Consumer Products/Products Liability

Steptoe & Johnson LLP's products team assists preeminent US and foreign consumer products manufacturers and distributors in investigations and proceedings before the US Consumer Product Safety Commission as well as in proceedings before other federal and state consumer agencies.

The team's product liability litigation experience also permits it to move directly from the agency arena into court to defend the same products when they are the subject of litigation.

In addition to our regulatory and litigation practice, we frequently advise companies on all aspects of product liability exposure including liability avoidance, safety committee formation, recall implementation, standards writing, and government reporting requirements.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission Practice 
Steptoe has successfully represented a diverse group of companies whose products have come under investigation by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or who have sought to file Section 15 reports with the Commission.

We have negotiated voluntary corrective action plans and Fast Track recall programs and have assisted clients in addressing the related issues of press releases, video news releases, consumer notices, and recall implementation for numerous products including home appliances, automotive components, furniture, window coverings, industrial machinery, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, and household items such as toys.

We have assisted clients in resolving CPSC recall demands in a matter of weeks, avoiding any major disruption to the company's business during the height of its sales season.  Our many appearances in front of the Commission staff allow us to anticipate the issues that arise with frequency during a CPSC investigation of substantial product hazard, and we can assist your company, through a triage response, in working through the process effectively and efficiently.

Products Liability Avoidance and Product Safety Counseling
Many products liability issues, which embroil manufacturers and distributors in lengthy and costly litigation, can be avoided if a company takes a proactive product safety approach. 

We have assisted manufacturers and distributors in the following:

• identifying product safety issues
• developing company product safety committees
• meeting voluntary industry standards
• developing warning labels and instruction sheets
• implementing effective product recalls, as appropriate. 

We can help your company institute and implement an effective approach to product safety and to address products concerns before they result in litigation.

Success Stories

• Victory for Steptoe on Mobile-Phone Rulings

Events

• Product Safety Webinar—Product Recalls: Effectively Managing the Process