Product Liability

Wiedner & McAuliffe, Ltd. product liability litigation attorneys have a substantial local, regional and nationwide practice in defense of manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Our attorneys have defended against numerous personal injury and property damage claims alleged to have occurred from design or manufacturing products defects. In fact, as national counsel to one of the country’s largest appliance manufacturers, we have litigated product liability cases in nearly all of the 50 states. The breadth of our product experience includes:

Consumer appliances Compressed gas tanks and components Electrical equipment Firearms Dietary supplements Construction equipment Food processing equipment

As a leading product liability defense firm, Wiedner & McAuliffe monitors and helps shape developments and trends in product liability law. By participating in organizations such as the Defense Research Institute and its Product Liability Section, the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, and specialized groups like the National Propane Gas Defense Association, our attorneys can counsel clients on the latest issues and defense strategies involving individual industries.

The attorneys at Wiedner & McAuliffe can tailor a product liability defense program to fit your specific needs by offering one or more of the following additional services:

• initial investigation of claims including early retention of experts required to defend the claim
• exposure and expense budget reserve recommendations
• coordination of claims, lawsuits and defense on national, regional or statewide basis
• single-point contact for all claims and lawsuits
• preparation of consistent discovery responses on a nationwide basis
• protection of your business documents through the use of protective orders
• access to computerized accounts of your claims
• product liability trials
• product liability prevention through discussions with in-house engineers and product reviews
• analysis of warnings and instructions
• product recall analysis and advice
• CPSC reporting requirement and assistance

Aggressive, effective courtroom skills are the foundation of our practice. We have won defense verdicts and summary judgment dismissals and secured favorable settlements in even the most complex and emotional liability cases. For example, we have been in the forefront of defending firearms manufacturers against an attempted extension of public nuisance principles to product liability law.

The emergence of spoliation as a separate cause of product liability action highlights a position that we have advocated for years: the importance of preserving the integrity of the accident scene for civil litigation defendants. Our early retention of experts and timely product inspections have eliminated our client’s products as the cause of the injury or damage in numerous cases, thereby short-circuiting lengthy and expensive litigation. Such success typifies our devotion to every aspect of product liability defense and the protection of the rights of accused manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

A product liability lawsuit dramatically affects the business reputation and financial survival of manufacturers and retailers. Wiedner & McAuliffe attorneys and staff have the experience and resources for the defense of a single product claim or a nationwide claim/litigation coordination program. We give our clients the solutions they need to achieve the results they want.

Our Departments/
Industries Served

Workers' Compensation
Civil Litigation
Commercial Disputes
Construction Disputes
Employment Law
Fire and Explosion
Governmental Resources
Personal Injury and Property Damage
Industry-wide Litigation
Insurance Coverage
Product Liability
Professional Liability
Subrogation and Insurance Recovery
International Representation