The need

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs in their class action against a manufacturer of plumbing supplies needed an expert in plastic design to prove their case. The complaint alleged that the defendants manufactured and sold defective pipe fixtures that leaked causing property damage and displacing people from their homes. As the manufacturer had been known to fight aggressively against other similar lawsuits, this was a high stakes matter making the expert even more pivotal.

Our approach

From our conversations with the client, we understood that several factors were important in selecting the ideal expert. First, they needed an exceptionally credentialed expert from academia as they would be expected to analyze parts and provide examples of similar parts. Additionally, the expert would need experience testifying and have been through a class certification hearing as it was almost certain the opposing law firm would bring the case to trial. This in mind, we went to work to find the ideal expert.

The expert

We found an expert with over 50 years of experience in plastics. With a BS in Chemistry and PhD in Organic Chemistry, he led the materials science institute for a top university after spending 30 years working for companies in the plastics industry including a plastics consultancy. Well respected in his field, he was the chairman of a special group in the Society of Plastics Engineers and President of his regional chapter. He had co-authored a book on plastics analysis, published many papers, and lectured extensively on subjects related to his expertise. While a consultant, he specialized as an expert witness on product liability litigation and had testified extensively in the United States and abroad. The case was settled extremely satisfactorily in the plaintiffs favor with the attorneys securing a much larger settlement from the defendants than they had agreed to in prior litigations.