Product Liability
Case: Bowdrill v Raychem
Client: McInnes Cooper & Robertson, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Venue: Supreme Court of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland
Year: 1993
Example
An oil-rig operator sued our client, Defendant
Raychem, for damages resulting from a fire on a rig in the North Sea,
claiming that the failure of a Raychem product, polymer heat trace
binding tape, was to blame for the accident. The case was tried before
a judge without a jury.
Challenges:
First, it was important for the judge to understand a very complex
manufacturing process. Second, it was essential to demonstrate that
the Defendant had quality controls in place, and that the Defendant
strictly adhered to those controls. Third, it was necessary to bolster
the credibility of the expert witness by illustrating his testimony
on the production of the polymer tape in question.
Solutions:
We took a video crew to the manufacturing plant to document the processing
steps as well as the materials used in the creation of the tape. The
overall manufacturing process comprised three production lines, spanning
three industrial buildings.
The key steps in the process were captured on
videotape and explained in visual detail. We created a process flow
chart that emphasized the effectiveness of the quality control mechanisms
in place.
Outcome:
The judge found the process flow graphic so educational and compelling
that he insisted on keeping it on display for the duration of the
trial, and cited it as helpful to him in reaching a verdict for the
Defendant.
Services Provided
• Strategic Planning
• Creative Development
• Graphic Design
• Technical and Medical Illustrations
• Tutorials
• Deposition and Impeachment Exhibits
• Video Editing
• 2D and 3D Animations
• Still Graphics, Slides and Boards
• Document Scanning and Coding
• Databasing
• War-Room Management
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