Harris Beach mass tort and industry-wide litigation attorneys have represented foreign and domestic clients of all sizes and industry affiliations in some of the most complex and precedent-setting mass torts filed in the last 30 years. We are noted for our proprietary approach to large case management and e-discovery litigation support. Our attorneys are recognized as thought leaders on emerging issues; are active members of industry groups; and are sought-after educators who write and speak for bar associations, trade councils, companies and insurers. Our Mass Torts and Industry-Wide Litigation Group has been named a national Tier 1 Law Firm for Mass Torts Litigation/Class Action-Defendants by U.S. News and World Report® “Best Law Firms” 2021, recognition it has earned each of the last seven years. The Mass Torts and Industry-Wide Litigation Practice Group provides clients with the kind of experience and goal-oriented advice needed to achieve efficient, cost-effective results in large-scale litigation.
Litigation proceedings, typically coordinated in some fashion, often seek recovery for personal injuries or property damage arising out of a single occurrence or a discrete series of events (i.e. a product recall or an environmental release). However, they may also seek to modify the defendants’ business practices by asserting novel theories of liability designed to prompt judicial legislation. If the subject matter is compelling, mass torts can even attract significant media attention.
Whatever the plaintiffs’ aim or the media’s interest, mass tort litigation is a complicated and expensive process for defendants. While all cases proceed through the same general stages, mass torts are typically more difficult to resolve. As the number of interested parties increases, so does the volume of filings, disclosures, motions, coverage issues, potential conflicts and confidentiality concerns. Special court rules may apply, judges may exercise their right to control the proceedings, some of the defendants may opt to act as a group, individual defendants may need to manage their defense in multiple jurisdictions, brands may need to be protected, crisis-management strategies may have to be deployed, and various levels of insurance and reinsurance may be implicated. In addition to the cost of the litigation itself, the threat of multimillion-dollar verdicts can cause irreparable harm to a company’s reputation and financial stability.
Our mass torts and industry-wide litigation group brings a wealth of knowledge to bear on every matter it handles. Our attorneys understand the needs of their insured and self-insured clients and craft individualized, goal-oriented litigation plans to satisfy each of them. Group members focus on “shortest route” solutions and use the firm’s broad array of practice groups and professionals to create interdisciplinary litigation management teams that provide comprehensive, personalized defenses within fee structures that maximize their clients’ return on investment.
Harris Beach Mass Torts and Industry-Wide Litigation Practice Group attorneys are recognized for their ability to handle cases in which complex scientific and legal issues overlap. Group attorneys hold degrees or licenses in fields such as pharmacology, nursing, industrial hygiene, education, food and beverage operations, law enforcement and computer science. Others have held key positions in government, including United States Attorney.
