James G. Bullard 612.335.1512e-mail| vCard
David G. Parry 612.335.7201e-mail| vCard
SciTech litigation turns on issues of science and technology. The Stinson Leonard Street SciTech Litigation practice encompasses a wide range of different types of complex litigation including construction, contract, energy, environmental, patent and product liability cases. Difficult questions involving science and technology can turn up in just about any kind of case today. And, if your business involves the sale of technically innovative products or services, or if your business otherwise depends on technically innovative products, services, or manufacturing procedures to survive or thrive, then there is a high likelihood that some of your litigation will turn on issues of science and technology.
Technical and scientific issues in litigation would not be a problem if most attorneys understood science and were comfortable dealing with complex technical issues, but many are not. On the other hand, many scientists, engineers, and other technically trained professionals are not comfortable in the push-and-tug of litigation or in trying to explain their technical work to opposing counsel, judges, and juries—in layman's language. There is a fundamental divide between scientists and attorneys. We call this the science/law divide, and the divide can be wide and deep. Our experience is that success in SciTech litigation requires attorneys who can bridge this divide, with the ability to understand and explain complex technical ideas and evidence in layman's terms. If the attorneys in charge of the case cannot effectively bridge the science/law divide, the client will inevitably suffer increased expense and frustration, and meritorious claims or defenses may be compromised. Stinson Leonard Street's team of attorneys knows how to bridge this divide. Team Approach to Litigation We strongly advocate teamwork—including key client personnel and outside experts. Teamwork not only helps to bridge the science/law divide but also ensures that the work will be handled by the right staff or expert and as cost-effectively as possible. It also means that information is shared, common goals are developed, and the whole team is able to keep the big picture in mind.We can draw on a deep pool of talent to provide the range of manpower, backgrounds and experience, and billing rates to best fit your case. Our talent pool includes attorneys who have technical backgrounds in biochemistry, electrical engineering, geochemistry, information technology, microbiology, thermodynamics, and many other areas. It also includes attorneys with liberal arts backgrounds who are gifted with the ability to explain complex technical ideas and evidence in ordinary language and who have decades of experience handling cases in court.With our background and experience, we can bridge the science/law divide and help you cross the divide too. This creates a unique synergy among attorneys, client personnel, and experts that optimizes team performance and provides key advantages in achieving your litigation goals: We can provide earlier and more useful case evaluations. We can keep you accurately informed and make sure that you understand all aspects of the case as it develops. We can select and work with experts who are right for the case. We can think on our feet in dealing with technical and scientific issues, and we can react quickly to new developments and can spot and exploit opportunities. We can accomplish more with less—conserving time, energy, and resources—because we can identify the key issues early on, keep our litigation team focused, and recognize realistic opportunities for achieving an early settlement on favorable terms. Throughout the case, we can find the best ways to explain the scientific and technical issues to the judge and jury (or other target audience) in language they will understand. We can also find and develop the human themes that underlie the science and technology and that will enable you to win at trial—themes to explain who is telling the truth, who has acted with integrity and honor, and who deserves to win the case. Relevant Experience Construction litigation, including problems arising at all stages of EPC contracts, building construction, systems and materials defects and failures, and all types of warranty and damage claims. Contract litigation, including disputes arising from engineering or other technical design errors, IP reps and warranties, noise and vibration mitigation, software development, equipment failures, and a wide variety of other technology-focused contracts. Energy litigation, including turbine failures, power plant shutdowns, and generation and transmission issues. Environmental litigation, including CERCLA (Superfund) enforcement actions and private cost recovery and contribution actions, state and federal natural resource damages assessments and claims, the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the defense of toxic tort and chemical exposure actions. Patent litigation, including online locator systems, weather alert systems, online printing and publishing systems, voting equipment, VoIP networks, pharmaceuticals, prosthetic devices, vehicle braking and suspension systems, industrial pneumatic valves, railroad car equipment, agricultural chemicals and waste water treatment facilities. Product liability litigation including aviation, propane and natural gas, transportation and industrial equipment, and pharmaceutical and medical device cases.
Technical and scientific issues in litigation would not be a problem if most attorneys understood science and were comfortable dealing with complex technical issues, but many are not. On the other hand, many scientists, engineers, and other technically trained professionals are not comfortable in the push-and-tug of litigation or in trying to explain their technical work to opposing counsel, judges, and juries—in layman's language. There is a fundamental divide between scientists and attorneys. We call this the science/law divide, and the divide can be wide and deep. Our experience is that success in SciTech litigation requires attorneys who can bridge this divide, with the ability to understand and explain complex technical ideas and evidence in layman's terms. If the attorneys in charge of the case cannot effectively bridge the science/law divide, the client will inevitably suffer increased expense and frustration, and meritorious claims or defenses may be compromised. Stinson Leonard Street's team of attorneys knows how to bridge this divide.
We strongly advocate teamwork—including key client personnel and outside experts. Teamwork not only helps to bridge the science/law divide but also ensures that the work will be handled by the right staff or expert and as cost-effectively as possible. It also means that information is shared, common goals are developed, and the whole team is able to keep the big picture in mind.We can draw on a deep pool of talent to provide the range of manpower, backgrounds and experience, and billing rates to best fit your case. Our talent pool includes attorneys who have technical backgrounds in biochemistry, electrical engineering, geochemistry, information technology, microbiology, thermodynamics, and many other areas. It also includes attorneys with liberal arts backgrounds who are gifted with the ability to explain complex technical ideas and evidence in ordinary language and who have decades of experience handling cases in court.With our background and experience, we can bridge the science/law divide and help you cross the divide too. This creates a unique synergy among attorneys, client personnel, and experts that optimizes team performance and provides key advantages in achieving your litigation goals: