Hanson Bridgett’s product liability practice group represents businesses in a wide variety of product liability and tort matters. Our lawyers have handled cases concerning adhesives, asbestos, agricultural and industrial chemicals, automobiles, children’s products and toys, computer equipment and technology, construction machinery, cosmetics, household and consumer goods, firearms, industrial machinery, medical devices, power tools, swimming pool equipment, sports equipment, and a variety of transportation devices and equipment, including aircraft, bicycles, boats, buses, motor vehicles and personal watercraft. In addition to strict product liability matters, our lawyers litigate a wide variety of toxic and mass tort, premises liability, negligence and fraud claims. These often involve catastrophic injuries and property damage arising from premises liability, trespass, transportation incidents and industrial accidents. We also have experience with uniquely California claims, such as those based on California’s Proposition 65 and California’s unfair competition law, Business & Professions Code section 17200.
Our trial lawyers have experience as coordinating, regional and local counsel. We are experienced in assembling teams of attorneys, experts and investigators to respond to emergencies anywhere they arise. We monitor emerging trends involving legal, medical and scientific issues and apply these developments in creative ways to help our clients achieve their objectives. We have developed a product liability litigation model to streamline the process and keep our clients informed about the status, strategy and direction of their cases.
Our services include:
- managing client documents and data;
- coordinating discovery responses;
- developing and implementing effective discovery,
- litigation and trial strategies;
- implementing plans for selecting expert witnesses;
- working with experts to develop coherent and consistent presentation models;
- developing medical and technical defenses;
- retaining and working with local trial counsel;
- creating resolution strategies and opportunities;
- preparing for and trying cases; and
- coordinating and drafting appellate briefs, including amicus briefs.
While we start with the premise that every case may result in a trial, we are always on the lookout for alternative methods to resolve claims. Our lawyers are experienced in handling arbitrations, mediations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, and we utilize these tools when necessary and appropriate. Depending on client needs and input, we adapt our time-tested litigation models to fit the situation at hand.
In addition to defending cases, we work with our clients to develop strategies for risk management and prevention, litigation management, insurance recovery, third-party indemnification and debt collection, government and media relations, and technology and intellectual property issues. We are accustomed to using technology to develop and work up cases. Moreover, we can provide electronic billing, reporting and data management services.
Because we strive to understand the business of our clients and look at the big picture, our lawyers have been engaged to provide due diligence analysis of successor liability in corporate mergers and acquisitions. We also have acted as high level strategic counsel to manufacturers and insurers, providing a resource for complex risk analysis, project management and initiatives to promote procedural change and tactical direction.