complex tort litigation | Unsafe & Defective Products
Safety should never be compromised.
We seek justice for those who have been the victims of defective products at home, on the road, and in the workplace, taking on even the most powerful companies whose product design, manufacturing or marketing negligence cause harm, injury or death.
Overview
As consumers, we use products with the understanding that they will make our lives easier or more pleasant. We trust them to be safe. Yet, thousands of people are injured or killed every year because of defective or dangerous products ranging from motor vehicles and children’s toys to building materials and medical equipment.
We represent individuals and their family members who have been victims of defective products at home, on the road, and in the workplace. We have not only recovered significant verdicts and settlements for our clients, but we have also helped stop defective products from causing any further pain, suffering, and damage.
We have decades of experience seeking justice against even the most powerful companies whose product design, manufacturing or marketing negligence have caused harm, injury, or death. Our attorneys have a track record of success in handling challenging product liability cases that other law firms have shied away from. We understand that every case is unique, and we have the experience and resources to help you achieve the outcome and compensation you deserve.
Our team includes former civil defense attorneys, criminal prosecutors, and former judicial clerks, who add to the legal and strategic perspective we bring to our client representations in court and in settlement negotiations. The team is complemented by subject matter experts and professionals such as accident re-constructionists, engineers, physicians, and economists.
We represent clients in state and federal courts across the country. Some of our successes include:
- $131 million jury verdict recovered in a defective seatbelt case against Ford Motor Co.
- $60 million settlement against Caterpillar for its diesel engines with defective exhaust emissions
- $18+ million in settlements recovered in restraint system defect cases
- $10 million in settlements recovered in defective guardrail and roadway design cases
- $10 million in settlements recovered in defective airbag cases
- $9+ million recovered in tire tread separation cases
- $4.15 million recovered in automotive unintended acceleration cases
- $3.4 million recovered in post collision fuel fed fire cases
- $1.4 million settlement against Ford Motor Co. for the defective truck roof design
*Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
We are proud of the changes that our efforts have brought to the marketplace for consumers. For example, our discovery efforts in Mincey v. Takata, an airbag product liability lawsuit, furthered the U.S. Department of Justice investigation into Takata Corporation and subsequent recall efforts of Takata airbags – one of the largest recalls in U.S. history.
Scope of Services
We have successfully represented individuals and their family members who have been victims of defective products – at home, on the road, and in the workplace. Our team has experience handling a variety of product defect and products liability claims, including:
- Automotive and Vehicle Components: Seat belts, airbags, tires, roof crush, engines, transmissions, stability and handling/rollovers, fuel and emissions systems
- Highway Design, Hardware, and Safety Systems:Â Guardrails, roadway signs and signals, and roadway lighting and striping
- Children’s Products: Car seats and booster seats, infant sleepers, toys, playground equipment Â
- Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, and Chemicals: Surgical implants, cosmetics, diet supplements, drugs, and other potentially toxic substances
- Home and Building: Power tools, hand tools, furniture, building material, electrical wiring and heavy machinery
- Unsafe Food and Drink Products: Food and food supplements, animal food, water purification, and other beverage products
We can provide a free consultation to help determine if you or a family member has a product liability claim. We work on a contingency basis, so we don’t get paid unless you do.
If you or a loved one has been injured and you believe you may have a legal claim, please contact us at (877) 515-7955 or USE THE CONTACT US BOX BELOW.
Past Cases
Mincey v. Takata
Mincey v. Takata (Cir. Crt., Duval Cnty., Fla.): Cohen Milstein was lead counsel in one of the first lawsuits brought against Takata for a defectively designed airbag which deployed so aggressively during a collision that it rendered our client a quadriplegic. The suit charged that Takata, the manufacturer of the airbag system, not only knew of the airbag defect but hid the defect from millions of consumers. After years of intensive discovery and in-depth work with renowned experts, on the eve of trial Cohen Milstein successfully reached a confidential settlement on behalf of our client. Further, our discovery efforts furthered the U.S. Department of Justice investigation into Takata Corporation and subsequent recall efforts of Takata airbags – one of the largest recalls in U.S. history.
Caterpillar, Inc. Engine Products Liability Litigation
Caterpillar Product Liability Litigation (D.N.J.): Cohen Milstein was co-lead counsel in a nationwide product liability class action lawsuit alleging Caterpillar sold diesel engines with defective exhaust emissions system that resulted in power losses and shutdowns. The case was settled in September 2016 for $60 million.
Vivian Englund v. World Pawn Exchange, LLC
Vivian Englund v. World Pawn Exchange, LLC (Cir. Crt., Coos Cnty., Or.): Cohen Milstein successfully represented the estate of a Kirsten Englund in a wrongful death case of first impression in Oregon state court and nationally, addressing the legal liability for federally licensed firearms dealers involved in online straw sales. The landmark settlement (October 2018) establishes important legal precedent at the state and federal levels regarding gun dealer responsibility for online sales of firearms.
News & INSIGHTS
Today’s news, tomorrow’s change.
Poorad Razavi Speaks on The Use of Product Data in Product Liability Lawsuits
ABA 2025 Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committees’ Joint Regional CLE Program
Product Liability – Frequently Asked Questions
Cohen Milstein
Poorad Razavi to Speak on PFAS & Consumer Products
American Bar Association