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The Prentiss Law Firm’s typical clients
include manufacturers and distributors of consumer products,
banks, insurers, public utilities, and a variety of businesses.
Noteworthy representations include:
1. Defended a distributor of imported vinyl
miniblinds that were the subject lead contamination suit brought
by the attorney general of California. Mr. Prentiss served
as a member of the three-person defense steering committee
for defendants that included all major national retailers,
and all national distributors and manufacturers of vinyl miniblinds,
in successful negotiation of a resolution of what became a
national class action.
2. Defended a chemical manufacturer in a products
liability action arising out of the explosion of a chemical
manufacturing plant in Lodi, New jersey, resulting in numerous
deaths and hundreds of alleged injuries. Client was sued both
by the injured plaintiffs and by the owner of the plant, for
damages exceeding $100 million (versus insurance coverage
of $15 million). Case resolved favorably after obtaining summary
judgment that the clients’ chemicals that exploded were
not “products” within the meaning of New Jersey
product liability statute.
3. Represented real estate developer in successful
suit against FDIC for failed bank’s breach of financing
commitment.
4. Represented a yacht manufacturer sued by
a purchaser claiming that his yacht was defective. After six
days of trial, an arbitration panel threw out the purchaser’s
$1.5 million claim, and awarded the manufacturer all of its
fees and costs in the litigation (more than $150,000).
5. Represented a heavy equipment construction
contractor in defense of union benefit fund’s ERISA
claim for contributions. After trial, won dismissal of all
claims, and an award of more than $100,000 in counsel fees
against the fund. |
