Product Liability

Overview

When it matters most, count on Lightfoot's product liability lawyers.

Product manufacturers have been besieged by litigation in recent years. Even the most diligent and safety-conscious companies must be prepared to respond to product liability claims. In hostile venues, any case can turn into a “bet-the-company” nightmare.

In this climate, it is critical for a company to have experienced, aggressive attorneys to defend its products. That’s where the trial attorneys at Lightfoot come in. Our litigators are thorough researchers who take the time to understand your products, uncover the crucial details required to defend them and present a compelling case.

The firm recently launched its series "Top 10 Legal Questions to Ask When Sued in a Product Liability Class Action," that addresses issues such as standing, jurisdiction, plaintiff-specific proof and whether a class is ascertainable.

Lightfoot attorneys have been defending product manufacturers for decades. We have extensive experience in the defense of sophisticated and complex product liability cases for all types of products, including:

Aircraft
Automobiles
Chemicals
Commercial transportation vehicles
Consumer goods
Firearms
Heavy equipment
Industrial and agricultural products
Medical devices
Pharmaceuticals
Power tools

While Lightfoot routinely resolves product liability claims quickly and quietly out of court, our team of lawyers has the skills and experience to take a case to trial, when needed. We have a long track record of winning high-profile product liability cases involving complex technical, scientific and medical issues. Major companies across the world have trusted Lightfoot’s product liability team when it matters most.

Representative Matters

Securing a rare pre-discovery dismissal of claims against a multinational tractor company in Alabama state court after successfully arguing the plaintiff failed to state claims upon which relief could be granted. The court dismissed the plaintiff's claims with prejudice.
Defending a California-based sports equipment manufacturer in a lawsuit seeking more than $20 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The plaintiff alleged that a bicycle helmet made by the company failed to protect a woman involved in an accident. After a two-week trial and a four-hour deliberation, the Alabama jury sided with our client.
Obtaining a defense verdict in Florida for a ladder manufacturer in which the plaintiff sought $1.9 million in damages for closed head injuries. The plaintiff claimed our client’s wooden ladder had been improperly manufactured, resulting in loss of strength and causing it to collapse.
Persevering to obtain a final judgment in favor of a Korean automotive manufacturer in Virginia. The plaintiffs claimed that the airbag system had a defect that caused significant brain injuries to their 16-year-old son. The case was tried twice. The plaintiffs’ airbag expert testified over our client’s objection. The first trial resulted in a hung jury and the second trial resulted in a plaintiffs’ verdict for $14.3 million. The Virginia Supreme Court agreed with us that the plaintiffs’ expert had no adequate foundation for his opinions, and reversed and entered a final judgment for our client.
Defending an American multinational company in Tennessee in a product liability case involving a radial arm saw. After a four-day trial, the jury deliberated for a day and a half. The court declared a mistrial, finding the jury hopelessly deadlocked on all issues of liability. This case was retried to a defense verdict.
Defending a multinational company and an American retailer in a product liability case in Texas. The plaintiff claimed that our clients’ radial saw was defective because the defendants failed to provide a lower blade guard on the saw. The plaintiffs asked for $1.5 million in closing argument. After deliberating for 90 minutes, the jury returned a verdict in favor of our clients.
Obtaining a defense verdict for an American manufacturer of power tools in a product liability suit in Alabama. The plaintiff alleged that our client’s small angle grinder has a design defect. The victory came in a second trial after the first trial resulted in a hung jury.
Prevailing in a catastrophic injury case in Alabama in which the plaintiff contended that our client, an auto manufacturer, developed a vehicle that was not crashworthy. The plaintiff claimed more than $17 million in past and future medical damages and more than $27 million in total compensatory damages. The plaintiff also asked the jury to award punitive damages. After eight days of trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of our client.
Representing a manufacturer of over-the-road trucks in nationwide crashworthiness litigation, including cases in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia.
Representing the leading supplier of braking systems and controls and active safety systems for commercial vehicles in North America, we serve as the company's national trial and coordinating counsel for all North American litigation and regulatory matters.
Representing numerous major manufacturers in the firearms and ammunition industry, including representation of a European firearms manufacturer in a nationwide class action alleging that certain handguns are defective and unreasonably dangerous.
Representing leading pharmaceutical manufacturers in various cases involving phen/fen diet drugs, OxyContin, phenylpropanolamine (PPA) and other drugs.
Representing a global manufacturer of industrial process systems, motor systems, control systems and consumer products. We have successfully tried cases for this client in Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Defending both foreign and domestic automobile manufacturers in more than 600 cases involving a wide variety of alleged design or manufacturing defects, including cases involving air bag, seat belt, vehicle structure and other crashworthiness claims.
Defending one of the nation’s leading tobacco companies in numerous smoking and health cases throughout Alabama in state and federal courts.
Representing a major gas water heater manufacturer in fire and scald cases in Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Idaho, Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

Articles

Events

News

Top 10 Q&A for Product Liability Class Actions

Overview

When it matters most, count on Lightfoot's product liability lawyers.

