Product Liabilty / Consumer Law
Members of Chambers have experience in a wide variety of Product Liability cases.
Notably, members of Chambers acted for manufacturers of the MMR vaccine in the well-publicised group litigation concerning its safety. O'Byrne v. Aventis, which raises important questions about the effect of the Product Liability Directive, has recently been referred by the House of Lords to the European Court of Justice for a second time. Other recent cases in this area in which members of Chambers have been involved include claims arising from a US class action regarding a drug manufactured by a global pharmaceutical company; and Albright and Wilson v. Biachem in which the House of Lords considered liability issues in relation to a large explosion at the Avonmouth chemical storage depot. Members of Chambers have also dealt with product recall notices before the NICE and associated interim relief applications in the High Court.
Members of Chambers are currently acting for both claimants and defendants in a pending action concerning the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in 2005; and in Colorquest v. Total & Chevron, which concerns claims arising out of a major explosion at the Buncefield Oil depot in 2005.
Recent cases of note include:
- The MMR Litigation (Commercial Court)
- O'Byrne v. Aventis Pasteur (House of Lords & ECJ)
- Colorquest v. Total & Chevron (QBD - settled before trial)
- Albright and Wilson v. Biachem (House of Lords)
- Various Claimants v. Institute for Animal Health (IAH) and Merial Animal Health, The Secretary of State for Environment (QBD - awaiting hearing)
