Product Liability

Seyfarth Shaw’s product liability litigators work with clients from a broad range of industries to provide proactive preventive assessments and full-scale litigation services in the area of product liability and general tort law. Clients include manufacturers of products, raw materials and component parts, such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, construction supplies, heavy machinery, chemicals, metals, transportation equipment, pesticides, paints and other household products.

Consistent with the firm’s commitment to helping clients prevent problems before they occur, we conduct liability audits and reviews to identify and control potential weaknesses in production, manufacturing and quality control procedures; purchase and sales literature product inserts and information bulletins; and distribution, recordkeeping and claims procedures. Where advisable, our attorneys also assist with the development of accident and mass tort contingency plans as well as media and public relations control.

Clients rely on our experience, technical expertise and in-depth knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and courtroom precedent to provide them with the most effective pursuit of liability claims and defenses. We have successfully represented clients in jury and bench trials around the country at state and federal levels; and before regulatory agencies, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Believing that swift, efficient resolution is often in our clients’ best interests, we have been involved in numerous alternative dispute resolution proceedings, such as arbitrations, mediations and settlement conferences. Many attorneys are experienced and sought-after ADR specialists who conduct these procedures in a neutral capacity.

We have represented clients in the full range of product liability and general tort actions, including:

• strict product and premises liability;
• breach of warranty;
• fraud;
• common law negligence;
• Uniform Commercial Code warranty claims for economic loss;
• claims under various state consumer and trade practices acts;
• comparative fault, contribution and indemnity claims;
• personal injury actions involving the Structural Work Act and the Federal Employer Liability Act;
• medical malpractice, toxic chemical exposure; and
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforcement actions.