Clients ranging from some of the world's largest manufacturers and insurance companies to burgeoning startups turn to Duane Morris for counsel and representation in claims involving products liability and toxic torts. For years, Duane Morris has worked with clients to develop cost-containment and strategic litigation plans designed to minimize the risk, business disruption and potentially staggering cost of products liability and toxic tort litigation. Our goal is to provide value by acting as proactive counselors and advisors, rather than simply responding to particular problems in isolation. Our attorneys have vast experience in all facets and types of complex tort litigation across all industries.

As one of the 100 largest law firms in the world, Duane Morris can support products liability and toxic torts litigation with our in-house, industry-leading technology and skilled IT professionals. With attorneys working cooperatively and seamlessly in offices across the United States and internationally, Duane Morris offers clients comprehensive, experienced and multidisciplinary representation in the complex products liability and toxic torts challenges they face.

Range of Experience

Early Consultations

Duane Morris counsels clients on regulatory, labeling, packaging and marketing issues to help manage risk and avoid litigation. We advise clients on product safety compliance, reporting, recalls and penalty proceedings before the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), their state counterparts and other regulatory agencies. We also regularly consult clients on compliance with state law requirements, including California Proposition 65. 

Toxic Tort Litigation

As the number of toxic tort and environmental litigation claims grow throughout the country, our attorneys continue to be recognized as leaders and authorities in this field. We have served as national lead trial counsel in cases involving alleged damages from exposure to benzene, PFAS, silica, gasoline, ethylene oxide (EtO) and asbestos, including navigating several challenging matters through litigation and to defense verdicts. From our extensive experience in trying complex toxic torts to verdict in the most challenging jurisdictions, we know that strategic, coordinated case management helps control litigation strategy and costs and can lead to better outcomes. Our goal is to defend our clients from present claims and protect them from such claims in the future. We staff our matters as leanly as possible to achieve the best outcome for our clients, while never compromising on the quality of our representation. Our approach balances sophisticated legal thinking with the essential skills that define excellent trial lawyers: the ability to explain complex scientific facts in simple yet persuasive terms. Understanding the emotional nature of many toxic tort claims, our attorneys draw on both data and empathy to connect with juries. Working with our clients, we target key issues for appeals to make the playing field more level in the toxic tort arena.

National Coordinating Counsel

The core of our practice consists of our considerable national coordinating counsel (NCC) capabilities, multidistrict litigation experience and a deep bench of product liability and toxic tort practitioners. We serve or have served as national coordinating counsel for high profile clients in a wide range of industries, including medical devices, automotive, transportation, pharmaceuticals, beauty and cosmetics, and others. As NCC, we manage the actions, resources and communications of all parties involved, including in-house counsel, local counsel, trial counsel, experts and, when necessary, insurers to ensure adherence to and seamless execution of the defense strategy.

Multidistrict Litigation

Our lawyers have defended clients in the highest profile state-coordinated proceedings and federal court multidistrict litigations (MDL). We handle all aspects of coordinated litigation, starting with defining the scope of the proceeding, to limiting the burden of discovery, through to bellwether trial selection and resolution strategy.

Class Actions

Our lawyers have extensive trial experience in all phases of class actions from challenging class certifications through resolution.

Catastrophic Injuries

Manufacturers, distributors and their insurance companies turn to us to handle the most challenging and catastrophic damages cases across the country.

Industry Insight

Duane Morris attorneys have experience in a wide range of industries, including:

Infrastructure and Transportation

  • Automobile, trucking and rail companies
  • Energy generation equipment
  • Industrial equipment manufacturers
  • Chemical suppliers

Consumer Products

  • Cosmetics and haircare
  • Sporting goods
  • Toys
  • Lithium batteries
  • Safety equipment

Life Sciences and Medical Technologies

  • Prescription and OTC pharmaceuticals
  • Surgical implants and tools
  • Food and food processing
  • Chemical coatings

For Additional Information

For more information, please contact  Sharon L. Caffrey, Stephen H. Sutro, Dana J. Ash, Michael L. Fox, Sean K. Burke, Robert Kum or any of the group members referenced in the Attorney Listing.