Other Specialist Litigation

Product liability claims allege injury from defective products under theories of design defect, manufacturing defect, or failure to warn. Defense strategies include challenging causation, demonstrating compliance with standards, and asserting comparative fault or misuse.

Insurance coverage litigation involves disputes between policyholders and insurers about whether and how insurance policies cover particular claims or losses. It requires analysis of policy language, coverage triggers, exclusions, and the duty to defend versus the duty to indemnify.

Environmental litigation arises from contamination cleanup liability under CERCLA and state laws, permit disputes, enforcement actions, toxic tort claims, and real estate transactions involving contaminated properties. It often involves complex scientific evidence and regulatory frameworks.

Professional liability claims allege that professionals such as lawyers, accountants, engineers, or financial advisors failed to meet applicable standards of care, causing damages. Defense involves establishing that the professional's conduct met the standard and challenging causation and damages.

Fair use is a defense that permits limited use of copyrighted material without permission. Courts consider four factors: the purpose and character of use (commercial vs. educational, transformative vs. copying), the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount used, and the effect on the market. Fair use is highly fact-specific.

For works created today by individual authors, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. Works made for hire and anonymous/pseudonymous works are protected for 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter. Older works may have different terms.

Yes, software code is protected by copyright as a literary work. Both source code and object code can be registered. However, copyright protects the expression of ideas, not the underlying functionality—patent protection may be more appropriate for novel methods and processes implemented in software.

Our virtual legal services offer streamlined, cost-effective solutions for common copyright needs. Services like copyright registration, assignment agreements, and DMCA takedowns are available online with fixed, transparent pricing. You get the quality of a top IP firm with the convenience of digital delivery.