Margaret I.Lyle

Of Counsel

Dallas + 1.214.969.4894

Margaret Lyle represents businesses in their most significant complex litigation and appeals, defending class actions, data privacy, contract, health care, patent, and internet-marketing claims.

For more than 20 years, Margaret has successfully defended dozens of class actions brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the Driver's Privacy Protection Act, the Credit Repair Organizations Act, RICO, and state consumer statutes, as well as class claims for breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, fraud, and product liability. Margaret has defended Computer Sciences Corporation in class litigation over its insurance software, Interstate Battery in class warranty litigation, the Washington Division of URS Corp. in class litigation over New Orleans flooding following Hurricane Katrina, and Experian in data privacy and consumer class actions.

Margaret's appellate representations include cases of first impression in Nevada and Oregon, where the states' highest courts rejected a medical monitoring tort. She also has represented SAS, Sercel, Experian, and other industry leaders in state and federal appeals over statutory construction, injunctions, contract interpretation, patent claims and damages, federal jurisdiction, and constitutional protections.

Margaret has served as a chair of the ABA Woman Advocate Committee, as a programming chair for the ABA Class Action and Derivative Suits Committee, as editor-in-chief of The Woman Advocate, and as a practitioner contributor to Black's Law Dictionary. An American Bar Foundation Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation Fellow, and a member of Attorneys Serving the Community, Margaret was a founding member of the Texas Law Parents Leadership Association and a founding director of Marshall Lawyers Care.

Experience

  • Exxon Mobil pursues declaratory judgment action against shareholder proposalJones Day is representing Exxon Mobil Corporation in seeking a declaratory judgment that it may exclude from its proxy statement under SEC Rule 14a-8 a shareholder proposal from activist organizations Arjuna Capital and Follow This that calls for targets to reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Air Evac's district court dismissal of putative class action affirmed in Eighth CircuitJones Day represents Global Medical Response, Inc. subsidiary Air Evac EMS, Inc. ("Air Evac") against claims filed on behalf of a putative class of consumers in Arkansas alleging Air Evac charges improper fees for its services.
  • Fortune 100 petroleum refining and marketing company resolves litigation over potential escheatment of unused gift card balancesJones Day successfully resolved a qui tam case filed against its client, a Fortune 100 petroleum refining and marketing company, alleging violation of Delaware's False Claims and Reporting Act related to the potential escheatment of unused gift card balances.
  • Online travel company dismissed from litigation over potential escheatment of unused gift card balancesJones Day obtained a dismissal for an online travel company in a qui tam case alleging violation of Delaware's False Claims and Reporting Act related to the potential escheatment of unused gift card balances.
  • Businesswoman arbitrates breach of shareholder's agreement claims at ICCJones Day represented a businesswoman and philanthropist seeking injunctive and monetary relief through arbitration before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) related to the breach of the shareholder's agreement for a company with operations in 17 countries in Latin America.
  • Privately-held information company defends proposed nationwide class action alleging violations of Driver's Privacy Protection ActJones Day defended its client, a privately-held information company, in a proposed nationwide privacy class action brought under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).
  • Fortune 500 company undergoes internal investigation involving allegations of employee misconductJones Day conducted an internal investigation for a Fortune 500 company into a foreign subsidiary involving allegations of employee misconduct and potential False Claims Act violations.
  • Fortune 500 defense contractor obtains successful results after whistleblower investigationJones Day represented a Fortune 500 defense contractor in an investigation by the Department of Defense Inspector General's Office (DoD IG) focusing on an alleged wrongful termination under the defense contractor whistleblower statute, 10 U.S.C. Section 2409.
  • Fortune 500 health insurer represented in litigation over alleged submission of fraudulent claims and violation of anti-kickback related exclusions in health plansJones Day represented a Fortune 500 health insurer in litigation over alleged submission of fraudulent claims and violation of anti-kickback related exclusions in health plans.
  • SAS Institute's patent infringement victory at District Court affirmed by Federal CircuitA cross-office, cross-practice Jones Day litigation team successfully defended SAS Institute, Inc. and DataFlux Corp. ("SAS") in patent-infringement litigation in the Eastern District of Texas and on appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, by obtaining a summary judgment—and a Federal Circuit affirmance—that its opponent's patent claims were invalid under 35 U.S.C § 112 ¶ 2.
  • Major hospital system renegotiates strategic relationship with academic institutionJones Day advised a major hospital system on the renegotiation of a strategic relationship with an academic institution, including corporate governance counseling on potential duties and potential litigation impact.
  • Washington Group International prevails in Hurricane Katrina mass tort actionJones Day successfully defended Washington Group International, Inc. ("WGI," now URS Energy & Construction Company, a subsidiary of URS Corp.) in a mass tort action alleging that WGI's work on behalf of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contributed to floodwall breaches in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
  • Interstate Batteries resolves class action lawsuit surrounding replacement price of batteries under warrantyJones Day client Interstate Battery System International, Inc. resolved a class action lawsuit brought by plaintiffs alleging Interstate Battery provided misleading information regarding the price at which customers would be able to purchase replacement batteries under the warranty.
  • Jones Day Dallas team tries municipal liability case in federal courtAt the end of 2009, Judge Barbara Lynn of the Northern District of Texas asked Jones Day to represent an indigent plaintiff, Tommy Aycock, in an "excessive force" case against the City of Dallas under section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act.
  • Sensus defends against patent infringement claims brought by EON Corp. involving smart grid technologyJones Day represented Sensus USA, Inc. and Sensus Metering Systems, Inc. in a patent infringement action related to smart grid power technology.
  • Computer Sciences Corporation achieves settlement in computer software class action brought by more than one million insurance claimantsJones Day defended Computer Sciences Corporation ("CSC") in a proposed putative class action brought by more than one million insurance claimants alleging that 500 major insurers used CSC's computer software to value insurance claims.
  • Forgent Networks files complaint and request for injunction causing dissident shareholder to file amended proxy materialsJones Day, representing Forgent Networks, filed a Complaint in the Western District of Texas after a dissident shareholder issued proxy materials nominating an opposing slate of directors to replace Forgent's board of directors.
  • IBM defends against patent infringement charges relating to data management on computer networksJones Day represented defendant IBM in a patent infringement case relating to management of data caching on computer networks.
  • Value-Added Communications prosecutes breach of patent license agreement in state court and defends patent infringement claim in federal courtJones Day represented telecommunications company Value-Added Communications, Inc. ("VAC") in a patent licensing dispute related to specialized telephone systems used in state and federal prisons.
  • R.J. Reynolds obtains Oregon Supreme Court affirmance of proposed class action seeking medical monitoring for smokersOn May 1, 2008, the Oregon Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a proposed class action seeking medical monitoring for smokers on behalf of Jones Day client R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
  • Additional Publications

