Louisiana Product Liability Defense Lawyer

Products Liability

Product design and manufacturing are integral aspects of many businesses in Louisiana, from the aviation and aerospace industry to medical equipment manufacturing. While companies strive to create effective products, selling or creating products comes with an inherent risk of product liability issues. Businesses need ways to protect themselves from legal actions that could damage their reputation, finances, and more, and a Louisiana product liability defense lawyer can help.

How a Product Liability Defense Lawyer Can Help

Degan, Blanchard & Nash’s experienced products liability attorneys successfully litigate products liability actions against insurance companies, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and retailers in state and federal courts, including class actions and Multi District Litigation claims. We also defend commercial products liability disputes concerning insurance coverage, including direct action claims, when the insured is a party.

We have represented defendants in complex products liability litigation involving toxic torts, recreational products, trailers, machinery and tools, and a host of other products, including:

• Food and agricultural products: Agribusiness is one of Louisiana’s key economic sectors, with farms producing a wide array of crops and products for Louisiana’s residents, as well as for export.
• Defective prescription drugs: Prescription drugs are used by a vast range of citizens for everything from skincare and ADHD to depression and anxiety. While drugs can be hugely beneficial, prescription drug manufacturers may face legal issues, particularly when drugs do not include the proper warnings or disclaimers.
• Medical products and devices: Beyond prescription drugs, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and everyday individuals make use of medical products. These can include anything from a CPAP machine to a hospital bed.
• Pharmaceutical products: Any pharmaceutical could be involved in a product liability case, which is why it is so important for pharmaceutical companies to not only inform customers of potential drug issues but also seek legal support as necessary.
• Building materials: As cities grow and expand, materials ranging from glass, to wood, to concrete are necessary for building projects, housing developments, and other construction projects. Companies are responsible for a certain level of safety in the materials they create or use.
• Flammable clothing: Advances in technology, such as those in the textile industry, help prevent unnecessary accidents and injuries. Fire retardant pajamas are one example of textile improvements. As with all industries, there are certain standards when it comes to the quality of the product, the labeling that must accompany it, and the ways companies can protect themselves while still putting their products on the market.
• Firearms: Firearms can be a liability for owners and manufacturers. In the same way that a gun owner is often responsible for safe storage practices, firearm manufacturers and distributors need to ensure they are following all necessary laws and procedures to protect themself from potentially damaging legal suits.

Our products liability group has also represented insurers in more traditional products liability claims involving injuries caused by fitness equipment, restaurant furniture, motor vehicles, elevators, and cargo elevators.

Product Liability in Louisiana

The state of Louisiana has many thriving businesses. The aerospace and aviation industry, which has businesses in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and beyond, is one of the U.S.’s top industries, with around 14% yearly growth over the past few years. Advanced manufacturing is another key industry in the state, and around 7% of Louisiana’s residents work in the manufacturing sector. NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans is one example of this thriving industry.

In Louisiana, the Products Liability Act sets forth the exclusive theories of a manufacturer’s liability for damages caused by its products. The attorneys of Degan, Blanchard & Nash have vast trial experience to defeat allegations, which allege products are unreasonably dangerous in construction, design, methods of warning, and non-conformity with warranties under the Louisiana Products Liability Act.

Strategies for Building a Strong Defense

Based on our attorneys’ experience in the field of products liability, we recurrently obtain favorable judgments by proving that many claims do not fall within the provisions of the Products Liability Act. We have frequently been able to demonstrate that a plaintiff has not proven his case by showing that the product did not cause the injury in question or that the defect did not exist when it left the manufacturer’s control.

Accordingly, our litigators have obtained favorable defensive victories in the early stages of litigation through summary judgments and other dispositive motions. This is just one of the many strategies our team has successfully used to help corporations dealing with product liability claims.

Successfully navigating appellate court is another way our team can support companies that find themselves dealing with product liability litigation. Louisiana’s appellate court differs from that of other states, which makes having an experienced Louisiana product liability defense lawyer more important. At Degan, Blanchard & Nash, we have also secured favorable appellate rulings, which have been upheld.

Working With a Qualified Team

Our firm’s products liability section retains highly qualified experts who can effectively defend any type of products liability claim. Since the burden is on the plaintiff to prove that a product is unreasonably dangerous, we know the importance of retaining experts recognized in the fields of engineering, medicine, biology, and other areas to guide judges and juries through our defense of a case.

Our experts are well-known, accomplished professionals who have testified in numerous state and federal courts throughout the country and can assist us in obtaining favorable results for our clients. Our experts play an integral part in assisting our preeminent counsel in defending products liability actions during various stages in litigation.

Degan, Blanchard & Nash’s trusted products liability team is ready to go to work for you today to help you defeat any products liability claim against your company. Reach out to our team today.