Approach
As companies face increasing exposure to product and tort liability, the Your Firm Products Liability/Tort Liability Focus has grown and evolved to meet the needs of these clients.
Attorneys
Our attorneys have handled cases involving nearly every issue related to products liability, premises liability, medical malpractice, professional liability, medical products defense (including medical device and pharmaceutical-related litigation) and toxic tort cases. Group members are active in the major defense organizations of the bar and regularly present at seminars and teach on product liability, trial strategy and related topics on a local and national level.
Clients
Our product and tort liability clients range from providers of medical care to nationally known makers of consumer products. Many of our clients operate in highly technical fields - from pharmaceuticals to specialized manufacturing - where the diverse, technical knowledge of our attorneys and support staff is particularly valuable.
Practice
Trial Experience
The group's product liability trial experience includes cases involving farm implements, industrial equipment, automotive accidents and parts, construction equipment, scaffolding equipment, all varieties of consumer products, medical instruments, prescription drugs and over-the-counter preparations, petroleum products, food products, toxic chemicals and toxic substances.
Alternative Dispute Resolution/Settlement
One of the group's primary functions is to counsel clients on the strengths and weaknesses of a case before trial. Our attorneys make concrete, confidential recommendations to the client regarding the potential range of exposure, if any, and the fair value of each case. Additionally, the group is experienced in all forms of alternative dispute resolution including mediation, mini-trials, non-binding and binding arbitration.
Training, Counseling and Consultation
Group members conduct in-house and outside training, counseling and consultation that is tailored to fit the client's needs. The group has undertaken such training in the midst of pending litigation (i.e., "crisis management" and "litigation response" training) as well as during the course of regular business activity. We also counsel on proactive measure that help reduce or eliminate exposure, including contract terms and conditions, warning labels and instructions, document retention policies, insurance evaluations and more.
Representative Areas of Experience
- Automotive (including tire and rim mismatches, parts litigation and automotive storage equipment)
- Consumer products (including power tools, toys and small appliances)
- Dietary supplements
- Food products
- Garments (both flammable and nonflammable)
- Health care (including medical malpractice defense)
- Industrial equipment (including forklifts, hydraulic lifts, presses, boring mills and storage equipment)
- Industrial machine builders (including sheers, feeders and straighteners)
- Insurance (including life, health and disability policies)
- Marine/personal watercraft
- Medical devices
- Over-the-counter preparations (including cosmetics, creams and soaps)
- Pharmaceutical (including defense in Baycol® litigation, prescription medicine)
- Premises liability
- Toxic tort (including defense in lead paint and pigment litigation, asbestos litigation)