The complex, often highly technical arena of Products Liability law is a key practice at Polsinelli Shughart. For over half a century, Polsinelli Shughart has been committed to defending manufacturers in complex and high exposure cases. Polsinelli Shughart is a nationally recognized firm with a products liability practice that spans from New York to Los Angeles. Distinguishing us is the ability of our trial lawyers and professional staff to provide not only cost-efficient legal services to manage your litigation risks, but the ability to take any case to any courtroom in the country. More importantly, we know a proper defense requires our personal, in-depth knowledge of your product and its development and testing history. Not only do our attorneys strive to deliver effective and efficient results, we pride ourselves in building strong relationships by getting to know the products we defend and the people and companies behind them.
We defend manufacturers and distributors of motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumer products, appliances, heavy equipment, electronics, chemicals, asbestos and many other products. Our clients benefit from not only our special knowledge in these fields, but also our ability to simplify complex issues for judges and juries. Our goal is to resolve your case efficiently and economically to protect your bottom line and your interests.
National and Regional Trial Counsel Experience
In addition to having tried hundreds of lawsuits throughout the United States, Polsinelli Shughart serves or has served as national counsel and regional trial coordinating counsel for numerous manufacturing clients, including:
- The world’s largest do-it-yourself moving and storage company, handling litigation and discovery throughout the country
- Domestic and Asian car manufacturers
- National and international chemical manufacturers
- Power equipment manufacturers, including makers of transformers and reclosers
- HVAC equipment manufacturers
- Papermaking machinery manufacturers
- Propane and natural gas distributors
Motor Vehicle and Component Part Litigation Experience
We defend not only manufacturers and distributors of motor vehicles, but component part suppliers for on- and off-road vehicles involving defect allegations including:
- Air bags
- Brake systems, including ABS
- Crashworthiness
- Fuel systems
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Fires, including fuel-fed fires
- Glazing
- Handling, stability and vehicle dynamics
- Restraint systems, including all types of seat belt failures
- Rollover and roof crush
- Seats, including seatback and other seat failures
- Tires
- Trailers and Trailer dynamics
- Vehicle structures
Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Litigation
Polsinelli Shughart has built a reputation for effective representation of pharmaceutical and medical device companies in highly complex litigation. Polsinelli Shughart's experience in this area includes defending the following types of claims and allegations:
- HIV – and HCV – tainted blood products
- Clinical trials of investigational drugs
- HRT (hormone replacement therapy)
- Bipolar grasping forceps
- Delivery of therapeutic radiation for treatment of brain lesions
- Orthopedic implants, including knee, hip and associated instrumentation
- Defense of off-label use
- Baby warmers, PCA pumps, oxygen-delivery systems and powered beds
- Cord blood and stem cells transplant
- Breast implant litigation
- Prosthetic implants
- Tetracycline
- Deceptive advertising claims against OTC distributors/manufactures
- Governmental investigations (OIG and DOJ) of medical device companies related to health care regulatory issues
- Coverage disputes between medical device companies and health plans
- Counsel for medical device manufacturers related to fraud and abuse
Finally, but no less importantly, our Products Liability attorneys, working in concert with Polsinelli Shughart’s Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith Litigation practice group, constantly seek to maximize insurance recovery and coverage for products liability claims, minimizing overall exposure and risk for our clients. For more information on this topic, visit our Insurance Coverage / Bad Faith Litigation practice group. Also, for more information on our toxic and mass tort capabilities, visit our Toxic and Mass Tort practice group.