    • May 24, 2019
      Blockchain in State Law: 10 Key Developments in 2019, ABA Pretrial Practice and Discovery Committee Newsletter
    • 2018
      2018 Survey of Federal Class Action Law: A Circuit-by-Circuit Analysis, Fifth Circuit Chapter, ABA Section of Litigation, First Chair Press
    • March 16, 2016
      A Midterm Report on Class Actions: Seven Issues to Watch in 2016, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation
    • 2015
      Sound Advice: An Overview of Class-Action Settlements in Federal Court, ABA Class Actions and Derivative Suits Committee
    • October 2014
      Uncashed Settlement Checks Paid to Charity Under Court-Approved Settlement Cannot Be Escheated, Texas Supreme Court Rules, Business Tax Quarterly
    • September 9, 2014
      TX Supreme Court: Uncashed Settlement Checks That Go to Charity under Class Settlement Cannot Be Escheated

    Speaking Engagements

    • April 25, 2019
      A Patchwork of Federal and State Laws—Key Technology, Data, and Legal Developments You Need to Know Now, ABA Webinar, SciTech Focus on Blockchain
    • April 14, 2016
      Seven Wonders of the Class-Action World: Supreme Court and Rule 23 Developments Are Changing the Landscape, ABA Litigation Section Annual Conference
    • March 4, 2016
      Faculty, Communicate with Impact and Build Strategic Relationships, Women in Law Institute, Center for Women in Law, University of Texas School of Law
    • July 23, 2015
      Panelist, Criteria for Approving Class-Action Settlement, Class-Action Settlement Conference, Duke Law Center for Judicial Studies Bench-Bar Academy Distinguished Lawyers' Series
    • February 27, 2015
      Faculty, Effective Communication, Women in Law Institute, Center for Women in Law, University of Texas School of Law
    • September 18, 2014
      Editors' Symposium, ABA Section of Litigation Leadership Meeting
    • August 10, 2013
      The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ethical Issues in Class- Action Settlements, ABA Annual Meeting
    • April 26, 2013
      Is Your Life an Open Book?: Privacy Class Actions in the Age of Social Media, ABA Litigation Section Annual Conference
    • March 22, 2013 and February 22, 2014
      Faculty, Effective Communication, Women in Law Institute, Center for Women in Law, University of Texas School of Law
    • 2012
      The Practice that Never Sleeps: What's Happened to, and What's Next for, Class Actions, ABA Annual Meeting