Services Casualty Litigation

Kean Miller’s Casualty Litigation Team manages litigation dockets and tries cases for some of the leading companies in the United States. We defend clients locally, regionally, and nationally in a wide variety of claims involving wrongful death, dismemberment, bodily injury, exposure to harmful substances, fear and fright, soft-tissue injuries, and disability. We are adept at analyzing the facts, circumstances, physical evidence, and other details concerning the incident, the venue, the parties and attorneys involved, and the client’s needs, which allows for early case assessment and proactive resolution.

When called for, we try cases. At every phase of litigation, from case planning and depositions to mock trials, jury selection and trial advocacy, we identify and seize opportunities for immediate resolution or long-term favorable outcome. Our extensive experience enables us to effectively prepare executives, managers, and employees for depositions, including corporate depositions. We routinely work with nationally recognized experts across multiple disciplines to help support and defend our clients through the preparation of expert reports and trial testimony. We represent clients in numerous jurisdictions throughout country as lead counsel, local counsel, or National Coordinating Counsel.

Representative Experience

• National Coordinating Counsel for a Fortune 100 company that manufactures and distributes thousands of industrial, commercial, safety, and consumer products in its product liability litigation nation-wide, actively running the nation-wide docket with assistance from local counsel, including day-to-day oversight of the matters, retention and work-up of experts, all aspects of discovery, conducting mock trials, conducting settlement negotiations, and serving as lead trial counsel.
• Representation of a Fortune 100 company in the defense of an allegedly defective product resulting in an electrocution and amputation.
• Defense of a major petrochemical facility in a facility explosion incident resulting in numerous personal injury claims.
• Defense of a Fortune 100 company in a products liability claim arising out of an explosion resulting in severe personal injuries of 2 claimants. Tried a three-week jury trial for an electric motor manufacturer involving a barn fire in which numerous thoroughbred racehorses were lost, and plaintiff sought $7,000,000 in damages. A jury returned a defense verdict for a fraction of this amount.
• Defense of truck manufacturers, seatbelt manufacturers, and manufacturers of other automotive components throughout the United States.
• Representation of numerous automobile manufacturers in product liability and redhibition cases regarding product design, manufacturing, warranty and warning issues.
• Representation of national power tool manufacturers in personal injury actions and fire claims.
• Representation of global chemical and plastic companies in product liability actions.
• Representation of oilfield operators and service companies in products liability, property damage, and personal injury defense.
• Representation of oilfield operators and service companies in contractual defense, indemnity, and additional insured disputes.
• Defended various chemical plants and operators in connection with issues of defective design of equipment involved in fires or explosions.
• Counsel to a major appliance manufacturer in a product liability case involving allegations of brain damage and other health problems resulting from alleged exposure to excess levels of carbon monoxide emitted from an oven. The case was resolved through mediation.
• Representation of an industrial crane manufacturer in defense of product liability, defective design, and product failure claims regarding the collapse of cranes.
• Representation of major companies that manufacturer “highlines” trucks, all-terrain vehicles, and large earth moving machines in product liability claims, involving alleged defects in design and function.
• Defended national chemical manufacturers in confined space nitrogen asphyxiation cases.
• Secured pre-trial dismissal, affirmed on appeal, of claims by landowner alleging wrongful disposal of drilling mud on plaintiff’s property.
• Representation of national top 100 energy and infrastructure construction company in transportation accidents.
• Representation of national transportation company in multi-passenger bus injury claims.