PRACTICE AREAS

There is growing media interest in the realm of food product claims and issues.  Eckert Seamans’ food liability litigation team understands the great importance of these “bet the company” cases to our food industry clients.  We work with our clients to not only defend claims, but also build a strategy to protect the company and the brand from future lawsuits and to minimize the negative publicity that often follows.

Eckert Seamans attorneys have experience in the law, the economics and the science of food liability litigation.  We’ve handled a multitude of food borne pathogen cases ranging from Hepatitis A to E.Coli to Salmonella.

Clients in the food and agricultural industries - from the grower to the plate, including national and regional food retailers, suppliers and processors - rely on Eckert Seamans to advise and represent them in a variety of matters.  Along with our knowledge and experience, we have relationships with leading experts in food borne illnesses and professionals associated with outbreak response, including crisis communications specialists, epidemiologists and state and local agencies involved in food safety (e.g. the FDA, USDA, and the CDC).

The following is a representative sampling of recent food liability cases handled by Eckert Seamans:

• Successfully defended a grower in national litigation from California to Pennsylvania to Tennesseein the largest outbreak ever of Hepatitis A in the United States
• Successfully defended a major bottling company and restaurants in regard to foreign objects
• Successfully defended grower regarding E-Coli claims linked to lettuce
• Successfully defended a manufacturer on Salmonella infection claims

From the outset, our food liability lawyers treat each case as if it were going to trial.  Early case assessment puts the client in the strongest possible position.  We help clients protect their business and their brands by avoiding protracted litigation whenever possible.  Also, we provide counseling regarding putting into practice Good Agricultural Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices, including counseling retail and dining establishments.