Contacts
- Terri Reiskin Leader202-906-8609
Professionals
- Arger, Harry
- Black, John
- Bockus, Jane
- Carey, Michael
- Carruthers, Alison
- Cassar, Matthew
- Chang, Jong-Ju
- Chico, Melanie
- Cooney, Michael
- Cossé, Clay
- Feeney, James
- Fickel, Ashley
- Fresard, Fred
- Gale, Todd
- Gavrilovic, Nina
- Graham, David
- Hoard, Zachary
- Hudgins, Rebekah
- Humphrey, Kathryn
- Jung, Robin
- Kama Jr., Jonathan
- Kinder, C. David
- Kopelevich, Dmitriy
- Kratovil, Christopher
- Lonnie, Dommond
- McGuane, Melissa
- Moreno, Nina
- Nitoff, Christine
- Nystrom, Paul
- Pope, Harold
- Reiskin, Terri
- Rubio, José
- Rucker, Bryce
- Sanchez, Kevin
- Smith, Brian
- Smith, Prescott
- Sullivan, Ryan
- Tatoiu, Anda
- Tew, Eric
- Thomas, John
- Wade, Deron
- White III, Boyd
- Whitefield, Derek
- Woods, R. Craig
Related Practices
Related Industries
Overview
The mid-20th-century emergence of the judicially created doctrine of "strict liability in tort" created a significant and potentially disastrous risk to the manufacturing industry and retail trade. The doctrine fostered an explosion of litigation against product manufacturers, distributors, retailers and others and an area of law commonly known as "product liability."
Dykema attorneys have been in the forefront of the defense of claims pertaining to products of all types. The Firm's representation has spanned the spectrum, representing manufacturers of household products, industrial and construction equipment, vehicle manufacturers, medical devices and drugs, and a wide variety of consumer as well as durable products. Our objective remains the same—to provide a vigorous defense to claims which are unfounded and to work towards a cost-effective disposition when appropriate. In all phases of litigation, our product liability attorneys have formulated legally sound and technologically accurate defenses. We also work with industry groups and standard-making bodies, as well as with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
We have developed resources ranging from appropriate courtroom techniques to pretrial discovery through the appellate process. Many of our attorneys have technical degrees and backgrounds in the sciences, offering clients additional expertise relative to their products. The Firm has also counseled clients in the development of product programs. This development consultation includes product assessment, product safety design, labeling, warnings, advertising, and warranty programs.
The firm is ranked among the top four firms nationwide in product liability, mass tort and class action by The Legal 500 US 2020 and also ranked as one of the top 16 firms nationwide in the area of Product Liability Litigation in BTI's Litigation Outlook 2020 report, based on direct client feedback from in-depth interviews with corporate counsel at the world’s largest companies. Chambers USA 2020 ranked Dykema among top firms nationwide in Product Liability & Mass Torts noting the team has “deep subject matter knowledge and great judgment.”
News
- February 3, 2021
- November 16, 2020
- November 2, 2020
- Dommond Lonnie and Michael Wippler Nominated for Los Angeles Business Journal “Leaders in Law” AwardOctober 27, 2020
- September 27, 2020
- September 6, 2020
- July 31, 2020
- July 29, 2020
- July 1, 2020
- June 18, 2020
- May 15, 2020
- February 19, 2020
- February 10, 2020
- January 13, 2020
- January 13, 2020
- September 4, 2019
- July 10, 2019
- June 7, 2018
- October 28, 2017
- July 25, 2017
- April 11, 2017
- December 8, 2016
- September 26, 2016
- September 16, 2015
- September 3, 2015
- December 15, 2014
- December 1, 2014
- September 26, 2014
- July 10, 2014
- June 20, 2014
- June 9, 2014
- May 14, 2014
- January 7, 2014
- December 18, 2013
- December 4, 2013
- November 21, 2013
- November 20, 2013
- October 22, 2013
- August 15, 2013
- July 16, 2013
- June 24, 2013
- May 21, 2013
- May 7, 2013
- April 16, 2013
- March 28, 2013
- February 20, 2013
- November 7, 2012
- November 5, 2012
- September 12, 2012
- April 4, 2012
- February 15, 2012
- February 10, 2012
Press Releases
- March 23, 2021
- March 8, 2021
- January 29, 2021
- January 21, 2021
- November 5, 2020
- October 22, 2020
- October 9, 2020
- September 18, 2020
- August 20, 2020
- June 10, 2020
- June 9, 2020
- April 23, 2020
- March 6, 2020
- February 18, 2020
- January 29, 2020
- January 15, 2020
- January 7, 2020
- November 25, 2019
- November 1, 2019
- October 30, 2019
- September 3, 2019
- August 22, 2019
- August 15, 2019
- July 9, 2019
- June 12, 2019
- May 29, 2019
- April 25, 2019
- April 2, 2019
- February 15, 2019
- February 7, 2019
- January 30, 2019
- January 10, 2019
- November 1, 2018
- October 30, 2018
- October 18, 2018
- September 10, 2018
- August 15, 2018
- June 7, 2018
- June 5, 2018
- May 30, 2018
- May 3, 2018
- January 30, 2018
- January 23, 2018
- January 8, 2018
- December 11, 2017
- November 1, 2017
- October 26, 2017
- September 18, 2017
- September 5, 2017
- August 15, 2017
- June 5, 2017
- May 31, 2017
- May 26, 2017
- March 8, 2017
- January 10, 2017
- November 14, 2016
