Inside Mass Torts, Trial Law, and the Fight Against Damage Caps: A Conversation With Ned Mulligan

Ned Mulligan is an Indiana trial lawyer with more than 15 years of experience handling mass torts, personal injury, medical malpractice, and complex litigation. Originally from New Hampshire, Ned built his legal career in Indiana after beginning practice during the 2008 recession, eventually finding his passion in plaintiff advocacy and courtroom litigation. His work has included major pharmaceutical and medical device cases, as well as high-stakes trials involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims. In this episode… Mass tort litigation presents unique challenges that differ significantly from class action lawsuits. From multidistrict litigation procedures and consolidated discovery to the complexities of individual damages, attorneys handling these cases must navigate years of litigation while balancing strategy, preparation, and client advocacy. How do lawyers manage large-scale cases against major corporations while still focusing on the individual stories behind every injury? Ned Mulligan shares his path into trial law, discussing his early years working long hours while gaining courtroom experience through personal injury and medical malpractice cases. He explains the structure of multidistrict litigation and how defendants often use delays and procedural leverage in mass tort cases involving pharmaceutical companies, medical devices, and emerging social media litigation. Ned also reflects on his first major trial involving an improperly placed IV that led to an amputation and an $11 million jury verdict that was later significantly reduced due to Indiana's statutory damages caps. Throughout the conversation, Ned passionately discusses the impact of tort reform and his opposition to arbitrary damages limitations, arguing that juries are capable of fairly assessing harm and understanding the true human impact of catastrophic injuries. He explains why trial preparation, exhaustive case knowledge, and credibility before a jury are critical to successful advocacy, while also emphasizing the importance of integrity, trust, and community within the legal profession. In this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes interviews Ned Mulligan about mass tort litigation, trial strategy, medical malpractice cases, and the evolving landscape of complex plaintiff litigation. Ned also shares lessons from balancing family life with demanding legal work, the value of mentorship, and why helping injured clients remains at the center of his career.