Commercial Liability

HPS has decades of experience in representing clients against an array of commercial liability claims, ranging from transportation litigation to product liability and general commercial liability. Along the way, HPS has served as lead trial counsel in 12 different states, establishing a strong track record of success.

Product Liability. HPS’ vast experience with product liability litigation includes the defense of multinational motor-vehicle manufacturers, manufacturers of tools, and makers of industrial and farm equipment. The firm’s clients include General Motors, Mack Trucks, Monsanto and Ace Hardware, and HPS also serves as national counsel for many foreign companies, including several large manufacturers based in Asia. 

In addition to litigation defense, the HPS product liability team advises clients on issues such as risk management, loss prevention, regulatory compliance, electronic data management and discovery protocols, quality assurance, and product design.

Commercial General Liability. The financial and human costs of litigation are a threat to every business. From property damage, personal injury and product-related claims to general liability claims arising from management or employee negligence, lawsuits can come from many directions and tie up company resources for years on end.

HPS has extensive experience defending both insurers and business clients in such matters in both state and federal courts, with a notable track record of prevailing at trial. The firm’s general tort and commercial liability experience includes issues of premises liability, class actions, civil assault and battery, sexual abuse, closed-head injuries, statutory liability, professional negligence, and toxic torts.

Transportation. Transportation litigation often presents unique challenges, ranging from jurisdictional issues arising from interstate travel to the regulatory complexities associated with modes of transport such as trucking, aviation and rail.

HPS has defended companies in each of those industries over the course of our decades of transportation-litigation experience, as well as bus and coach lines.

The HPS trucking team, for example, has defended trucking firms in each facet of the industry—brokers, shippers, and motor carriers. HPS has a deep understanding of Federal Motor Carrier safety regulations, and can mount a swift and thorough investigation that incorporates physical evidence, witness testimony, and relevant data, all aimed at providing clients with an immediate assessment as well as the foundation for a strong case at trial.

The HPS aviation team includes several pilots with corporate and military experience. They bring firsthand understanding of numerous aircraft, from jet fighters to business jets and commercial “heavies.”