Destruction and liability are by-products of fire and explosion. Before the embers are cool, interested parties and their insurers will mobilize lawyers and experts to assess and control liability risks. Insurance companies quickly move to retain subrogation counsel to prosecute claims against other parties to recover losses they are obligated to pay under their first party insurance policies.
Product manufacturers, owners, builders, designers, architects, and their insurance carriers need a law firm that has the capacity to meet the challenges of such fast-paced, high-stakes litigation. Being a nationally recognized product liability law firm has allowed Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP's attorneys to expand their expertise into a specialized niche in successfully representing defendants in litigation stemming from fires, explosions and other catastrophic events, such as the October 2003 69 West Washington high-rise fire that claimed six lives and injured dozens more, the 2007 Evergreen Plaza mall fire and the 2009 Holy Name Cathedral fires.
When disasters occur, it is essential that a law firm participate and direct a thorough investigation and immediately formulate a factual and legal strategy that will be implemented throughout the lawsuit. Working with the client, investigators, scientists and other forensic experts allows the Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP response team to gain tactical advantages and neutralize the head start usually gained by opposing subrogation counsel.
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP has strong relationships with the most talented expert witnesses in the fire and explosion field. Such relationships are key: the outcome of the investigation and trial are heavily dependent upon the special technical talents of expert witnesses. Consequently, these expert choices are critical in developing a successful defense. Other firms without the experience of Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP frequently make mistakes in either retaining consultants without adequate experience or talent or, conversely, over-staff a case with expensive experts that add little value to the case.
Most importantly, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP has real jury trial experience. The firm has taken hundreds of cases to verdict in a wide variety of substantive areas including catastrophic fires and explosions. Lawyers for the firm have tried cases in almost every state in the country in both federal and state court. The firm is dedicated to the trial of civil litigation.
