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Professional Experience
Mr. Taylorīs trial practice during the past twenty five years has been devoted almost exclusively to the areas of environmental, toxic tort, product law, and business litigation. His experience and skills as a trial attorney and litigator, and hands-on familiarity with a wide array of scientific, engineering and medical disciplines while representing diverse companies engaged in the design, production and marketing of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals and petroleum products, industrial and high technology equipment, firearms, electrical distribution panels and automotive parts, have contributed significantly to his record of achieving the successful resolution of hundreds of complex cases in a variety of substantive practice areas during his career.
As examples, Mr. Taylor served for several years as regional trial counsel for a major oil and gas industry member on all state-wide soil, groundwater and property contamination lawsuits against its production, storage and retail facilities. He also served for many years as lead trial counsel for a Fortune 100 manufacturer in the Firmīs role as National Coordinating Counsel on nationwide asbestos litigation involving automotive friction product lines. His more recent engagements have included:
A one month jury trial to defense verdict of a design defect claim brought by a plaintiff who sustained severe burn injuries from an explosion and fire while working on a high voltage electrical distribution panel designed by the client;
A multi-million recovery from a large computer manufacturer whose production activities at a client-owned facility resulted in residual lead dust contamination requiring clean-up and causing business disruption;
A three week jury trial to defense verdict of a high profile handicap discrimination and retaliation claim involving environmental health and safety allegations pertaining to the clientīs oil refinery facilities;
A defense judgment in favor of a solvent and radiochemical manufacturing client whose products were alleged by two pharmacists to have caused cancer induction and death through long term work-place exposure;
A dismissal after three weeks of jury trial for a chemical supplier client in an action that alleged terminal pulmonary injuries sustained from inhalation exposure during end-product manufacturing;
A four month jury trial to a liability verdict in favor of a client whose penstock fabrication was alleged to have caused a $130 million structural failure at a hydroelectric facility, leading to a $14 million recovery by the client prior to the damage phase of trial on cross-claims.
In addition to complex personal injury, wrongful death and property damage claims concerning product design and failure and environmental exposure to an assortment of chemicals and biotoxins, Mr. Taylor also offers effective litigation experience with business disputes concerning proprietary and performance claims that have included radiotherapy and data encryption technologies, product formulation, electronic components, and related subject areas, that build on his technology and industry litigation experience.
Education
Harvard Law School, J.D., 1978 Stanford University, B.A., 1975
Professional Memberships and Activities
Member, State Bar of California; Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association (Litigation and Intellectual Property Sections); Member, Federal and American Bar Associations (Litigation, Tort and Insurance Practice Sections); Member, Defense Research Institute. | 