Ross M. Petty

My focus

For two decades I have represented large and small businesses across a wide range of industries, including energy companies, vehicle manufacturers, contractors, distributors and property owners. A significant part of my work includes national strategy and coordination of mass tort personal injury litigation.

From trials to appeals, I defend a variety of health effects and property damage claims, including asbestos, silica, mold and catastrophic accidents. I also have substantial experience in insurance coverage matters related to health effects and environmental damage claims.

Representative experience

• Counseled Fortune 100 corporations on national strategy and coordination in defending asbestos-related personal injury litigation.
• Defended product manufacturers, vehicle and equipment manufacturers, distributors, construction contractors, and premises owners in hundreds of asbestos and silica exposure personal injury cases.
• Defended chemical manufacturer in polybutylene tubing case brought by municipal water utility.
• Defended chemical manufacturer in mold exposure personal injury and property damage cases related to plastic tubing used in plumbing systems.
  Defended aerospace contractor in catastrophic injury cases involving high grade explosives.
• Represented vehicle repair facilities related to insurance coverage for alleged environmental damage at CERCLA Superfund site.

Looking ahead

The green chemistry movement continues to build steam. Five years in the making, California’s green chemistry regulations are moving toward implementation. This broad regulatory scheme could have a significant impact on any company selling consumer goods in California, including requiring the reformulation of products determined to contain hazardous chemicals.

Insights

• “Uphill Battle for Bisphenol A Claims?” Law 360, February 12, 2009 (Ross M. Petty)
• “California Supreme Court Clarifies Limits On Recovery of Medical Expenses in Tort Actions,” Nixon Peabody Products: Class Action, Trade & Industry Representation Alert, August 23, 2011 (Lauren M. Michals and Ross M. Petty)
• “Green Chem Regs—Coming to Products Near You?” Law 360, January 25, 2011 (Lauren M. Michals and Ross M. Petty)
• “Spoliation and the Testing of Returned Product—Ethical and Practical Issues,” Defense Research Institute Seminar Course Book, Drug and Medical Device Litigation, April 1999
• “Reimbursement Disputes Can Be Avoided,” Business Insurance, September 1998