Litigation & Appeals

Product Liability Litigation

Stites & Harbison represents a broad cross-section of product manufacturers in regional and national litigation. We are trial and appellate lawyers who focus on defending complex or high-profile lawsuits.

Stites & Harbison's product liability litigation lawyers have significant experience with most consumer, commercial, and industrial products, including:

  • Asbestos
  • Agricultural vehicles & implements
  • Automobiles & component parts
  • Building materials
  • Beverages
  • Chemicals & dyes
  • Construction equipment
  • Electrical equipment & electronics
  • Food production
  • Industrial tools & presses
  • Ladders & scaffolding
  • Medical devices
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Plastics & composites
  • Recreational vehicles & products
  • Steel & iron components
  • Trucks & transportation fleets
  • Toxic substances

Stites & Harbison also makes a special effort to counsel clients on prevention and risk-management aimed at reducing the incidence of product-related accidents and minimizing or preventing product liability lawsuits.

When lawsuits do occur, our firm's product liability lawyers actively involve product manufacturers in developing the most effective defenses. Among other activities, we:

  • Coordinate the defense of product liability litigation on a regional and national basis
  • Select local counsel
  • Formulate sophisticated strategies
  • Manage relevant and discoverable documents
  • Identify and protect privileged documents
  • Provide uniform discovery responses
  • Prepare company employees for depositions
  • Develop expert witness testimony.

In addition, our lawyers are experienced in litigation budgeting, alternative fee arrangements, and cost-effective case management.

More than 20 attorneys with the firm are trained in the engineering disciplines and natural sciences. Members of the group participate in all national organizations with an interest in the effective defense of product liability lawsuits, serve on editorial boards of industry publications, write and publish useful articles, and appear on national product liability panels and programs.

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Events

Forever Chemicals: What Does Your Business Need to Know and Do?

Date: 10/8/24 - 11/13/24
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

WEBINAR

Forever Chemicals: What does your company need to know and do. Join us for this four-part complimentary webinar that is designed for decisions makers who do not have degrees in chemistry or environmental science - but need practical, actionable advice.

Jennifer J. Cave , John L. Tate , Robert M. Connolly , Whitney Frazier Watt , Neil E. Barton , and Charles H. Stopher October 28, 2024
Press Releases

Jennifer Henry Jackson Selected for Ignite Louisville Class of Spring 2025

The Leadership Louisville Center has selected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Jennifer Henry Jackson to participate in the Ignite Louisville Class of Spring 2025. The six-month class teaches the key components of leadership to young professionals between the ages of 25 and 45 years old.

by Jennifer Henry Jackson October 24, 2024
Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation 2025 Honors 14 Stites & Harbison Attorneys

The 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky. The guide honors the firms and attorneys who have demonstrated the ability to consistently handle complex, high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC October 09, 2024
Press Releases

Brian Butler Inducted as Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers

Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Brian Butler was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) on September 28, 2024, at the Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn. ACTL is composed of preeminent members of the Trial Bar from the United States and Canada.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC October 01, 2024
Press Releases

Carol Dan Browning Named to 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America

Lawdragon has named Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Carol Dan Browning to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America. This is the second consecutive time that Browning has been recognized by Lawdragon for her work in professional liability and drug and medical device litigation. She is one of only two Kentucky attorneys honored in 2025.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC September 24, 2024
Events

IADC 2024 Product Liability Roundtable

Date: 9/12/24
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

J&J World Headquarters, Corporate Conference Center, 1 Johnson and Johnson Plaza, New Brunswick, NJ

This full-day specialty roundtable, sponsored jointly by the Product Liability Committee and Drug, Device and Biotechnology Committee, creates a forum for in-house counsel and outside counsel to learn together and discuss new developments in the product liability arena. Roundtable will be held in New Brunswick, NJ on September 12, 2024. Program co-chair is Louisville office attorney Whitney Frazier

Whitney Frazier Watt July 02, 2024
Press Releases

Carol Dan Browning Appointed Chair of Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Litigation Group

Stites & Harbison, PLLC recently appointed Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Carol Dan Browning as Chair of the firm’s Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Litigation Group.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC April 29, 2024
Press Releases

Edward and Charles Stopher Join Stites & Harbison’s Louisville Office

Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that attorneys Edward H. Stopher and Charles H. Stopher of Boehl Stopher & Graves, LLP have joined the firm’s Louisville, Ky., office. They are members of the Torts & Insurance Practice Service Group and secondary members of the Business Litigation Service Group.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC April 17, 2024
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison Welcomes Bridget Stewart to the Nashville Office

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC welcomes attorney Bridget A. Stewart to the firm based in the Nashville, Tenn., office. She joins the Business Litigation Service Group.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC April 11, 2024
Client Alerts

Sixth Circuit Applies Updated Arbitration Waiver Standard

In a published opinion issued on March 27, 2024, the Sixth Circuit applied for the first time the waiver standard announced in the Supreme Court’s 2022 opinion, Morgan v. Sundance, Inc., 596 U.S. 411 (2022), in affirming the denial of a motion to compel arbitration due to the defendant’s extensive participation in the litigation.

by Robin E. McGuffin and Ashley Owens Hopkins April 04, 2024
Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation Selects Stites & Harbison as 2024 Litigation Firm of the Year for Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Benchmark Litigation recently named Stites & Harbison, PLLC as Litigation Firm of the Year for Kentucky at its 2024 Benchmark US Awards Gala. This is the fourth time Stites & Harbison has received the honor.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC April 03, 2024
Press Releases

Brian Butler Elected Fellow of American Board of Criminal Lawyers

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The American Board of Criminal Lawyers (ABCL) recently elected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Brian Butler as a Fellow. He is one of only five Fellows in Kentucky.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC April 02, 2024
Press Releases

Thad Barnes and Michael Denbow Appointed to Lead Stites & Harbison’s Business Litigation Service Group

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that attorneys Thad M. Barnes and Michael Denbow have been appointed to Co-Chair the firm’s Business Litigation Service Group. Each attorney will continue their diverse legal practices in business litigation.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC March 25, 2024
Press Releases

Demetrius Holloway Earns 2023 Trailblazer Award

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Louisville Bar Association’s (LBA) Diversity & Inclusion Committee recently announced Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Demetrius O. Holloway as the recipient of the 2023 Justice William E. McAnulty Jr. Trailblazer Award.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 25, 2024
Events

2024 ABA Young Lawyers Division's Midyear Meeting

Date: 1/31/24 - 2/5/24

Omni Louisville, Louisville Marriott Downtown and Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville, KY

Attorney Demetrius Holloway will speak on "passing the torch" of diversity to the younger generation of attorneys at this American Bar Association mid-year meeting.

Demetrius O. Holloway January 23, 2024
Press Releases

Robin D. Miller Honored by Ohio Super Lawyers for 2024

MASON, OhioThe 2024 edition of Ohio Super Lawyers recently honored Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Robin D. Miller on its Super Lawyers list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 18, 2024
Events

IADC (International Association of Defense Counsel) 2024 Mid-Year Meeting

Date: 2/18/24 - 2/23/24

JW Marriott Miami Turnberry, 19999 West Country Club Drive, Miami, FL - 33180

Louisville office attorney Whitney Watt will be a speaker at the IADC 2024 Mid-Year Meeting in Miami, Florida February 18-23.

Whitney Frazier Watt January 10, 2024
Press Releases

Jennifer Henry Jackson Elected to CASA of the River Region’s Board of Directors

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the River Region has elected Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Jennifer Henry Jackson to its Board of Directors. She will serve a three-year term.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 10, 2024