Overview
Mass Tort is defined as a series of interlocking claims growing out of a single incident, product or group of products. Defending mass torts involves a myriad of special skills. Technical legal expectation is certainly required as all decisions made have ripple effects not only on the claims themselves but potentially on the life of the corporate defendant. Mass Torts almost always involve an overlay of publicity and so the ability to deal with the press within the ethical bounds of professionalism and to communicate the client’s position is crucial. Additionally, the firm must be able to deploy the resources to staff multiple tracks of depositions or discovery that may be taking place at the same time. Finally, the lawyers that practice in this area are selected because of a demonstrated ability to deal with very difficult and challenging issues.

Throughout its history, Hedrick Gardner has been fortunate to have a number of lawyers who have dealt with mass tort from industrial disease, asbestosis, and other workplace-related claims through catastrophes, fires, building collapses, and in the current guise of multi-district litigation. We are able to put together experienced teams of trial lawyers to meet client needs throughout North and South Carolina. We have the experience, knowledge, training, and expertise along with the proven hard work which allows us to offer our clients superior service.

Our lawyers have served as national, regional, and local counsel to defendants in complex multi-district litigation and are familiar with the intricacies of such practice. We are able to team with personnel from our clients to take advantage of the superior knowledge by those professionals to bring about our client’s goals.

A sampling of our cases includes:

  1. ConAgra Plant Explosion – Garner, NC
  2. West Pharmaceutical Plant Explosion – Kinston, NC
  3. Lowes (Now Charlotte) Motor Speedway Bridge Collapse – Harrisburg, NC
  4. Imperial Foods Plant Fire – Hamlet, NC