Products Liability, Toxic Exposure & Environmental Litigation

Extensive trial experience and true diversity set apart our Products Liability, Toxic Exposure & Environmental Litigation practice.

Whether working with in-house counsel, outside coordinating counsel, insurers or as coordinating defense counsel, our attorneys have a long record of success in novel, jury and bench trial settings. We represent clients in high-stakes litigation, aggressively defending claims, counseling clients on risk management techniques and providing regulatory representation. Six trial lawyers in our core group are recognized among "The Best Lawyers in America," and many have achieved recognition as Maryland "Super Lawyers" for their skill in defending products liability, toxic tort, environmental contamination and medical device claims. Reflecting their recognized talents, this team includes the first African-American President of the Maryland State Bar Association, a past President of Maryland Defense Counsel and the firm's former Managing Partner.

Our track record in shaping the legal terrain of products and toxics litigation in the trial courts, in appellate decisions and in the legislature, is well known. We have served as lead trial counsel in two of the nation's largest consolidated mass tort trials. In a series of appellate decisions, our attorneys shaped Maryland's products liability law, most notably convincing the state's highest court to adopt one of the most stringent standards for punitive damages in the country. As a result of our efforts, punitive damages are practically unheard of in toxic tort litigation in Maryland.  Our trial lawyers have represented numerous potentially responsible parties in CERCLA, mass tort and various environmental claims, securing vindication through summary judgment, successful Daubert challenges to opposing experts, and trial verdicts.

We also have a breadth of experience litigating cases under all of the major federal environmental statutes and many of their state counterparts, in federal district and appellate courts, state courts, and administrative tribunals across the country. Our attorneys have developed one of the leading FIFRA data compensation  practices (AAA arbitrations concerning data compensation requirements under the federal pesticide law).  Our experience includes, for example, conducting internal corporate compliance investigations, defending government enforcement actions, handling citizen suits, representing business associations and coalitions in challenges to EPA rulemakings, serving as counsel in a 60-day CERCLA cost recovery action, and co-authoring an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case concerning the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases.  We have also represented property owners as plaintiffs and defendants in judicial proceedings involving common law claims for property damage, and in challenges to administrative permit approvals.

Our proven experience in personal injury and property damage claims related to products and toxins extends beyond the courtroom. When in our clients' best interests, we pursue dispute resolution through mediation and arbitration. We also provide counsel on product-related bankruptcies, insurance coverage, risk-sharing through contracts, indemnity and contribution, claim management, product safety representation, and legislative issues affecting tort and liability laws.

The breadth of our industry experience includes matters involving:

• Asbestos
• Asphalt
• Automotive Components
• Benzene
• Chlorinated Solvents
• Coal-fired Power Plants
• Ergonomics
• Formaldehyde
• Industrial Equipment
• Lead Paint
• Manganese
• Medical Devices
• Mining Equipment
• Mold
• MTBE and Petroleum Products
• Nuclear Energy
• Nutriceuticals
• Pesticides
• Recreational Products
• Repetitive Stress and Cumulative Injury
• Silica
• Tetraethyl Lead
• Tobacco
• Tools
• Ventilation & Dust Collection Systems
• Vinyl Chloride