Melissa Gardner

Profil complet

Melissa Gardner is a talented trial attorney that has obtained numerous defense verdicts over the years in a multitude of states. Her core practice areas include personal injury, premise liability, and trucking and transportation. She also has substantial litigation experience defending medical fraud, product liability, insurance coverage, and bad faith and fraud matters in both state and federal courts. Melissa is qualified in handling all aspects of litigation from case inception through resolution by settlement, trial or on appeal. Additionally, Melissa has acted as monitoring counsel in high-exposure matters.

Melissa is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), which is an invitation-only organization for attorneys with significant trial experience.

Admissions

• Arizona
• Illinois
• US District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois
• US District Court for the District of Arizona

Education

• J.D., DePaul University College of Law, 2015
• B.A., University of Illinois, 2012

Memberships

• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
• Arizona Women’s Lawyer’s Association
• State Bar of Arizona
• State Bar of Illinois
• Chicago Bar Association

Expérience

• Secured a significant defense friendly verdict following a week-long jury trial in a high-exposure Arizona case involving an emergency surgery, permanent organ loss, a fractured sternum, alleged lifelong health complications including permanent immunocompromise, and a substantial punitive damages claim. Prior to trial, Plaintiff rejected a multimillion-dollar settlement offer that was several times greater than the jury’s ultimate award. Because the verdict fell substantially below the defense’s earlier offer of judgment, the defense recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees and costs. (Maricopa County, AZ, 2026)
• Successfully defended motor vehicle accident lawsuit involving disputed liability and claimed damages of at least USD 1 million. Plaintiff alleged multiple wrist fractures requiring two surgeries, frozen shoulder, permanent disability, disfigurement, lost wages, and past and future pain and suffering & loss of normal life. Despite defendant’s admissions to the responding officer, the jury allocated 42.5% of the fault to a non-party driver, reducing Plaintiff’s recovery to approximately USD 120,750, which was significantly below the last pre-trial settlement offer. Because the verdict fell below the defense’s last offer of judgment, the defense recovered fees following the verdict. (Pima County, AZ, 2026)
• Obtained defense verdict in an admitted liability T-Bone motor vehicle accident. Plaintiff claimed that as a result of the accident, he sustained a traumatic brain injury, post concussive syndrome, PTSD, anxiety, depression, neck and back injuries, injury to his pituitary gland causing human growth hormone deficiencies, low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, and semicircular canal dehiscence requiring a future surgery. Plaintiff also claimed that because of the accident he had ongoing pain and suffering, loss of normal life, and was permanently disabled. He submitted a lifecare plan of approximately USD 6.7 million and asked the jury to award him USD 30 million. (Clark County, WA, 2025)
• Obtained defense verdict in rear-end MVA case wherein Plaintiff alleged she sustained a traumatic brain injury, which caused numerous vision impairments including visual snow. She also claimed neck and back injuries, permanent pain and suffering, and loss of normal life. (Pierce County, WA, 2025)
• Obtained defense verdict in multi-million-dollar insurance coverage class action suit wherein Plaintiffs alleged that the insurance company failed to provide UM/UIM coverage and failed to inform the class of the existence of UM/UIM coverage due to an ineffective waiver. Plaintiffs sought damages for the amount of coverage; loss of peace of mind and punitive damages. (Salt Lake City, UT, 2023)
• Obtained defense verdict in rear-end MVA case. Plaintiff alleged neck and back injuries, emergency room, pain management and orthopedic treatment, injections and permanent pain and suffering. (Cook County, IL, 2023)
• Obtained defense verdict in T-bone MVA case. Plaintiff alleged left knee and back injuries, emergency room, and chiropractic treatment. (Cook County, IL, 2023)
• Obtained defense verdict in rear-end MVA case wherein defendant admitted liability prior to trial. Plaintiff alleged neck and back injuries, pain management treatment and numerous injections, and ongoing pain & suffering. (Will County, IL, 2022)
• Obtained defense verdict in motor vehicle accident where defendant reversed into the plaintiff’s vehicle and plaintiff alleged neck and back injuries and on-going pain & suffering. (Cook County, IL, 2021)
• Obtained defense verdict in rear-end MVA case wherein plaintiff alleged neck disc protrusions, shoulder injury, radiculopathy, ablation procedures, and ongoing pain and suffering. (DuPage County, IL, 2019)
• Obtained defense verdict in rear-end MVA case wherein plaintiff alleged lumbar fusion, neck injury, several epidural injections, and continuous pain. (Will County, IL, 2019)
• Successfully defended rear-end MVA on highway wherein Plaintiff alleged neck, shoulder, and TFCC wrist injury. (Will County, IL, 2019)
• Successfully defended rear-end MVA wherein Plaintiff alleged being hit twice by the defendant on a highway at 70 mph. Plaintiffs' claimed soft tissue injuries and continuing pain. Jury awarded less than the ER bills and found the plaintiff driver to be 40% at fault. (Cook County, IL, 2019)
• Successfully defended multi-million premise liability matter wherein the Plaintiff suffered numerous amputations and a head injury leading to alleged permanent disability (Southern District of Illinois, 2022)

Presentations

• Presenter, "What Are They Thinking?! Strategies to Assess Today’s Jurors and Understand Their Motivations,” CLM Focus Conference, December 4, 2025
• Presenter, “Defending Brain Injury Cases: Measuring Loss of Function,” Strafford- A BARBRI Company Webinar, September 9, 2025
• Presenter, “Punitive Damages & Defense Strategies for Auto Accidents,” CLE in the Red Rocks: An Advanced Personal Injury Conference for Plaintiffs and Defense Counsel, February 25, 2024