National Litigation

Representative Service as Coordinating Counsel

The following are examples of our national and regional coordinating counsel experience:

• Annuity class action suitability litigation
• Asbestos
• Automobile manufacturer - product liability
• Breast Implant Litigation
• Building cladding system components and coatings litigation
• Consumer Beverage Franchisor- E coli product liability
• COX-2 inhibitors
• Fen-Phen Diet Drug litigation
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
• Hotel chain - premise liability and employment issues
• IVV litigation
• L-Tryptophan Dietary Supplement litigation
• Norplant litigation
• Orthopedic Implants
• Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products Liability Litigation Permax litigation (National)
• Reglan drug litigation
• Spinach E-Coli litigation
• Thimerosol litigation
• Tobacco Consumer litigation
• Wound closure product litigation

Why our clients select Gordon & Rees LLP as regional/national coordinating counsel.

• Consistent and effective representation across jurisdictional lines
• Reduction of overall legal costs
• Effective implementation of coordinating litigation in one national forum; including challenging plaintiff's choice of forum
• Developing and implementing successful motion and case management strategy
• Efficient and consistent responses to discovery

Consistent, Effective and Efficient National Representation

As National Coordinating Counsel, Gordon & Rees develops and draws on its established network of local counsel, consultants, and document management services and assists in maintaining consistency among positions taken in litigation.

Challenging the Initial Forum
Defendants' ability to alter plaintiffs' initial choice of forum may be the most critical step in high stakes litigation. In recent years, huge verdicts have been awarded against national corporations in highly publicized cases where plaintiffs' counsel file suit in jurisdictions with reputations of being sympathetic to plaintiffs. Coordinating counsel plays the essential role of providing the expertise of removal of cases to federal court, seeking transfer of cases to a multidistrict proceeding or pursuing other means to change the forum.

Developing a Comprehensive Motion Strategy
Gordon & Rees develops and implements an integrated and consistent motion and case management strategy. Early, aggressive use of motion practice is an important tool in defeating and deterring multiple cases. Motions must be evaluated and used strategically as part of an overall plan developed at the outset of the case, with a vision of a comprehensive end goal for the particular litigation.

Responding to Discovery
A client sued in numerous cases in multiple jurisdictions will be faced with voluminous written interrogatories, document requests and requests for admissions Drafting written responses, locating sources of information to answer the interrogatories, requests for admissions, and producing documents can be time consuming and expensive, as well as disruptive to a client's core business. Assigning coordination counsel responsibility for responses to written discovery and for working closely with the client on document and witness matters will reduce the risk of insufficient or inconsistent responses and document production, avoid costly duplication of effort, and achieve other efficiencies. Coordinating Counsel also is essential in handling depositions of company witnesses. Depositions of different company witnesses or repeated depositions of the same witness in multiple cases may result in inconsistent testimony that often will be used against the client.

Gordon & Rees is on the short list of National Counsel by companies because:

• Gordon & Rees utilizes the latest technologies to manage and access on a national scale company documents, plaintiff medical records, client discovery, expert transcripts, case reporting, local counsel training, motions and demonstrative exhibits.
  
  
• Gordon & Rees has expertise in establishing secure extranet based web portals to keep the client apprised of the universe of cases, high profile cases, national experts, and overall defense strategy work product.
  
  
• Gordon & Rees has an established network of highly qualified local counsel with reasonable rates.
  
  
• Gordon & Rees has the trial lawyers necessary to try cases throughout the United States if necessary.