Product Liability Defense

In the development, manufacture and sale of safe products, there is no substitute for good engineering. It is equally important to have your company legally prepared for any potential lawsuits or government inquiries. Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg is prepared to help defend your company and your product. Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg has extensive experience in litigation involving product liability defense. A number of attorneys in our office have litigated substantial claims involving significant injuries and deaths, multiple parties, insurance coverage questions and voluminous records. We have related expertise in governmental regulations, product recalls, standards compliance and product warranties. Experience in product liability law has taught us many lessons; two of which are critical to our clients – products and warnings should be designed to avoid injury and control liability claims, and products should not be introduced into the marketplace without the advice and review of legal counsel. At the beginning of product research and development, continuing through delivery, and even following consumer purchase, sound legal counsel helps protect manufacturers from potentially catastrophic losses.

We have represented clients in a variety of situations in which allegedly defective or dangerous products led to lawsuits, including cases involving outdoor power equipment of all types, products such as furnaces, boilers, electrical appliances and tools, industrial products such as punch presses, conveyors, mixers and annealing furnaces, chemical application systems, recreational products such as bicycles, snowmobiles and firearms, and various other consumer and commercial products. We have represented one of the largest manufacturers of lawn mowers, garden tractors and other types of outdoor power equipment in all of its product liability cases nationwide for over 30 years. This includes assistance in the formation and management of a captive insurance company and claims investigatory service.

Our extensive experience allows us to help clients properly evaluate the merits of a case, and advise them regarding trial, settlement, and the impact litigation may have on the business. If the case is destined for trial, we have the experience to properly prepare and present the case. We assist clients in locating and retaining engineers, economists or other expert witnesses. We possess a number of technology tools in order to manage complex cases, including proprietary software and computer modeling, all of which have been successfully implemented and are state of the art for complex litigation involving voluminous documents. We strive to control costs and achieve economies of scale.

Product liability claims often involve a serious injury or death. Our attorneys are experienced in vigorously and effectively defending these types of cases in a manner which is mindful of your business needs, aggressive in your defense and respectful to the opposition. We know that facts are often difficult to piece together. Witnesses are crucial. Early investigation is essential, and early evaluation of liability potential is important. Our lawyers understand that legal counsel must integrate a company’s engineering personnel and risk management into the process to maintain a successful team approach to victory. We have also successfully utilized alternative dispute resolution procedures such as mediation and arbitration as a way of resolving disputes in a timely, efficient and cost effective manner.

Members of the Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg Product Liability Defense Group:

Christopher A. Corpus
Richard T. Coyne, Chair
Peter A. Holdsworth
Christopher A. Holecek
Patrick J. Quallich
Scott J. Robinson
Heather Ross

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