection with force majeure events, supply shortages, and supply-chain disruptions.

She has advised dozens of clients on how to minimize their litigation risk and, in particular, their risks in connection with indemnity obligations.

Other Experience

Sharon has represented individuals and employers in numerous non-compete disputes, on both the plaintiffs’ side and the defense side.

Sharon has defended employers in numerous employment disputes.

Sharon has represented multiple health care providers in overpayment disputes and False Claims Act disputes.

She has represented clients in multimillion dollar trust and estate litigation.

Sharon has worked on numerous appeals. Sharon was a judicial clerk on the Minnesota Court of Appeals; she was an adjunct professor of appellate advocacy at St. Thomas Law School; and she coordinates Stinson's-Minneapolis pro bono appeals program.

Sharon is a qualified neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice.

Sharon co-founded and co-chairs the Minnesota Federal Bar Association’s Civil Discovery practice group – which aims to make civil discovery better, faster, cheaper, and easier.

News

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Class Actions chapter of the Minnesota Business Disputes Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education

"Force Majeure and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, March 12, 2020

"Reducing Your Exposure in the Next Economic Downturn," The Missouri Banker, September 2019