Practice Group | Bassford Remele

Products Liability

At Bassford Remele, we have represented clients in an extensive array of products liability claims, both locally and nationally, including food safety claims, multimillion-dollar fire cases, pharmaceutical class actions, complex agribusiness disputes, and more. Across our team, we have decades of experience. In fact, we have acquired a deep working knowledge of products liability law across multiple jurisdictions, including a strong reputation and an extensive network of co-counsel and experts nationwide, which can make all the difference in these kinds of cases.

Products liability cases of any kind can be expensive and time-consuming. We have the know-how to handle every aspect of these claims. A few of our successes include defense of a global client facing multi-state litigation for allegedly exporting moldy cream cheese to China, a regional agribusiness organization facing three wrongful death suits from a propane explosion, and a leading medical device manufacturer contesting a combination of malpractice and liability charges for a major product.

Representative Cases

Represented a food product exporter against a dairy manufacturer and defended related customer claims, obtaining a favorable resolution in a multi-state product liability case involving moldy cream cheese exported to China.

Represented a global pharmaceutical company in a certified question determining choice-of-law issues and the applicability of Minnesota’s longer six-year statute of limitations to thousands of out-of-state products liability claimants. Fleeger v. Wyeth, 771 N.W.2d 524 (Minn. 2009).

Represented a global food manufacturer, obtaining summary judgment in two cases involving alleged Salmonella contamination of peanut butter.

Defended an oil and propane company at trial in Wisconsin, obtaining a defense jury verdict in a case involving frozen pipes.

Defended an agricultural supply cooperative at trial In Iowa, obtaining a defense jury verdict in a wrongful death propane explosion case.

Represented a national restaurant chain, obtaining a favorable result for our client in a case involving an allegation of a foreign object in food.

Represented a global medical-device company in district court and on appeal, winning summary judgment dismissing claims on the grounds of federal preemption and clarifying Minnesota’s shorter statute of limitations for wrongful death claims. Lamere v. St. Jude Med., Inc., 827 N.W.2d 782 (Minn. Ct. App. 2013).

Represented a propane marketer in district court and on appeal in Minnesota, winning summary judgment in a propane explosion case that caused significant burn injuries and damage to multiple properties.

Comments by clients and the legal community:

Bassford Remele provides excellent representation on all of our claims. Their dedication is outstanding.

Bassford Remele has always provided great service and the attorneys that I have worked with are well versed in law.

These comments were collected as part of the U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" research process.

Meet the Team

Mr. Dahlmeier is a products liability trial lawyer with extensive experience defending agribusinesses, product manufacturers, and product suppliers across the United...

David M. Dahlmeier

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Steve Sitek is an aggressive, efficient and ethical trial attorney with more than 25 years of experience representing clients in trust and estate disputes, commercial...

Steven M. Sitek

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Janine Loetscher is a litigator with substantial large-scale loss experience, whose practice focuses in construction, insurance coverage, products liability, and...

Janine M. Loetscher

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Mr. Gilchrist is a litigation attorney, focusing his practice in the areas of products liability, construction, and trust and estate litigation. He is experienced in...