Products Liability & Torts
Our products liability and tort attorneys have a combination of intelligence, tenacity, work ethic and strategic thinking that has led to successfully defending companies in some of the largest products and mass torts litigation in the country. We have the ability to not only quickly identify and grasp the key legal issues in our cases, but to understand and use the science and technology behind the products to posture our cases for a successful defense. Our team consists of attorneys licensed in multiple states and we defend our clients in courts across the country. From opioids to infant formula to chemicals and consumer products, we have been able to obtain favorable results for our clients.
Areas of Focus
Our team handles a wide variety of complex mass tort litigation, MDLs (multi-district litigations), and class actions, as well as serious individual suits alleging personal injury and/or economic loss against manufacturers. We assist our clients with recalls, product withdrawals and regulatory actions with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other federal and state agencies. Our attorneys frequently counsel clients related to warranties, contracts, indemnities and insurance coverage for products liability claims, the Consumer Protection Act, and internal investigations.
Our attorneys handle cases across various industry groups, including:
- Asbestos
- Automotive
- Chemical
- Children’s and infants’ products
- Consumer products
- Electronic devices
- Food and beverage
- Manufacturing products
- Medical devices
- Pharmaceuticals
- Telecommunications
What Sets Us Apart
Aggressive Pursuit of Clients’ Interests: Our attorneys are skilled at using discovery to find favorable arguments in documents and testimony, often achieving early case dismissals or summary judgments. As seasoned trial lawyers, we are prepared to take cases to trial when necessary, but we also recognize the importance of early resolution through mediation or other methods of alternative dispute resolution.
Deep Technical Experience: Our team possesses a profound understanding of the scientific principles and technical aspects underlying each product. This knowledge enables us to effectively address and counter complex scientific arguments in litigation.
Comprehensive Defense Strategy: Serving as national counsel, discovery counsel, expert counsel, regional counsel, and local counsel, we work seamlessly with regional and national counsel to develop a global strategy for resolving multiple cases involving the same product.
Strong Communication Skills: We are strong communicators, both with the courts and our clients. We use oral argument at both the trial court and appellate court levels to effectively advocate our clients’ positions within the bounds of the law. We keep our clients informed according to the level of communication they request so that they can keep their decision makers well-informed.
Success in Every Forum: Our experience spans from arguing in the first-ever Tennessee Supreme Court Zoom hearing to appearances before the Sixth Circuit and local trial courts across the country.
Our commitment to aggressive pursuit of our clients' interests, coupled with our comprehensive industry knowledge and strategic litigation approach, sets our Products Liability and Tort Practice apart as a leader in the field.
Featured Experience
-
Bass, Berry & Sims represents Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, a global pharmaceutical manufacturer, in numerous cases in courts across Tennessee, Kentucky, and...
-
Bass, Berry & Sims represented Neles-Jamesbury and Metso Automation in significant precedent-setting litigation related to whether a product manufacturer has...
-
We successfully moved to dismiss a multiple plaintiff class action alleging that our client had engaged in deceptive trade practices...
-
In 2016, a forest fire destroyed several thousands of acres of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee....
-
We represented Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the defense of approximately 2,500 cases filed in Tennessee related to the anti-obesity drug...
Our products liability and tort attorneys have a combination of intelligence, tenacity, work ethic and strategic thinking that has led to successfully defending companies in some of the largest products and mass torts litigation in the country. We have the ability to not only quickly identify and grasp the key legal issues in our cases, but to understand and use the science and technology behind the products to posture our cases for a successful defense. Our team consists of attorneys licensed in multiple states and we defend our clients in courts across the country. From opioids to infant formula to chemicals and consumer products, we have been able to obtain favorable results for our clients.
Areas of Focus
Our team handles a wide variety of complex mass tort litigation, MDLs (multi-district litigations), and class actions, as well as serious individual suits alleging personal injury and/or economic loss against manufacturers. We assist our clients with recalls, product withdrawals and regulatory actions with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other federal and state agencies. Our attorneys frequently counsel clients related to warranties, contracts, indemnities and insurance coverage for products liability claims, the Consumer Protection Act, and internal investigations.
Our attorneys handle cases across various industry groups, including:
- Asbestos
- Automotive
- Chemical
- Children’s and infants’ products
- Consumer products
- Electronic devices
- Food and beverage
- Manufacturing products
- Medical devices
- Pharmaceuticals
- Telecommunications
What Sets Us Apart
Aggressive Pursuit of Clients’ Interests: Our attorneys are skilled at using discovery to find favorable arguments in documents and testimony, often achieving early case dismissals or summary judgments. As seasoned trial lawyers, we are prepared to take cases to trial when necessary, but we also recognize the importance of early resolution through mediation or other methods of alternative dispute resolution.
Deep Technical Experience: Our team possesses a profound understanding of the scientific principles and technical aspects underlying each product. This knowledge enables us to effectively address and counter complex scientific arguments in litigation.
Comprehensive Defense Strategy: Serving as national counsel, discovery counsel, expert counsel, regional counsel, and local counsel, we work seamlessly with regional and national counsel to develop a global strategy for resolving multiple cases involving the same product.
Strong Communication Skills: We are strong communicators, both with the courts and our clients. We use oral argument at both the trial court and appellate court levels to effectively advocate our clients’ positions within the bounds of the law. We keep our clients informed according to the level of communication they request so that they can keep their decision makers well-informed.
