Commercial Law & Contracts › Products Liability

CPSC Seeks to Hold Former CEO Responsible for Buckyballs® Recall

Last week the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) obtained an unprecedented ruling when Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Dean Metry granted leave to name Craig Zucker in an administrative complaint against Maxfield and...more

The Evolving Law of Personal Jurisdiction May Affect International Supply Chain Risk

In the last two months, the United States Supreme Court granted review in two cases involving the limits of federal court jurisdiction over foreign companies: DaimlerChrysler AG v. Bauman, No. 11-965 (cert. granted Apr. 22,...more

Courts Are Liberally Construing Litigation Insurance Coverage for Class Action Defenses and So Should Defendants

Although the Supreme Court continues to set the bar for class certification higher and higher, plaintiffs’ attorneys continue to file class action lawsuits of questionable merit. The litigation costs required to gain...more

A Wake-Up Call to the Food Industry: FDA Announces Investigation into Use of Caffeine in Food

On the heels of Wrigley’s new promotion of its new caffeinated gum called Alert Energy, FDA has announced that it will be investigating the safety of caffeine in food products. The use of caffeine in food products has been a...more

Weekly Law Resume - April 26, 2013: Insurance Coverage – Excess v Primary Carriers and Horizontal Exhaustion

Kaiser Cement & Gypsum Corp. v. Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania Court of Appeal, Second District (April 8, 2013) Last year, in State of California v. Continental Insurance Company (2012) 55 Cal.4th...more

Product liability -- How to protect your business in a global economy

A global economy means product manufacturers should take a broader perspective when addressing issues related to product liability. “They have always had to worry about warnings and product defect issues, but now with...more

Product warning labels - How well-written product warning labels can lessen a company’s liability

When screwdrivers were created, they had an obvious use — to turn screws. But over time people started using them as chisels and pry bars, which led to injuries and the addition of warning labels that laid out the proper use...more

Kaiser Opinion May Affect Ability to Stack Policies issued by Single Carrier

Policyholders should continue to assert that limits can be stacked in situations where there is continuing damage, despite the California Court of Appeals’ latest decision in Kaiser Cement & Gypsum Corp. v. Insurance Company...more

European Commission Plans to Change Consumer Product Safety Rules

The European Commission plans to introduce new rules to improve the safety regime applicable to non-food consumer products distributed in the EU. The Commission has put forward a new package of measures to provide more...more

FDA’s Medical Device “Enhancement” Reporting Has Potential Product Liability Implications

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a draft guidance document that could potentially require medical device manufacturers to report a wide variety of device improvements, ranging from routine updates...more

Burning Questions: Furniture and Baby Supply Industries Hit With Prop. 65 Notices for Newly Banned Flame Retardant TDCPP

What started as an effort to make upholstered products safer for consumers has apparently backfired on the furniture and baby supply industries. In the past four months since Proposition 65 (Prop. 65) action has been allowed...more

California Court Addresses Horizontal Exhaustion Requirement

In the recent decision Kaiser Cement & Gypsum Corp. v. Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania 2013 Cal. App. LEXIS 269 (2nd Dist. April 8, 2013), the California Court of Appeal considered whether horizontal or...more

California Court of Appeal Again Finds No Stacking of Liability Policy Limits

Nearly two years ago, the California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District issued a decision that upheld the concept of horizontal exhaustion of primary liability policy limits before triggering the obligation of...more

Drowning in a Sea of Tort: The Florida Supreme Court Reels in the Economic Loss Rule

On March 7, 2013, the Florida Supreme Court in Tiara Condominium Assoc., Inc. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. expressly limited the application of the economic loss rule to products liability cases. 2013 WL 828003 (Fla....more

FDA Energy Drink Regulation in the News: Health Experts Push for Regulatory Changes and Monster Moves to Market as a Beverage...

On March 19, 2013, a group of doctors, researchers, and public health experts sent a joint letter to the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) urging the FDA to make changes to the regulation of energy...more

Risk-Management Mechanisms Associated With Gluten Allergies

Approximately 1% of the United States population is allergic to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. For these individuals, gluten consumption may result in vomiting, bloating, anemia, osteoporosis, diabetes,...more

Levick Weekly - March 22, 2013: The Clairvoyant Corporation - General Counsel As Supermen

In This Issue: - The Clairvoyant Corporation General Counsel as Supermen - Smart Social Media Strategy - The GNC “Jack3d” Lawsuit Retailer Liability Hangs in the Balance - Blogs Worth Following - LEVICK In...more

Illinois Appeals Court Reaffirms Zurich v. Raymark, Strengthens All Sums Precedent Under Illinois Law

In a significant victory for policyholders, the Illinois Appellate Court reversed a trial court decision that John Crane, Inc. (“Crane”) had no excess coverage for asbestos bodily injury claims. By so ruling, the appeals...more

Bronchiolitis Obliterans Claims Expand to New Industries

Bronchiolitis obliterans, once viewed a problem unique to the microwave popcorn and flavoring industries, is quickly expanding to become a widespread phenomena in many workplaces. Researchers continue to expand the list of...more

Business Litigation Update: The Economic Loss Rule Exiled to its Humble Beginnings

Florida’s “economic loss doctrine” (or, the “Rule”), which bars recovery in tort where a contract exists between the parties, is one of Florida’s most hotly contested legal doctrines. The doctrine appears to be fluid,...more

Florida Supreme Court Limits Application of the Economic Loss Rule to Product Liability Cases

Earlier today, the Florida Supreme Court published an important decision in Tiara Condominium Association, Inc., etc. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., et al., No. SC10-1022 (March 7, 2013). The case was before the court...more

When Food Production Leads to Prosecution

Over the last few weeks, two big stories have made headlines in the food industry. Beginning in early February, news media across Europe began reporting that food products tested in several European countries contained...more

Tiara Condominium Association, Inc. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies

Economic Loss Rule

The Florida Supreme Court held that the Economic Loss Rule is limited to product liability cases. However, as discussed in the concurring opinion, this holding will not open up the flood gates for tort claims. Rather, the...more

Pennsylvania Makes Its Mark on National Chinese Drywall Coverage Dispute with “One Occurrence” Decision

On February 15, 2013 a Pennsylvania federal district court held that the shipment of defective drywall from China to the United States constituted one “occurrence” for purposes of insurance coverage, and the occurrence took...more

Pennsylvania Court Holds Drywall Claims Arose Out of Single Occurrence

In its recent decision in Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Devon International, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20659 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 15, 2013), the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, applying Pennsylvania law,...more