Tag Archive for: friedrich-seitz

Australian Company Prevails in Products Liability Case

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Friedrich W. Seitz and Eric P. Weiss of the Los Angeles office represented Action Sports Equipment Pty, Ltd., an Australian manufacturer of sporting goods and equipment in a product liability action. Action Sports manufactured mini-trampolines in Australia, which were distributed to the United States through Sports Supply Group, Inc. located in California. An Illinois school district purchased the mini-trampolines through Sports Supply Group for use at its schools.

During a gymnastics class, Ryan Murray, a student in the Illinois school district, attempted a flip on the trampoline and suffered a severe spinal cord injury. He sued Sport Supply and Action Sports in Illinois state court, his claim being valued in the $8-10 million range. Since Action Sports is an Australian company with no ties to the state of Illinois, it was dismissed from the Illinois action for lack of personal jurisdiction.

Thereafter, and during the pendency of the Illinois action, Sports Supply brought an action in California state court against Action Sports for indemnity, apportionment of fault and declaratory relief. Action Sports successfully demurred to the indemnity and apportionment causes of action on the grounds that they were not ripe (i.e. the causes of action did not accrue until Sports Supply paid a judgment or settlement to plaintiff in the Illinois action). That left declaratory relief as the sole cause of action. In essence, Sports Supply was asking for a judicial determination that if it was to be found liable on a products liability theory in the Illinois action, it would be entitled to indemnity from the manufacturer, Action Sports. In defense, Action Sports argued that in order for the court to make such a determination, certain factual issues would have to be decided in the Illinois action. In particular, the Illinois jury would have to determine whether Sports Supply altered, modified or assembled the trampoline prior to delivery to the school district. If so, Sports Supply would not be entitled to full indemnity.

The matter was tried before the California state court, without a jury. After reviewing the evidence and argument of counsel, the court ruled in favor of Action Sports finding that Sports Supply did not meet its burden of showing that it had not modified, altered or assembled the trampoline. Thus, the court could not make a determination as to the respective rights and liabilities of the parties.

Friedrich Seitz to Speak at Tokio Marine Insurance Meeting

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TOKYO, JAPAN—Friedrich W. Seitz is slated to speak at a Tokio Marine and Fire Insurance Company meeting.

Mr. Seitz will speak on the “Year 2000: A Perspective for Manufacturers.”

About Tokio Marine and Fire Insurance Company
Tokio Marine Management (TMM) has been conducting business in the U.S. market for a century, and is licensed to write all lines in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. TMM provides insurance and risk management tools from an experienced staff of account executives, underwriters and loss prevention engineers and fair and timely claim settlement from a skilled team of claim professionals. To learn more about TMM, please visit, http://www.tokiomarine.us/index.asp.

Friedrich Seitz and Edmund Farrell to Speak at Swiss Re Liability Summit

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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND—Friedrich W. Seitz and Edmund G. Farrell, III are slated to speak at Swiss Reinsurance Group’s Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Summit.

Mr. Seitz and Mr. Farrell will present, “Directors and Officers Liability of European Subsidiaries in the United States of America and Related Insurance Coverage Issues.”

About The Swiss Re Group
The Swiss Re Group is a leading wholesale provider of reinsurance, insurance and other insurance-based forms of risk transfer. Dealing direct and working through brokers, its global client base consists of insurance companies, mid-to-large-sized corporations and public sector clients. To learn more about Swiss Re, please visit http://www.swissre.com/.

Friedrich Seitz and Edmund Farrell to Speak at German Industry Conference

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COLOGNE, GERMANY—Friedrich W. Seitz and Edmund G. Farrell, III are slated to speak at the 1998 Federation of German Industries (BDI) conference.

Mr. Seitz will present a “U.S. Products Liability and Environmental Liability Update,” and Mr. Farrell will present a, “Directors and Officers Liability Update.” The meeting will be attended by German industry professionals.

About the Federation of German Industries
The BDI communicates the interests of German industry to those in positions of political responsibility all over the world. In this way it supports enterprises engaged in global competition. The BDI commands a wide network in Germany and Europe, in all important markets and international organizations. The BDI provides political back-up for the opening up of international markets. And it offers information and economic policy advice on all topics relevant to industry. To learn more about the BDI, please visit: http://www.bdi.eu/bdi_english/index.htm.

Friedrich Seitz to Speak at London FICC Meeting

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LONDON, ENGLAND—Friedrich W. Seitz is slated to speak at the annual Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel’s (FICC) annual meeting.

Mr. Seitz will present, “Cultural Differences When Representing Foreign Clients in the United States.”

About the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), composed of recognized leaders in the legal community who have achieved professional distinction, is dedicated to promoting knowledge, fellowship, and professionalism of its members as they pursue the course of a balanced justice system and represent those in need of a defense in civil lawsuits. To learn more about the FDCC, please visit http://www.thefederation.org.

Friedrich Seitz to Speak at International EMF Seminar

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MUNICH, GERMANY—Friedrich W. Seitz will serve as a presenter at the Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Seminar being held by Frankona Reinsurance Company on September 29.

Mr. Seitz will speak on, “EMF Litigation in the United States.”

About The Swiss Re Group
The Swiss Re Group is a leading wholesale provider of reinsurance, insurance and other insurance-based forms of risk transfer. Dealing direct and working through brokers, its global client base consists of insurance companies, mid-to-large-sized corporations and public sector clients. To learn more about Swiss Re, please visit http://www.swissre.com/.

Friedrich Seitz to Speak at Swiss Re Meeting

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ZURICH, SWITZERLAND—Friedrich W. Seitz will present at a Swiss Reinsurance Company meeting on September 26.

Mr. Seitz will speak on, “Environmental Claims in the United States.”

About The Swiss Re Group
The Swiss Re Group is a leading wholesale provider of reinsurance, insurance and other insurance-based forms of risk transfer. Dealing direct and working through brokers, its global client base consists of insurance companies, mid-to-large-sized corporations and public sector clients. To learn more about Swiss Re, please visit http://www.swissre.com/.