Commitment to Practice Areas

The Products Liability Practice Group emphasizes not only legal and regulatory developments in the products liability field, but also advancements in science, safety, and products. Focusing on products often results in identifying unique theories of liability or defense theories that are specific to a product.

We prioritize formal training when laws change that affect products liability litigation. For instance, when Governor Blunt and the Missouri General Assembly enacted a major transformation of tort law in 2005, the Products Liability Group trained each member well in advance of the August 28, 2005 effective date of the law. This training focused on the implications of the new law to products liability suits with respect to venue, potential disputes regarding the place of injury, and questions concerning where symptoms were first manifested.

Many of the attorneys within the Products Liability Practice Group are active members of the following professional and legal organizations that influence these areas of law:

• Eight attorneys within the Products Liability Practice Group were listed in the most recent 2007 edition of Best Lawyers in America for energy, insurance, and personal injury law.

• International Association of Defense Counsel (Produce Liability Committee)

• National Institute of Trial Advocacy

• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel

• Defense Research Institute

• Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers

• National Fire Protection Association

• State Law Resources

• The Products Liability Group designates specific attorneys to remain abreast of changes in certain areas of the product liability field.

Training & Education within the Products Liability Group

New attorneys within the Products Liability Practice Group receive extensive formal training from the most esteemed senior partners on the fundamentals of litigation, including civil procedure matters, the discovery of information from adversaries, and depositions. Within the first six months of joining the Products Liability Practice Group, new attorneys learn the policies and litigation practices for preparing the product lawsuit for trial. Emphasizing internal practices and procedures, the new attorneys are taught specific techniques and procedures for unique products liability litigation and learn to identify the basis for liability through manufacturing design, warning defects, and the principles of strict liability.