Success in Every Forum: Our experience spans from arguing in the first-ever Tennessee Supreme Court Zoom hearing to appearances before the Sixth Circuit and local trial courts across the country.
Our commitment to aggressive pursuit of our clients' interests, coupled with our comprehensive industry knowledge and strategic litigation approach, sets our Products Liability and Tort Practice apart as a leader in the field.
Experience
-
Bass, Berry & Sims represents Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, a global pharmaceutical manufacturer, in numerous cases in courts across Tennessee, Kentucky, and...
-
Bass, Berry & Sims represented Neles-Jamesbury and Metso Automation in significant precedent-setting litigation related to whether a product manufacturer has...
-
We successfully moved to dismiss a multiple plaintiff class action alleging that our client had engaged in deceptive trade practices...
-
In 2016, a forest fire destroyed several thousands of acres of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee....
-
We represented Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the defense of approximately 2,500 cases filed in Tennessee related to the anti-obesity drug...
-
We serve as outside general counsel for HigherDOSE, a growth stage wellness product and services company. We advise the company...
-
We successfully moved to dismiss a patent infringement case alleging that our client's marketing and sale of a highly successful...
-
We represented a large consumer products manufacturer in two class action claims alleging our client's product emits a chemical in...
-
We represent a large industrial manufacturer in a large number of individual asbestos cases filed in Knoxville, Tennessee. The vast...
-
We represented a preclinical biomedical company in an environmental investigation and remediation that has occurred since 1998. We assisted the...
-
We defended Novartis Consumer Health against claims of renal failure from the use of a pharmaceutical product. We were able...
-
We assisted GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) with defense of the litigation by serving as one of their science counsel, working with the...
-
We represented a food and beverage company in two products liability cases alleging that the company's product was contaminated with...
-
We represented Salix Pharmaceuticals in cases in multiple jurisdictions alleging renal failure suffered as a result of using a pharmaceutical...
-
We served as co-lead counsel for Nissan North America in several purported class actions in a multi-district litigation (MDL), wherein...
Experience
-
Bass, Berry & Sims represents Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, a global pharmaceutical manufacturer, in numerous cases in courts across Tennessee, Kentucky, and...
-
Bass, Berry & Sims represented Neles-Jamesbury and Metso Automation in significant precedent-setting litigation related to whether a product manufacturer has...
-
We successfully moved to dismiss a multiple plaintiff class action alleging that our client had engaged in deceptive trade practices...
-
In 2016, a forest fire destroyed several thousands of acres of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee....
-
We represented Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the defense of approximately 2,500 cases filed in Tennessee related to the anti-obesity drug...
-
We serve as outside general counsel for HigherDOSE, a growth stage wellness product and services company. We advise the company...
-
We successfully moved to dismiss a patent infringement case alleging that our client's marketing and sale of a highly successful...
-
We represented a large consumer products manufacturer in two class action claims alleging our client's product emits a chemical in...
-
We represent a large industrial manufacturer in a large number of individual asbestos cases filed in Knoxville, Tennessee. The vast...
-
We represented a preclinical biomedical company in an environmental investigation and remediation that has occurred since 1998. We assisted the...
-
We defended Novartis Consumer Health against claims of renal failure from the use of a pharmaceutical product. We were able...
-
We assisted GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) with defense of the litigation by serving as one of their science counsel, working with the...
-
We represented a food and beverage company in two products liability cases alleging that the company's product was contaminated with...
-
We represented Salix Pharmaceuticals in cases in multiple jurisdictions alleging renal failure suffered as a result of using a pharmaceutical...
-
We served as co-lead counsel for Nissan North America in several purported class actions in a multi-district litigation (MDL), wherein...
Professionals
| Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
|
Allison Wiseman Acker Member |
(615) 742-7895 | allison.acker@bassberry.com |
|
Shayne R. Clinton Member |
(865) 521-0372 | sclinton@bassberry.com |
|
Alfonso Cuen Associate |
(615) 742-7779 | Alfonso.Cuen@bassberry.com |
|
Jeremy A. Gunn Associate |
(615) 742-7713 | jeremy.gunn@bassberry.com |
|
Kristy J. Huber Senior Litigation Attorney |
(615) 742-7752 | kristy.huber@bassberry.com |
|
Courtney A. Hunter Associate |
(615) 742-7714 | courtney.hunter@bassberry.com |
|
Sarah B. Miller Member |
(615) 742-7802 | smiller@bassberry.com |
|
Jonathan E. Nelson Member |
(901) 543-5988 | jenelson@bassberry.com |
|
Reagan P. Schmidt Associate |
(615) 742-7934 | Reagan.Schmidt@bassberry.com |
|
Jessalyn H. Zeigler Member |
(615) 742-6289 | jzeigler@bassberry.com |
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Contact
"Bass, Berry & Sims is a top-notch law firm with an outstanding reputation for its wide-ranging litigation expertise. It is well equipped to handle disputes in highly regulated industries, with notable capabilities in financial services and healthcare cases. It demonstrates wider strengths in commercial disputes, including class actions, IP claims and privacy disputes. The firm is further active in bankruptcy-related litigation." Client feedback: "I would rate Bass, Berry & Sims' quality of service an A+ - it's fantastic." "Bass, Berry & Sims has a strong bench from top to bottom, and is particularly strong with its representation and promotion of women attorneys, which I notice and appreciate." "Bass, Berry & Sims' ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters is unparalleled. The firm has been able to meet every one of our needs with its talented counsel."
From Chambers USA 2024
