Product Liability & Complex Torts

Product liability and complex tort claims strike at the very heart of business and can pose significant threats to a company's well-earned brand identity. If your company is facing allegations of product defects with an individual personal injury lawsuit, claims of consumer fraud, or widespread class action cases involving multidistrict litigation and consolidated discovery and motion practice in many jurisdictions, the Product Liability & Complex Torts attorneys of ALFA International's global legal network will work quickly and effectively to prevent potential claims, minimize damages and maintain consumer confidence. We know a solid defense requires a coordinated effort, media-savvy attorneys, and a clear, concise message while not losing focus on the substantive issues at stake. By working with in-house attorneys and consulting experts who assist with the technical aspects of all types of products, our attorneys share a reputation for efficiently and effectively defending these types of claims on all fronts.

Product liability, mass tort, class actions and consumer protection statute claims can have potentially devastating consequences to a company, extending well beyond the matter at hand. In addition to the potential economic losses and other sanctions that can be the direct result of a plaintiff victory, social media and traditional news coverage can amplify the effect and result in loss of consumer confidence, weakening of once-powerful brand identities, falling sales, and sinking employee morale.

These threats are serious and very real—which is why the attorneys of ALFA International's Product Liability & Complex Torts Practice Group are committed to providing the highest levels of coordinated client service and effective legal counsel. To preserve a business's hard-won reputation, a company needs a rapid response, intelligent defense, and aggressive representation in the courtroom, across the negotiating table, and in front of the media.

With law firms and lawyers across the United States and around the world, ALFA International's Product Liability & Complex Tort Practice Group can consult with you during the product development and marketing planning process to avert potential compliance, regulatory, and other such issues, or work with you to facilitate product recalls in multiple countries, defend your company in mass tort, class action and multi-jurisdiction litigation, and coordinate communication with regulatory authorities and the media around the globe.

Our team of lawyers represent companies at every point in the distribution chain, including raw-material refiners, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers. We also have worldwide experience in a range of industries from automobiles to consumer products, and many of the practice group members belong to niche working groups that focus on food (human and animal), dietary supplements, pharmacy compounding, drugs, devices, biologics and cosmetics, as well as industrial equipment and materials, chemicals, underground storage tanks, breast implants, and building products. We regularly assist clients in their dealings with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other state and federal agencies. A unique hallmark of the ALFA Product Liability & Complex Tort Practice Group attorneys is the ongoing and timely exchange of information and data on a global scale, relating to alleged product defects, recalls, and regulatory issues as well as new and recent litigation.

Areas of focus

• General business counseling
• Litigation
• Mediation and arbitration
• Lobbying and legislation
• Product recalls and hearings
• Regulatory and licensing
• Warnings and labels
• Standards setting
• Public relations and media management
• Trade associations

Product Liability & Complex Torts Client Advisory Board

The ALFA International Product Liability & Complex Torts Practice Group is grateful to have the the following clients contribute to our on-going success by participating in our Client Advisory Board:

Ed Blakemore, Assistant General Counsel, Rockwell Automation

Nicole Brunson, Senior Corporate Counsel, Litigation, Ingersoll-Rond Company

John Exner, General Counsel, Seneca Foods

Christopher Galla, Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel, Genuine Parts Company

Tom Johnson, Director, Product Litigation, Kawasaki Motor Group

Bryan Larson, Staff VP - Risk Management, Legget & Platt

John Mugnano, Associate General Counsel, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.

Randall Reavis, Senior Product Counsel, Volvo Group North America, LLC

Erin Rolstad, Corporate Counsel, Pinnacle Propane

Chris Schilder, Assistant General Counsel, BrandSafway

Gretchen Schuler, Vice President Insurance Risk Management & Technical Documentation, Invacare Corp.

Everett Smith, General Counsel, ICON Health & Fitness, Inc

Sonia Valdes, VP of Claims, Medmarc Insurance Group