Heller Ehrman has a long and successful record defending clients in consumer litigation and product liability. Over the last 20 years, changes in the legal environment have led to a sustained increase in the number and variety of legal challenges to our clients' business practices. We have litigated numerous complex and high-profile matters on behalf of clients such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Visa U.S.A. Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Masco Corporation, Behr Process Corporation, Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, Philip Morris USA, The Hertz Corporation and McDonald's Corporation. We have the experience and geographic presence to handle consumer and product-related business practice matters nationwide, regardless of court, administrative tribunal or other venue.
Facts About Our Practice
Our Capabilities
Product Liability Litigation
We defend manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in legal matters that arise in the life of their products and from their services and operations. In recent years, these claims have increasingly straddled both product liability and “unfair” business practices. We have handled actions involving products ranging from tobacco to vaccines to handheld PDAs and
National Coordinating Counsel
We coordinate the defense of multiple actions in different jurisdictions to present a coherent defense. We use tailored databases and imaging systems to manage complex discovery. Our attorneys are familiar with national and regional plaintiff firms and their respective talents and propensities. We consistently use this knowledge – and our talents as aggressive advocates – to achieve favorable results for our clients.
Business Practices Litigation
We are involved in the rapidly developing law relating to business practice and consumer claims. Our attorneys have successfully resolved claims relating to pricing, fees, advertising, consumer disclosures, product and service issues, warranties, sales and marketing issues, lending and trust issues, as well as many other business practices. We have a broad and deep understanding of state consumer and unfair competition laws, as well as the Lanham Act and other national statutory schemes.
Financial Services Litigation
We represent clients throughout the financial services industry – from retail banking to credit cards to mortgage lending and trust administration. We have extensive knowledge of the substantive areas of law affecting financial institutions, including federal laws such as TILA and RESPA, as well as state disclosure and escheat laws. We have tried some of the most significant and high-profile cases brought against the industry in recent years.
Insurance Coverage
We represent insurance policyholders in a variety of coverage issues arising out of insurance for consumer disputes. We analyze insurance coverage issues for our clients and achieve payments for liability and defense costs through negotiation or litigation.
Peter A. Danelo
peter.danelo@hellerehrman.com
+1 (206) 389-6008