Firm's Product Liability expertise featured in Law Times June 2008 Partner Peter Pliszka is featured in a June 2008 article on the critical role corporate in-house counsel plays in spearheading an effective management plan that addresses product recall and crisis scenarios. "This plan should involve a good risk-management program that's designed to reduce risk of safety-related defects in the product, as well as an organized, understandable recall strategy," says Pliszka. "There's so much that needs to happen, essentially simultaneously once some indication of safety-related defect comes to light, that if there isn't a clearly defined plan that sets out what needs to be done and who needs to be involved in doing what, it's typically going to result in mad scramble of panic to try and deal with it." Mr. Pliszka also provides insights into approaches for communications messaging and says, "...the message, firstly, should identify the problem to stakeholders—distributors, retailers, and consumers—and inform them how to determine whether any units they have are part of the affected group of products. Secondly, the message should show that the company is responding in a responsible way. In order to keep the message clear and consistent, it helps to use few spokespeople—even just one. Who that person is depends upon the issue at hand and the severity of the problem."

Related Lawyers Peter J. Pliszka Related Practice Product Liability Related Office Toronto