Dykema Gossett PLLC

With a very strong presence in the Midwest, including in automotive hot-spot Detroit, as well as on the West Coast and to the south of the country, the ‘world-class’ team at Dykema Gossett PLLC provides comprehensive coverage to large automotive manufacturers, including Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Kia, across a myriad of product liability work, including handling wrongful death, defect, property damage, and recall claims. The firm excels in handling class action litigation, from initial challenges to the pleadings, class certification and summary judgment through to trial, and appeal. Michigan-based head of the class action practice John Thomas is highly visible in handling automotive product liability matters involving defects; he recently secured summary judgment for Ford Motor in a class action alleging that the Extended Corrosion Warranty on 2013-2016 Ford Mustangs, Explorers, and Expeditions was deceptive because it covered aluminum hood corrosion only if the corrosion perforated the hood. Minneapolis-based Michael Carey is noted for his knowledge of advanced automotive technologies, acting in high-stakes litigation and frequently advising clients on proactive risk mitigation strategies. In high-profile litigation for Tesla, Carey recently secured a notable win in what was the first autopilot wrongful death case brought against the electric car giant. Dallas-based Clay Cossé is also very well-versed across the latest technologies impacting the automotive industry and, alongside Carey, co-heads the firm’s electric and autonomous vehicles and advanced mobility team. As ’one of the best automotive product liability trial attorneys in the country’, Detroit-based head of litigation Michael Cooney has excellent credibility before the courts and has achieved many successes for automotive clients in high-stakes jury trials. Los Angeles-based Tamara Bush leads the firm’s national product liability and class action defense practice and has substantial expertise handling occupant protection and crashworthiness product claims. Michigan-based Brian Smith is an ‘excellent trial attorney’ who has handled numerous automotive product liability cases involving catastrophic injury and death as well as product class action claims. Derek Whitefield recently retired.