Bartlit Beck’s product liability practice is extensive, involving nationwide representation of clients in many industries in courts throughout the U.S. The combination of extensive trial experience and a deep understanding of complex procedural issues gives us an advantage over many of our opponents. Our record of success speaks for itself - we have won cases on motion, at trial, and on appeal, and we have obtained and crafted favorable settlements for our clients in cases of all levels of complexity.
Representative examples of our General Product Liability case experience are listed below. Click Here to learn about our experience in Pharmaceutical Products Liability litigation.
Below are summaries of some of the representative product liability cases we have handled.
Rago, et al. v. Federal Signal Corporation
Represented Federal Signal in five-week jury trial of product liability claims brought by 27 Chicago firefighters. Plaintiffs alleged that Federal Signal sirens caused permanent hearing loss. Jury verdict for Federal Signal on all claims of all plaintiffs.
TicoFrut, S.A., v. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
Product liability case involving DuPont’s fungicide Benlate. Plaintiff, Costa Rica’s largest citrus operation, sought $170 million plus punitive damages. Represented DuPont in state court in Miami. Jury verdict for DuPont after seven-week trial.
City of Milwaukee v. NL Industries
Represent NL in jury trial to declare lead paint throughout Milwaukee to be a public nuisance and to hold NL liable for costs of the city’s childhood lead poisoning program. NL, the former National Lead Company, was alleged to have been the largest U.S. producer of lead pigment in the 20th century. Complete defense verdict for NL.
In Re Genetically Modified Rice Litigation
National lead trial counsel for Bayer CropScience in multi-district litigation concerning alleged presence of genetically engineered LLRice 601 and LLRice 604 in commercial rice. Class and individual actions pending in six states; MDL consolidated in Eastern District of Missouri.
Tanner v. International Isocyanate Institute, et al.
Represent Bayer MaterialScience as defendant in class action products liability action concerning Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate (MDI)-containing products used in underground coal mining applications.
Thomas v. Atlantic Richfield, NL Industries, et al.
Represented NL, and acted as lead counsel for all defendants on issues of history and science, in jury trial seeking damages for a young man's alleged brain damage from eating lead paint as a child. Plaintiff alleged negligent failure to warn of lead paint hazards throughout the period 1900-1970. Complete defense verdict for NL and co-defendants.
State of Rhode Island v. Lead Industries Association
Chief trial counsel for client NL Industries and seven other companies sued by Attorney General of Rhode Island. The AG sought to declare the past sale of lead paint a “public nuisance” throughout the State of Rhode Island. Jury voted 4-2 for the defense when it deadlocked after a two-month trial in August-October 2002. Retrial from October 2005 until February 2006 resulted initially in a deadlock (4-2 for defense) and ultimately a verdict for the State. In July 2008, the Supreme Court of Rhode Island unanimously reversed the trial verdict, requiring complete dismissal of the State's lawsuit.
Super Helechos, et al. v. DuPont
Represented DuPont in 10-week Miami jury trial of product liability claims involving Benlate fungicide. Plaintiffs, 27 Costa Rican farms, claimed $396 million damages.
Trial court entered directed verdicts for DuPont on all claims of the largest plaintiffs (constituting 60% of plaintiffs' total claimed damages). Jury awarded other plaintiffs a small fraction of amounts sought.
Florida court of appeals (1) affirmed directed verdicts for DuPont on claims of the largest plaintiffs, and (2) reversed all jury verdicts for other plaintiffs due to numerous trial court errors.
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