Product Liability Archives - The BTI Consulting Group

Michael J. Kleffner

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:02:30 +0000

Michael focuses his practice on tort and product liability litigation. He handles matters involving automobiles; heavy truck and bus accidents; accident reconstruction and investigation; product design, testing and performance; warnings; mass tort matters related to pharmaceuticals and medical devices; and medical negligence. In each practice area, Michael has handled cases involving significant personal injuries or alleged wrongful death.

Michael has defended motor vehicle product liability cases throughout his entire career, representing major automobile manufacturers in all phases of litigation, including at trial. For more than a decade, he also has represented a major manufacturer of commercial motor vehicles, heavy trucks and buses in product liability matters. These cases have typically involved catastrophic accidents and significant damage allegations.

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Edward Gaus

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:02:30 +0000

Edd’s practice includes a wide range of topics, including product liability, pharmaceuticals, industrial machinery, power tools, commercial disputes, automotive and data security and privacy. During his time at Shook, Edd has served on several successful trial teams and represented a diverse set of clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies, tenants and California inmates alleging Eighth Amendment violations. Most recently, Edd served on a trial team in rural Alaska and contributed to a defense verdict in Hunter v. PMUSA. Edd has also participated in several successful mediations and settlement conferences and uses a calm and thoughtful demeanor to put his clients in the best possible position for success.

Edd has a deep commitment to pro bono work and has volunteered a significant portion of his time to assisting pro se plaintiffs and underprivileged tenants facing eviction. Edd enjoys digging deep into the facts of a case in order to fashion the best defense for his clients. At trial, Edd has prepared cross-examinations of fact and expert witnesses and has served as lead trial counsel for two federal trials in the Eastern District of California. Edd has practiced in both federal and state court and specializes in interstate discovery procedures and expert witness development.

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Patrick Nolan

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:02:16 +0000

Patrick Nolan is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer who has represented companies and individuals throughout the United States and Canada. Advising clients on all phases of the litigation process, from initial claim and fact investigation to civil discovery, trial and appeal, Patrick focuses on litigation claims involving:

Product liability, including personal injury, premises liability and toxic tort matters
Insurance coverage
Indemnity agreements
UCC Article 2 sales and warranty claims
Professional liability

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M. David Short

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:02:16 +0000

David Short is a litigator and trial lawyer who has litigated cases in state and federal courts in 35 states, including trying cases to juries in California, Arizona, Florida and Illinois. David also has successfully handled appeals in Arizona, Illinois and New York, including arguing two matters in the New York Appellate Division, First Department. With clients including manufacturers of fitness equipment, medical devices, marine engines, bicycles and power tools, David focuses on:

Product liability defense
Commercial litigation

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Philip M. Hirshberg

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:02:02 +0000

Phil has over 20 years of experience handling complex civil litigation matters, including multi-party construction defect disputes, toxic tort/asbestos matters, premises liability and commercial litigation. Phil has represented clients in all aspects of the litigation process, including jury and bench trials, dispositive motions, mediation, arbitration and appeals. In his construction practice, Phil has represented owners, contractors, and suppliers in connection with construction defect lawsuits, mechanic’s lien and payment disputes, and construction site injury claims. He has also represented retailers and shopping center owners in landlord-tenant matters and lease disputes. While in law school, Phil was a judicial intern for the Honorable Theodore McMillian of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis, Missouri, and served as a Notes and Comments editor of the Washington University Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law.

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Jonathan K. Waldrop

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:01:36 +0000

Jonathan K. Waldrop, Chair of Kasowitz’s Intellectual Property group, represents industry-leading companies in patent and trademark litigation involving interactive web technologies, video-on-demand telecommunications, cable technology, computer-assisted sales processes, medical devices, cooking ovens, gaming systems and complex financial transactions. He is also experienced in handling commercial and antitrust litigation matters.

Jon’s clients include Google, LG, ASUS, Uber and Adobe, world-leading global technology companies, and Cox Communications, the third largest cable television provider in the United States. He has acted as lead trial counsel in many cases for his clients and has a history of achieving favorable jury verdicts, including his representation of Google and YouTube in a case with such broad potential implications that Wired.com declared, “Texas Jury Strikes Down Patent Troll’s Claim to Own the Interactive Web.” In a separate patent litigation, Jon achieved a verdict touted as the largest verdict of the year in the district in which it was handed down.

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Clay A. Guise

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:56 +0000

Clay Guise is a trial attorney whose practice focuses on commercial and product liability litigation.

He has tried cases in California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and West Virginia, and has briefed and argued appeals in numerous state courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Clay also practiced at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease in Columbus, Ohio and Feeney, Kellett, Wienner & Bush in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

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Richard H. Grafton

tthorp — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:56 +0000

Richard H. Grafton has extensive experience in products liability, personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, and construction defect litigation. Rich has tried cases throughout the State of Texas, including in some of the more notorious venues for corporate clients. Rich has extensive experience defending alleged defects in automobiles, light trucks, school buses, tires, heavy trucks, commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles and trailers, manufactured housing, consumer products, commercial construction projects, and industrial equipment. Rich has an undergraduate engineering degree and spent six years working in the construction industry before attending law school. He later received an M.B.A and his J.D. with honors. Rich relies upon his technical background and business experience, as many cases involve complex engineering and financial issues. Rich is admitted to all federal courts in Texas. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, by BL Rankings, from 2007- Current. He is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell legal directory, and is a member of Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC). When not working, Rich is an full time husband and father to three adult children, part time traveler, aspiring outdoorsman, and hunter.

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Elizabeth M. Chiarello

tthorp — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:17:11 +0000

Clients rely on Beth’s nearly two decades of experience to manage their high-stakes mass tort, toxic tort, products liability, class action, and other complex disputes. She is known for advising clients on crisis management and strategic response, developing cases for trial, and creative and innovative settlement strategies.

Beth Chiarello focuses her practice on defending companies in mass tort, toxic tort, products liability, class action, and other complex litigation disputes. She is a vigorous advocate both inside and outside the courtroom, as she represents clients in significant and high-stakes litigation matters. She has defended class actions and mass tort cases on behalf of Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries, including industrial services, medical device, contract sterilization, pharmaceutical, electronics, financial services, transportation, telecommunications, cosmetics, food, nutritional supplements, and other types of consumer and industrial products. She has served as national coordinating counsel in a variety of nationwide putative class actions and mass tort lawsuits filed in federal and state courts.

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Kristen E. Dennison

tthorp — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:17:11 +0000

Kristen Dennison’s blend of high-level trial and corporate counsel experience gives her a unique understanding of the intersection between litigation and business. While ready to try any case anywhere, Ms. Dennison has the experience to balance the legal advice she provides with sensitivity to the client’s business needs.

Ms. Dennison is an experienced litigator, focusing her practice in product liability and commercial litigation on behalf of product manufacturers, utilities, and other companies in personal injury, death, contract, and property damage cases. Ms. Dennison has defended manufacturers of automobiles, industrial equipment, utilities, aviation components, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. She has also defended companies against claims of professional malpractice and commercial disputes.

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