Product Liability Stockton

PRODUCT DEFECTS

We reasonably expect the products we buy each day to be safe. Unfortunately, many times unsafe products can harm us or those we love. At Brown & Gessell, we have successfully held those who manufacture, distribute or sell defective products accountable. We have fought for the consumer in a broad variety of product defect cases, such as defective tires, pacemaker-defibrillators and industrial equipment.

There are various ways a product manufacturer can be liable:

• Inadequate or absent warnings or directions: There may be poor or absent warnings about potential dangers related to the product. There may be inadequate or absent directions about proper use.
• Defective Design: Prior to the production of the product, the very design many be defective and dangerous.
• Defective Manufacturing: The actual manufacturing of the product can be negligent, creating a dangerous or defective end-product.

In most instances, strict liability, meaning that we do not need to show negligence, can be successfully established against the manufacturer, seller or distributor of consumer goods.

DIVERSE PRODUCT DEFECT CASES

At Brown & Gessell, we have represented clients with product defect cases where the products span everything from construction and automotive products to medical devices. Often product defect cases are consolidated into one large case in one location. In Federal Court, this is called Multi-District Litigation, and Brown & Gessell is familiar with this litigation, having successfully resolved cases involving defective heart defibrillators that were venued eventually in Minnesota. Despite the large scale of this litigation, Brown & Gessell focuses on the clients and their needs and goals. We aim to make the complicated understandable and the complex clear.

Daily, products are recalled or warnings are issued by government agencies charged with protecting the safety of the public. Often, despite these steps, product manufacturers, driven by profits, ignore the risks and danger and continue marketing and selling the products. Often those in society that are least able to protect themselves are at the greatest risk. Roughly 26 infants die each year in this country from crib injuries. Over 11,000 babies require care and treatment in Emergency Departments arising from crib-related injuries. Patients are often injured by the very medications that are prescribed to help them with their illness. Medications such as Vioxx, intended to alleviate pain as an anti-inflammatory, was found to cause heart attacks and strokes. Patients with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia were implanted with internal defibulators with leads that were placed in the patient's heart, so that if their heart stopped suddenly, the unit would shock their heart back into beating. Guidant Corporation, with full knowledge of defective leads that would short out, sold defibulators that would not work. Patients died and many required their units to be removed from their bodies and replaced once the defect was uncovered.

Time is of the essence. The insurance companies and risk managers are working hard to prepare their defense from the moment of the injury. You need to protect your rights by contacting us so that we can defend you and ensure that your rights are preserved. Call, Brown & Gessell at (209) 430-5480. Ultimately, we will protect you.