- November 1, 2016
- October 6, 2016
- September 1, 2016
- August 15, 2016
- July 27, 2016
- May 27, 2016
- January 27, 2016
- January 25, 2016
- January 11, 2016
- November 16, 2015
- November 2, 2015
- September 8, 2015
- August 18, 2015
- August 3, 2015
- May 28, 2015
- April 6, 2015
- February 4, 2015
- January 21, 2015
- January 13, 2015
- November 20, 2014
- November 3, 2014
- September 15, 2014
- August 26, 2014
- January 14, 2014
- November 8, 2012
- March 7, 2012
- February 14, 2012
- October 27, 2011
- August 31, 2011
- April 18, 2011
- January 24, 2011
- January 10, 2011
- December 9, 2010
Publications
- American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Automobile Litigation NewsletterFall 2020
- Appellate IssuesSpring 2020
- Automotive WorldSeptember 12, 2019
- Bloomberg BNA Product Safety & Liability ReporterMarch 15, 2017
- Bloomberg BNA Product Safety & Liability ReporterOctober 3, 2016https://www.bloomberglaw.com/exp/eyJpZCI6IkEwSzBNMU4xRTg/anM9MCZzdWJzY3JpcHRpb250eXBlPWJuYXBzbHImaXNzdWU9MjAxNjEwMDMmY2FtcGFpZ249Ym5hZW1haWxsaW5rJnNpdGVuYW1lPWJuYSIsImN0eHQiOiJCQk5BIiwidXVpZCI6IlE2U1lPdGVIU2VyaE05QU1yRXkxMEE9PUJRdmk4RW9BNlZGNjBJOUhFbURlK3
- "State Law Product Liability Claims and Federal Question Jurisdiction,"For the DefenseSeptember, 2015, Vol. 57, No. 9
- Metropolitan Corporate CouncilSeptember 3, 2015
- Westlaw JournalVolume 35, Issue 13/April 12, 2013
- "Nicastro and its Progeny: Did the U.S. Supreme Court Usher in a New Liability Landscape 25 Years After Asahi?" (Co-author)Bloomberg's Product Safety & Liability Reporter, 40 PLSR 5834June 18, 2012
Events & Speaking Engagements
- February 10, 2021
- December 10, 2020
- June 11, 2020
- January 15, 2019
- October 16, 2018
- Product liability: bump in the road or big pothole?, Autonomous Vehicle Safety Regulation World CongressOctober 24, 2017
- Legal Challenges: Product Liability, Cybersecurity, Privacy, Ethics, Insurance, and Regulatory Compliance, moderator, Autonomous Vehicle Safety Regulation World CongressOctober 24, 2017
- And Now the Law: Product Liability, Cybersecurity, Privacy, Ethics, Insurance, and Regulatory Compliance, Autonomous Vehicle Safety Regulation World CongressOctober 24, 2017
- September 19, 2017
- September 20, 2016
- October 18, 2016
- Preventative Contract Drafting, 15th Annual Advanced In-House Counsel ConferenceAugust 11, 2016
- June 21, 2016
- May 17, 2016
- March 15, 2016
- January 19, 2016
- October 27, 2015
- Regulatory and Other Class Action Triggers, Product Liability Advisory Council, Fall ConferenceOctober 1, 2015
- Products Liability From Start to Finish, National Business Institute WebcastDecember 19, 2014
- Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Update, PLAC 2014 Fall Conference, Chicago, IllinoisOctober 17, 2014
- Ignition Source v. Cause in Vehicle Fires, 2013 ABA Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Products Liability Litigation Conference
- And Now...The Law - A Review of The Supreme Court's Decisions on International Civil Litigation and Product Liability, 2012 Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Seminar
- And Now, the Law –‘Product Liability Design Defect Law and Litigation – Recent Decisions and Cases to Watch’; "A Review of The Supreme Court’s Decisions on International Civil Litigation and Product Liability, Past and Future," Speaker2012
- The Role of Consumer Expectations in Product Liability Design Defect Law and Litigation, 2012 Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Seminar, Speaker
- There is Electricity in the Air, Dykema Automotive InstituteSeptember 2011
- The Supreme Court’s Newest Decisions and the Re-Shaped Landscape on the Preemption Defense and International Personal Jurisdiction, Moderator and Speaker, American Conference Institute - Automotive Product Liability Litigation SeminarSpring 2011
- Averting and Managing Crisis in the Event of an Automotive Recall (Toyota Case Study), American Conference Institute - Automotive Product Liability Litigation SeminarFall 2010
- Managing Litigation Costs, Selection of Counsel, Formulating Case Strategy, Speaker, American Conference Institute - Automotive Product Liability Litigation SeminarFall 2010
- The Tenth Anniversary of the Restatement of Torts: Products Liability -- A Look Back and a Look Ahead, 2010 Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Seminar, Moderator and Speaker2010
- Products Liability in Tranition: Is there a Sea Change or Steady as She Goes?, 2010 Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation Seminar, Moderator and Speaker2010
- The Challenges for Corporate America: Then and Now, Moderator and Speaker, 2008 Fall Conference, Celebrating PLAC's 25th Anniversary - Special Prograpm on Achieving Fairness in Product Liability for 25 YearsFall 2008
- The Products Liability Restatement: Was it a Success?, Brooklyn Law School Symposium Commerating the 10th Anniversary of the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Product LiabilityNovemberr 13 and 14, 2008
- Dykema's Seminar for Outside Counsel Chairman and presenter2005-2008