Overview
Robinson+Cole's Product Liability Team is a multidisciplinary group of lawyers with a thorough knowledge of product liability issues. Our lawyers have defended and resolved hundreds of serious personal injury and property damage claims across the country arising from the use of a broad spectrum of products, which includes prominent roles in recent product liability matters that have been national in scope. Our clients include manufacturers of a variety of commercial and consumer products, subcomponents, distributors, and others in the supply chain. We have experience in a wide spectrum of industries, including aerospace, building materials, chemicals, electrical, food and beverage (including nutritional products), industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals, and technology.
Our Services and Our Team
Our lawyers routinely handle claims of manufacturing or design defects and claims involving strict liability, breach of warranty, and failure to warn. We serve as national coordinating counsel to many of our clients in the product liability area, and we have considerable class action experience. In addition, we are adept at dealing with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, including orchestrating product recall efforts.
Our Product Liability Team works closely with many of our industry teams, including, in particular, our Manufacturing Industry Team.
National product liability counsel for the largest global manufacturer of commercial and residential ice machines and related products, a manufacturer of commercial food preparation and refrigeration equipment, a distributor of consumer appliances, and a manufacturer of flooring systems.
Connecticut product liability counsel for a manufacturer of lawn and gardening equipment.
Defense and mediation of multiple claims asserted against a leading manufacturer of stormwater retention systems.
Defense of a leading manufacturer of electronic goods in a class action involving portable DVD players.
Defense of a leading automobile manufacturer in a significant personal injury case involving product design and warning issues.
Successfully represented worldwide helicopter manufacturer in litigation that lasted over six years and arose out of double fatality heli-logging accident in British Columbia. The first phase of the litigation, which was filed in Connecticut, was a wrongful death case involving multiple defendants. In the second phase of the litigation, which was filed in Oregon, Robinson+Cole represented the manufacturer in an contribution/indemnification action brought against the owner/operator of the helicopter. We reached a favorable settlement for our client.
Obtained, on behalf of a major engine manufacturer, federal court dismissal in a wrongful death lawsuit of claims that arose out of a crash of a MD600N helicopter in Turkey that resulted in the deaths of three passengers.
Successfully represented a major engine manufacturer in lawsuit that arose out of a crash of a Bell Helicopter in Iraq that allegedly was due to an in-flight engine failure. The plaintiffs, who were active duty Army officers, sustained significant injuries, and brought suit against our client and a major component manufacturer.
Defended one of the world's leading manufacturers of advanced commercial and military helicopters in a wrongful death lawsuit arising out of the crash of Navy helicopter in Italy. The subject aircraft was being used in a routine instrument navigation training flight carrying a crew of four members of the U.S. Navy.
Successfully represented international manufacturer of airline components in lawsuit involving alleged exposure of employee to toxic chemicals. Plaintiff alleged that the exposure resulted in severe birth defects. The firm reached a favorable settlement for our client.
Successfully represented a North American manufacturer of paints and coatings in a commercial dispute arising out of the manufacture and sale of wood finishing products to a professional cabinet installer.
Successfully represented manufacturer/distributor of nutritional products sold both domestically and internationally in state court ephedra litigation brought by foreign citizen.
Successfully represented a worldwide seller of sports nutrition products in an action against a contract manufacturer and formulator of a protein drink after the product had to be withdrawn from the market due to contamination in the manufacturing process.
Represented one of North America's largest packaged food companies in a series of products liability lawsuits arising out of the nationwide recall of an allegedly contaminated food product.
Obtained voluntary dismissal on behalf of national retailer of climbing equipment in products liability action arising out of a fall off a cliff at a state park. As a result of the firm's litigation efforts, the plaintiff withdrew his action without any compensation.
Defended manufacturer in putative class actions involving alleged defects in consumer products in Connecticut and Illinois federal courts.
Represented a global manufacturer of specialty chemicals that shipped cargo on the MSC Flaminia, which experienced a major casualty in transit to Europe in 2012 resulting in crew member casualties, lost cargo, and extensive vessel damage. After two separate liability phases involving six weeks of trial, the district court entered a finding of no liability for our client.
Represented a global manufacturer of household appliances in defense of product liability and property damage claim. Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of our client.
Represented a leading manufacturer of infant formula in defense of novel product liability claim. Obtained dismissal for client.
Represented a manufacturer of aftermarket–products for the automotive industry in lawsuit alleging personal injury as a result of alleged benzene exposure. Obtained favorable settlement for client.*
Represented a publicly traded manufacturer of personal care electrical products in lawsuit alleging extensive property damage as a result of a fire. Obtained favorable settlement for client.*
Represented manufacturers and distributors of products and equipment in a variety of industries, including the automotive, aviation and aerospace, and construction industries, as national and local counsel in multi-jurisdiction asbestos litigation.*