Since 1913, Plunkett Cooney has enjoyed a reputation as one of the Midwest’s premier product liability defense firms.

In addition to an outstanding background in the defense of product liability claims, our attorneys have extensive experience dealing with the range of business issues faced by product manufacturers and distributors, such as risk management and loss prevention, warning development, product marketing and distributor agreements, regulatory compliance, document retention and supply chain claims among others. In short, Plunkett Cooney is a full-service products firm.

Product liability practice is complex and requires expertise and a level of creativity beyond that which is typically demanded in routine legal practices. Plunkett Cooney’s practitioners in this area have been widely recognized for possessing these attributes and obtaining the right results. They frequently lecture, and are regularly published, as specialists in their field, both nationally and internationally.  

As the sole Michigan member of ALFA International, Plunkett Cooney works closely with the best product liability attorneys across the United States and around the world. This network allows Plunkett Cooney to assist clients globally with support from proven product liability attorneys.

Plunkett Cooney has the distinction of representing product manufactuers and distriubtors across numerous industries. Our attorneys have successfully handled matters involving the following products:

• Building Materials
• Children’s Products
• Construction Equipment
• Consumer Products
• Drug and Pharmaceutical Products
• Exercise Equipment
• Food Products, including Raw and Unrefined
• Hand-Held Power Tools
• Health Care Devices
• Industrial/Heavy Equipment and Tools
• Manufacturing Tools and Equipment
• Marine Products
• Mass Torts/Class Actions
• Medical Products and Devices
• Recreational Products/Vehicles
• Toxic Torts and Exposures, Industrial, Commercial and Consumer/Household
• Trucks and Trailers, Light and Heavy Duty
• Warranty Development and Litigation, Consumer and Commercial

Litigation Support

Plunkett Cooney utilizes Summation as its primary litigation support software. This powerful and customizable database allows staff members to catalog literally millions of imaged documents, depositions, and supporting materials.

As a case approaches trial or ADR proceedings, the data housed in Summation is seamlessly transferred to Trial Director, a cutting-edge program that eliminates the need for costly and cumbersome “blow-ups” of documents and other evidence. State-of-the-art notebook computers allow our attorneys and paralegals to gain complete access to the resource information they need while out of the office at depositions and during trial.

Representative Matters

• Obtained summary judgment in dispute over highway dynamic message systems
• Obtained summary judgment in case involving severe injuries sustained by child on treadmill
• Obtained reversal and reinstatement of summary judgment by Michigan Supreme Court, which discarded “simple tool” requirement of open and obvious defense in infant death case

Publications

• At Long Last, Appellate Court Clarifies Product Liability Reform Statute: Non-Manufacturing Sellers Not Liable for Breach of Implied Warranty Absent Showing of Fault
• Plaintiff Must Identify a Specific Manufacturing Defect Involved in an Implied Warranty Claim
• Plaintiff Must Identify a Specific Manufacturing Defect Involved In An Implied Warranty Claim
• Spoliation of Evidence May Spoil an Opportunity for Summary Judgment
• Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of Open and Obvious Danger Doctrine and Discards 'Simple Tool' Doctrine in Product Liability Actions
• Court Grants Statutory Rebuttal Presumption of Non-Liability to Qualified Manufacturers