Summary

BLG’s Product Liability Group provides legal services relating to issues that occur within any stage of a product’s life cycle. Our team offers significant expertise in product liability disputes – from class actions, crisis management and product recalls to regulatory issues. Our Group is committed to protecting your brand and reputation in its respective marketplace.

The Product Liability Group provides seamless service to clients through a collaborative network of professionals working in six offices across Canada. Representing clients across the country, our Group offers service in both official languages. As many cases involve complex technical issues, a number of our lawyers offer expertise drawn from education and experience with various engineering disciplines.

As a leader in cross-border litigation, our decades of experience in this field enable us to provide you with practical, strategic advice and solutions. Whether dealing with consumer product litigation, obligations under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, government regulations, or client representation at a coroner's inquest or commission of inquiry, we deliver service to maintain a positive brand image for your products.

Publications

Rankings & Recognitions

Many of our lawyers are recognized as pre-eminent in their field. The Group and its members are ranked:

  • Number One in Ontario for Product Liability Law in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada®. Robert Bell, Robert Charbonneau, Norman Letalik, Robert Love, David W. Scott and Michael C. Smith are also recognized individually in this field.
  • “Most Frequently Recommended” in Toronto for Litigation — Product Liability in the 2012 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory. Robert Bell, Timothy Buckley, Robert Charbonneau, Bruce Garrow and David W. Scott are also recognized individually in this field.
  • The 2013 edition of The Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada ranked Robert Bell in the area of Litigation — Product Liability.
  • THe 2012 edition of Benchmark Canada — The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Lawyers ranked Robert Charbonneau and Vincent Orchard for Product Liability.
  • The 2012 edition of Who's Who Legal — The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers ranked Robert Bell for Product Liability Defence.

Representative Work

Members of the Product Liability Group have represented designers, manufacturers, distributors, repairers and medical institutions in cases involving:

  • Vehicles (including automotive parts and tires
  • Recreational vehicles such as ATVs and snowmobiles
  • Drugs and medical devices and prosthetics
  • Motorcycles
  • Watercraft and marine products
  • Firearms
  • Food and beverages
  • Chemicals and fuels
  • Fertilizers
  • All manner of sporting goods including helmets
  • Computer hardware and software
  • Building materials and supplies
  • Heavy equipment
  • Appliances
  • Toys
  • Elevating devices
  • Heating and ventilation equipment
  • Industrial equipment
  • Electrical motors
  • Biological supplies
  • Protective clothing

We act as national counsel for a number of manufacturers.