Strategies for a Successful Product Liability Defense

This 29-page report written for lawyers features the basic steps involved in a product liability case. Leading product liability lawyers provide an overview of how to formulate the appropriate defense strategy. Emphasis is placed on preparedness and the process of defending a product liability case "from gathering research and understanding the background of the product involved in the claim to determining the most viable defense. The role of the successful attorney is defined, including methods to determine when it is in the best interest of the client to settle and when the case should go to trial and the actions one should take to reduce the possibility for mass tort litigation. The report emphasizes the importance of working together with the client to create an effective defense strategy while minimizing the impact of the case on the company's business.

Other topics include:

• copycat cases
• indications of a frivolous case
• dispositive legal issues
• expert witnesses
• motions summary judgment
• length of time a case will take to be resolved
• financial exposure
• most prevalent areas of product liability
• factors impacting settlement
• determining damages
• requests for admissions
• reliability of testimony
• discovery process
• how to make sure the case is in the right court

This Executive Report is written by:

• James K. Archibald, Partner, Venable LLP - Determining a Product Liability Defense Strategy
• John P. Lavelle Jr., Partner, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP - Preparing to Defend a Product Liability Case
• Frederick J. Ufkes, Partner, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP - Most Prevalent Areas of Product Liability
• William F. Kiniry Jr., Partner, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP - A Focus on Defending Product Liability Litigation
• David R. Berz & Arvin Maskin, Partners, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP - Factors Impacting Product Liability Defense Strategies
• J. Peter Coll Jr., Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP - Developing a Defense Strategy

About Executive Reports:

Executive Reports offer focused, hard-hitting advice from the leaders of some of America's top companies, packaged in a concise, readable format. Each research report provides readers with 3 to 5 strategies that will have a direct financial impact on their business. While not meant as a comprehensive guide, each report includes quick-hit items that can immediately impact specific business strategies. Executive authors drill down to the central issues surrounding each topic area and dispense expert advice in concise, direct language. Executive Reports feature leading professionals selected by the Aspatore Editorial Board based on their experience, research, and standing within the professional community.