PRACTICE AREAS
PRODUCTS LIABILITY/MASS TORT LITIGATION
Kardaras & Kelleher LLP has more than 30 years of experience representing foreign and domestic manufacturers, designers and distributors in products liability litigation in the United States and in arbitrations around the world. We have defended Malaysian latex manufacturers in multidistrict litigation; Slovakian tire manufacturers in multi-party litigation; and Chinese manufacturers, designers and distributors in multi-party and single-party claims. We offer realistic defense strategies and innovative solutions. Guiding our foreign clients through the intricacies of the U.S. legal system has become the hallmark of our expertise.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
Mahler v. Zheijiang Wanda Imports - Successfully resolved products liability litigation against Chinese manufacturer of allegedly defective hand truck.
Lemon et al. v. Matador - Successfully defended products liability litigation against Slovakian manufacturer of allegedly defective tires.
In Re Latex Glove Litigation MDL-1148 - Successfully defended Malaysian latex manufacturer in mass-tort products liability litigation arising out of alleged allergies to latex gloves.
Bridges v. Leica - Successfully represented German manufacturer in products liability suit involving medical testing equipment.
PREMISES LIABILITY
Kardaras & Kelleher LLP has extensive experience representing international hotel chains around the world respecting claims for serious injuries allegedly sustained by guests of the hotel that culminate in U.S. litigation. Whether the claim is the result of a slip and fall, a sporting accident or a mass disaster, we have the knowledge and experience to successfully defend complex premises liability actions.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
Chrobak v. Costa Caribe - Successfully defended hotel defendants from claims of injuries arising out of alleged sexual assault on hotel premises.
Deschamps v. Starwood Hotels & Westin Aruba Resorts - Successfully resolved litigation against hotel arising out of slip and fall at Westin Aruba Hotel.
Magid v. Ritz Carlton Hotel Co. LLC - Successfully defended litigation against Ritz Carlton Hotel arising out of injuries allegedly sustained by a guest of the Ritz Carlton, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Barrett v. Hyatt - Successfully defended Hyatt in wrongful death suit arising out of Jet Ski incident in the Cayman Islands.
CIVIL TERRORISM LAW
Kardaras & Kelleher LLP is on the cutting edge of this evolving area of the law. We have the knowledge and experience to help our clients navigate their way through federal anti-terrorism laws and guide them through the complexities of terrorism-related litigation. Terrorism laws reach beyond issues of premises liability and complex personal injury matters. They include potential high exposure civil liability under various federal anti-terrorism statutes. We have developed an expertise in this emerging field of law.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
Niv v. Hilton - Represented Hilton in litigation commenced in New York and Florida by plaintiffs who alleged injuries as a result of the terrorist bombing at the Taba Hilton in 2004. We were successful in removing the case from the United States on the grounds of forum non conveniens.
2009 Jakarta Bombings - Protected the interests of premises owners in resolving claims arising out of the bombings in Jakarta, Indonesia in July 2009, and provided protocol for claims handling in situations arising out of terrorist acts.
2008 Islamabad Bombings - Protected the interests of premises owners regarding terrorist bombing in Islamabad, Pakistan in 2008 and provided protocol for claims handling situations arising out of terrorist acts.
2008 Mumbai Bombings - Protected the interests of premises owners regarding terrorist bombing in Mumbai in 2008 and provided protocol for claims handling in situations arising out of terrorist acts.
2005 Amman Bombing - Protected the interests of premises owners regarding the 2005 terrorist bombing in Amman and provided protocol for claims handling in situations arising out of terrorist acts.
Anti-Terrorism Financing Litigation - Monitoring civil Anti-Terrorism Act (“ATA”) litigation instituted by victims of terrorism against various foreign financial institutions for bodily injuries and deaths as a result of terrorism acts around the world.
INSURANCE COVERAGE INTERPRETATION AND LITIGATION
Kardaras & Kelleher LLP has proven expertise in the interpretation and analysis of insurance policies. We have defended and prosecuted complex insurance disputes on behalf of insurers worldwide. Foreign manuscript policies have become our specialty. Working with local counsel and establishing a solid sustainable coverage position is what we do best.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
Guam Power Authority v. National Union - Successfully defended National Union in coverage dispute involving Time Element Pollution Endorsement in policy issued in Guam.
Hovensa v. AIICO - Successfully resolved bad faith lawsuit filed against AIICO arising out of handling of claims in St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
Dow Corning v. Granite State, et al. - Successfully resolved breast implant coverage litigation on behalf of foreign insurers.
Sofamar Danek v. New Hampshire Insurance Co. - Successfully resolved coverage litigation arising out of the Pedical Screw claims.
ARBITRATION
LouAnn Kelleher is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration and is certified to act as an International Arbitrator. She has successfully defended insurers in arbitrations involving foreign manuscript insurance policies and has also acted as a party arbitrator in insurance and breach of contract. Since privacy and confidentiality is often at the heart of a choice to arbitrate rather than litigate, we cannot provide a representative list of the arbitrations in which we have been involved. However, this is an area where we have developed a growing expertise.
TOXIC TORTS
Kardaras & Kelleher LLP represents various litigants in all aspects of the continually expanding field of toxic torts. We have been involved in water and air pollution, ground and sub-surface water contamination, hazardous waste disposal, asbestos and related industrial contaminants, statutory and administrative regulations, pesticide control, and oil and chemical spill cases. As with all other practice areas, we strive to provide our clients with unique and pragmatic solutions to disputes in simple and complex toxic tort litigation.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
Chemical Spill I-110 South Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Successfully resolved thousands of personal injury claims arising out of a toxic chemical spill from an overturned truck on Interstate 110 in South Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Hilton International v. Coastal Marine - Successfully resolved property damage claims resulting from oil spill from barge in the waters surrounding the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
HIV & Hepatitis Claims Litigation - Successfully resolved thousands of claims arising out of contamination of blood Factor A.
MARITIME
Maritime law is the foundation upon which our law firm was built. We have a broad range of experience in this area including defense of Jones Act cases, cargo claims, collisions, and oil and chemical spills. Our attorneys are members of the Maritime Law Association of the United States and keep current with the latest developments in this area of law.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
Y/M Green v. Energizer, et al. - Successfully resolved litigation against Chinese manufacturer of batteries alleged to have caused a fire on the Y/M Green.
Pan American Grain v. Puerto Rico Port Authority and Procesadora de Granos de Puerto Rico, Inc. , et al. - Successfully defended litigation against Procesadora at trial in Puerto Rico and on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
ISOP v. Kilchem Oceania - Successfully resolved maritime subrogation for property loss as a result of an allision in Venezuela.
Mark Allen Smith Mon River Towing, Inc. M/V Rose G. - Successfully defended ship owner in Jones Act Seaman claim.
