Summary Judgment Granted in $22M Federal Litigation

Lamson Dugan & Murray LLP is pleased to share that attorney Cathy Trent-Vilim recently assisted in securing summary judgment in consolidated federal litigation involving more than $22 million in claimed damages.

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The case arose from a significant commercial property loss and involved multiple claims, including negligence, breach of contract, breach of warranty, and strict liability. Cathy was retained to assist with complex pretrial motion practice, serving as embedded appellate counsel at the trial court level.

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In a detailed Memorandum and Order, the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska granted summary judgment in full, dismissing all claims after concluding that the plaintiff could not generate a genuine issue of material fact on proximate cause under Nebraska law.

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High-exposure litigation often turns on expert challenges, evidentiary framing, and precise legal analysis long before trial. Appellate-level rigor at the trial court stage can fundamentally alter the trajectory of a case — and, in some instances, resolve it entirely.

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Cathy regularly assists with:

• Complex federal motion practice
• Strategic evidentiary challenges to experts
• High-exposure disputes
• Serving as embedded appellate counsel
• Appellate briefing and oral argument

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Her work reflects the value of integrating appellate strategy early in technically complex and high-stakes matters.

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