Litigation

Liability Defense

Our Liability Defense team at Roetzel offers experienced, aggressive counsel to defend lawsuits brought against large or small corporations; insurance carriers and their insured clients; financial services entities; retail entities; and transportation providers in the trucking, bus, rail, and automotive sectors. We partner with our clients to identify the most critical issues that face their businesses and provide pragmatic legal counsel to address those issues.

Our attorneys act as advocates for our clients by helping them decide the appropriate course.

We recommend solutions to our clients based upon practical business sense, not just an analysis of legal issues. Our attorneys act as advocates for our clients by helping them decide the appropriate course, whether it includes compliance, preparation for trial or alternative dispute resolution. We recognize that our clients require representation not only during pending litigation, but also before legal issues and claims arise. We respond to that concern by proactively developing and implementing immediate response protocols for our clients nationwide.

Our group of trial attorneys offers extensive knowledge in each of the disciplines that make up an effective risk management team. When appropriate, we call upon the resources and integrated capabilities of our attorneys from other practice areas within the firm to provide a comprehensive approach to a case or legal issue. Our attorneys act as supervising counsel on a local, regional and national basis, coordinating all types of litigation. Roetzel is a member of USLAW Network, a legal network with more than 6,000 attorneys from 110 defense-based law firms, spanning the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Affiliation with USLAW promotes sharing of information between member firms in order to enhance the speed, breadth and geographic reach of legal services provided to each member's clients.

Our Experience

  • Serve as Ohio counsel for several Fortune 500 companies and national retail entities, establishing seminal case law in the premises liability arena
  • Represented major transportation carriers in local, regional, and national cargo claims litigation
  • Handled multimillion-dollar environmental coverage litigation for a corporate industrial client
  • Represented retail and business entities in supplier liability actions brought throughout Ohio
  • Assisted a large industrial client with an emergency response effort resulting from a chemical release from a tank at the client's facility and defended various lawsuits that were filed as a result of the incident
  • Represented major transportation carriers and insurers in local, regional, and national liability litigation
  • Handled fire litigation for both a television manufacturer and an appliance manufacturer
  • Serve as coordinating counsel for emergency response protocol for transportation, retail, and business clients involving catastrophic accidents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Serve as national coordinating counsel for a major tool manufacturer in product liability lawsuits
  • Act as counsel for seven large bus companies throughout Ohio

What We Do

  • Construction litigation
  • Emergency response protocol and services
  • Insurance coverage
  • Liability defense
  • Personal injury defense
  • Product liability and toxic tort
  • Retail litigation
  • Risk management services
  • Transportation and logistics

Related Media & Events

  1. Alerts
    Supreme Court of Michigan Alters Premises Liability Law Framework and Open and Obvious Doctrine - Aug 3, 2023
    To Cap It All Off: Ohio Supreme Court Holds Non-Economic Damages Cap Unconstitutional in Limited Ruling - Apr 18, 2023
    Ohio Appellate Court Finds Virtual Contact Is Not Enough for Personal Jurisdiction - Jul 7, 2022
    “Permanent and Substantial Deformity”: What it Means and How it is Interpreted Regarding the Application of the Statutory Cap on Noneconomic Damages - Mar 29, 2022
    What You Should Know About Liability Waivers for Minors in Ohio - Jun 22, 2021
    Supreme Court of Ohio Tolls Litigation Deadlines and Timelines - Mar 29, 2020
    Before You Write That Check! - Apr 23, 2018
    Recent United States Supreme Court Decision Further Constricts Use of General Personal Jurisdiction to "Forum Shop" Against Transportation Companies - Jun 9, 2017
    Significant Victory for Trucking Company in Admitted Negligence Case - Sep 27, 2016
    A Roetzel Business Litigation Update - Sep 19, 2016
    Ohio Governor Approves Changes in Insurance Subrogation Law, Vetoes Some Provisions - Jul 16, 2015
  2. Articles
    Capped or Uncapped: The Current Status of Ohio’s Statutory Cap On Noneconomic Damages - Spring 2022 - OACTA Quarterly Review
    "Psychodrama: The Plaintiff's Technique that Defense Attorneys Aren't Discussing" - Jan 9, 2019 - Defense Research Institute
    Pokemon GO ... away? - Sep 19, 2016 - Pizza Marketplace
    Pokemon GO ... away? - Sep 19, 2016 - Fast Casual
    Pokemon GO ... away? - Sep 16, 2016 - QSR Web
    The Hidden Costs of Crimes and Criminals: A Primer on Protecting Your Bottom Line and Your Customers - Jul 14, 2016 - Shopping Center Law & Strategy
    Retail Liability in 140 Characters Or Less: Foreseeability In The Social Media Age - Apr 28, 2016
    Defense and Coverage - Can They Co-Exist? - May 15, 2012 - USLAW Spring/Summer Newsletter
    Handling Liability and Coverage Claims: Splitting Files, the Duty to Defend, and Ethical Considerations for Lawyers - Apr 1, 2012 - FDCC Quarterly, Volume 62, Number 1
    Controlling Litigation Costs - Apr 1, 2006 - Smart Business Akron/Canton
    Corporate Antitrust Liability and Compliance Programs - Jan 1, 2002
  3. Firm News
    Roetzel & Andress Earns Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers - Aug 17, 2023
    Roetzel & Andress Names Three New Shareholders - Jan 4, 2023
    Roetzel & Andress Names Four New Shareholders - Jan 1, 2020
    Bob Blackham Achieves Recertification by National Board of Trial Advocacy - Aug 27, 2019
    Andrew Clott Joins Roetzel & Andress as Associate in Chicago - Jul 8, 2019
    Roetzel Welcomes Adam N. Hirsch to Chicago Office - Apr 11, 2018
    Roetzel & Andress Ranked in 2017 "Best Law Firms" - Nov 1, 2016
    Bradley Wright to Speak at the 2016 CLM Boston Conference - Jun 20, 2016
    Roetzel's Akron Office Adds 11 Attorneys - Jan 13, 2016
    Roetzel & Andress Ranked in 2016 "Best Law Firms" - Nov 2, 2015
    Roetzel & Andress Ranked in 2015 "Best Law Firms" - Nov 3, 2014
    Roetzel Ranked Among Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report - Nov 5, 2013
    Roetzel's Bradley A. Wright Named Chair of USLAW Board of Directors - Oct 4, 2013