Tara Sutton Obituary, Cause of Death – Minneapolis Trial Lawyer Remembered for Legal Leadership
Tara D. Sutton, a longtime Minneapolis attorney, trial lawyer and leader at Robins Kaplan, died on September 20, 2026, following a brief illness.
Her death was announced by Robins Kaplan, where she spent her entire legal career. The firm remembered Sutton as a partner, colleague, mentor and friend whose influence extended across major litigation, professional organizations and generations of attorneys.
Her passing has prompted tributes throughout Minnesota’s legal community and beyond, particularly from colleagues who worked with her during a career spanning more than three decades.
Tara Sutton Died After Brief Illness
Robins Kaplan confirmed that Sutton died on September 20, 2026, after a brief illness.
The firm's memorial did not publicly identify her age or provide additional medical details about the illness. The available information therefore establishes the broad cause as a brief illness without identifying a specific diagnosis or medical condition.
Sutton's death came after more than three decades with Robins Kaplan, where she began as a summer associate before eventually becoming a senior partner and firm leader.
A Legal Career Spanning More Than 30 Years
Sutton spent her entire legal career at Robins Kaplan and became known for her work as a plaintiffs' trial lawyer.
Her practice focused heavily on complex litigation, including mass torts, product liability and public-health cases.
Early in her career, Sutton was part of the Robins Kaplan team representing the State of Minnesota and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota in litigation against the tobacco industry.
That litigation culminated in a landmark settlement in 1998 and became an important chapter in Sutton's development as a trial lawyer.
Leadership in Mass Tort and Public-Health Litigation
In 2006, Sutton assumed leadership of Robins Kaplan's Mass Tort practice.
Throughout her career, she worked on major cases involving pharmaceutical products, medical devices, public health and consumer issues.
Her later work included representing the State of Minnesota in litigation against JUUL and Altria. According to the information supplied for this obituary, that case resulted in a $60.5 million settlement.
Sutton also worked on national opioid litigation involving Tribal Nations, participating in cases seeking accountability and settlements for communities affected by opioid-related harms.
Most recently, she had been reappointed to the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in the national Depo-Provera multidistrict litigation.
Tara Sutton's Approach to Trial Advocacy
Sutton's professional legacy extended beyond the size or prominence of the cases she handled.
Robins Kaplan colleagues remembered her as an attorney who believed quality legal representation should be accessible to people facing serious injuries, losses and other difficult circumstances.
Her approach emphasized extensive preparation, direct communication and close attention to the people behind the litigation.
That combination of courtroom advocacy and client representation became a defining part of her career.
Mentor and Leader at Robins Kaplan
Sutton also played a significant leadership and mentoring role within Robins Kaplan.
She served for a decade on the firm's Executive Board and led the National Mass Tort Group. She also served as the firm's Diversity Champion.
Colleagues credited her with helping younger attorneys develop professionally, including women pursuing greater responsibility and leadership opportunities.
Her own career began with opportunities to work on significant cases at Robins Kaplan, and she later sought to create similar opportunities for attorneys who followed her.
Professional and Civic Contributions
Sutton's professional involvement extended beyond her law firm.
She was a longtime leader and former president of Public Justice, an organization focused on public-interest litigation.
In 2025, the University of Iowa College of Law honored Sutton with its Alumni Achievement Award, recognizing her contributions to trial litigation and her work involving justice, public health and advocacy.
She was also recognized by Super Lawyers, including appearances among the Top 10 Minnesota Super Lawyers in 2025 and 2026 and among its Top 50 Women Super Lawyers on multiple occasions.
Tara Sutton Family and Loved Ones
Robins Kaplan extended condolences to Sutton's husband, Gary, and their children, as well as to her wider family.
The firm's memorial also recognized the many friends, colleagues and clients whose lives she touched throughout her career.
Additional details about her family life have not been provided in the memorial information supplied for this article.
Funeral and Memorial Arrangements
A public memorial listing at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis includes Tara Sutton among upcoming services.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 11 a.m.
Additional arrangements or family information may be updated as relatives, the cemetery or other official sources provide further details.
Remembering Tara Sutton
Tara Sutton leaves behind a professional legacy centered on trial advocacy, mass-tort litigation, public-health work, leadership and mentorship.
For more than 30 years, she remained at Robins Kaplan, progressing from summer associate to senior partner and firm leader.
Her career brought her into major litigation involving tobacco, pharmaceuticals, public health, consumer issues and other complex legal matters.
Yet the tributes following her death have also highlighted the people she represented, the attorneys she mentored and the colleagues with whom she built her career.
Tara Sutton Death and Obituary: Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Tara D. Sutton |
| Profession | Attorney and trial lawyer |
| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Law firm | Robins Kaplan |
| Career | More than three decades at Robins Kaplan |
| Date of death | September 20, 2026 |
| Age | Not publicly confirmed |
| Cause of death | Brief illness |
| Medical details | Not publicly disclosed |
| Spouse | Gary |
| Children | Yes; names not publicly provided in the memorial |
| Education | University of Iowa College of Law |
| Practice areas | Mass tort, product liability and public-health litigation |
| Former leadership | National Mass Tort Group; Robins Kaplan Executive Board |
| Professional organization | Public Justice |
| 2025 honor | University of Iowa College of Law Alumni Achievement Award |
| Memorial location | Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis |
| Scheduled memorial | October 3, 2026, at 11 a.m. |
A Lasting Minneapolis Legal Legacy
Tara Sutton's death marks the loss of a longtime member of Minneapolis' legal community and a prominent figure within Robins Kaplan.
Her career brought her into major public-health and mass-tort litigation while her leadership and mentorship influenced attorneys who worked alongside her.
As family, friends, clients and colleagues remember Sutton, her professional legacy will remain connected to the people she represented, the cases she helped lead and the attorneys she supported throughout more than three decades in the legal profession.
Information Disclaimer
This article is based on the memorial and professional information supplied concerning Tara D. Sutton. Robins Kaplan confirmed her death on September 20, 2026, following a brief illness. Her age and specific medical details have not been publicly confirmed in the supplied information. Funeral and memorial arrangements may change or be updated by the family or cemetery. Readers should consult official family, cemetery or funeral-home announcements for the latest information.