Aircraft
Automobiles
Chemicals
Commercial transportation vehicles
Consumer goods
Firearms
Heavy equipment
Industrial and agricultural products
Medical devices
Pharmaceuticals
Power tools

Experience

Representative Matters

Securing a rare pre-discovery dismissal of claims against a multinational tractor company in Alabama state court after successfully arguing the plaintiff failed to state claims upon which relief could be granted. The court dismissed the plaintiff's claims with prejudice.

Defending a California-based sports equipment manufacturer in a lawsuit seeking more than $20 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The plaintiff alleged that a bicycle helmet made by the company failed to protect a woman involved in an accident. After a two-week trial and a four-hour deliberation, the Alabama jury sided with our client.

Obtaining a defense verdict in Florida for a ladder manufacturer in which the plaintiff sought $1.9 million in damages for closed head injuries. The plaintiff claimed our client’s wooden ladder had been improperly manufactured, resulting in loss of strength and causing it to collapse.

Persevering to obtain a final judgment in favor of a Korean automotive manufacturer in Virginia. The plaintiffs claimed that the airbag system had a defect that caused significant brain injuries to their 16-year-old son. The case was tried twice. The plaintiffs’ airbag expert testified over our client’s objection. The first trial resulted in a hung jury and the second trial resulted in a plaintiffs’ verdict for $14.3 million. The Virginia Supreme Court agreed with us that the plaintiffs’ expert had no adequate foundation for his opinions, and reversed and entered a final judgment for our client.

Defending an American multinational company in Tennessee in a product liability case involving a radial arm saw. After a four-day trial, the jury deliberated for a day and a half. The court declared a mistrial, finding the jury hopelessly deadlocked on all issues of liability. This case was retried to a defense verdict.

Defending a multinational company and an American retailer in a product liability case in Texas. The plaintiff claimed that our clients’ radial saw was defective because the defendants failed to provide a lower blade guard on the saw. The plaintiffs asked for $1.5 million in closing argument. After deliberating for 90 minutes, the jury returned a verdict in favor of our clients.

Obtaining a defense verdict for an American manufacturer of power tools in a product liability suit in Alabama. The plaintiff alleged that our client’s small angle grinder has a design defect. The victory came in a second trial after the first trial resulted in a hung jury.

Prevailing in a catastrophic injury case in Alabama in which the plaintiff contended that our client, an auto manufacturer, developed a vehicle that was not crashworthy. The plaintiff claimed more than $17 million in past and future medical damages and more than $27 million in total compensatory damages. The plaintiff also asked the jury to award punitive damages. After eight days of trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of our client.

Representing a manufacturer of over-the-road trucks in nationwide crashworthiness litigation, including cases in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia.

Representing the leading supplier of braking systems and controls and active safety systems for commercial vehicles in North America, we serve as the company's national trial and coordinating counsel for all North American litigation and regulatory matters.

Representing numerous major manufacturers in the firearms and ammunition industry, including representation of a European firearms manufacturer in a nationwide class action alleging that certain handguns are defective and unreasonably dangerous.

Representing leading pharmaceutical manufacturers in various cases involving phen/fen diet drugs, OxyContin, phenylpropanolamine (PPA) and other drugs.

Representing a global manufacturer of industrial process systems, motor systems, control systems and consumer products. We have successfully tried cases for this client in Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Defending both foreign and domestic automobile manufacturers in more than 600 cases involving a wide variety of alleged design or manufacturing defects, including cases involving air bag, seat belt, vehicle structure and other crashworthiness claims.

Defending one of the nation’s leading tobacco companies in numerous smoking and health cases throughout Alabama in state and federal courts.

Representing a major gas water heater manufacturer in fire and scald cases in Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Idaho, Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

News & Insights