FAQs

What is a product liability claim?

A product liability claim is a case brought when a defective or dangerous product hurts someone. The law holds manufacturers, distributors, and sellers responsible in cases like this, and a victim or his or her family may be able to recover compensation in the event of an injury or death. If a product has harmed you or a loved one, call the Roach Law Firm at (903) 645-7333 for a free consultation.

What are the three types of product defects?

Design defects, manufacturing defects, and marketing defects. A design defect means the product was dangerous from the start and is unsafe even if built perfectly. A manufacturing defect means something went wrong when the product was made, even if it was designed safely. A marketing defect is sometimes called a “failure to warn” and means the company left out instructions or warnings people need in order to use the product safely. A single product liability case can involve more than one of these types of defects at the same time.

Who can be held responsible in a product liability case?

Depending on what went wrong, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers can all share responsibility. Sorting out who is liable takes a thorough investigation. Finding every responsible party matters, because leaving one out during a product liability lawsuit can mean leaving significant money on the table.

Does a product have to be recalled before I can file a lawsuit?

No. Many dangerous products stay on the market for years before a recall, and some are never recalled at all. What matters is whether the product was defective and whether that defect caused an injury or death. That means victims may have valid claims whether recalls have been issued or not.

How long do I have to file a product liability claim?

Deadlines vary by state and by type of claim, and some can occur very quickly. In Texas, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years. Other factors can apply and these rules are are strict, so anyone who has been victimized should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible.

How much is a product liability case worth?

Every case is different, so there’s no single answer. Compensation can cover medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Additional damages may be available in cases involving serious misconduct, and cases with severe or permanent injury can reach into the millions. The Roach Law Firm’s attorneys have recovered more than $20 billion for their clients over the decades, including a $730 million verdict in a recent accident case.

Do I have to pay anything upfront to hire a product liability lawyer?

No. The Roach Law Firm handles product liability cases on a contingency basis. There are no upfront fees and no out-of-pocket expenses while your case is pending. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.

Where does the Roach Law Firm handle product liability cases?

The Roach Law Firm is based in East Texas and focuses primarily on cases in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, but it handles product liability and mass tort claims for clients across the country. In Texas, the firm has deep roots in the communities of Tyler, Longview, Texarkana, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Paris, Marshall, Sulphur Springs, Henderson, Carthage, Jefferson, Mount Pleasant, Clarksville, Gilmer, Pittsburg, Mount Vernon, Quitman, New Boston, Linden, Hemphill, and Daingerfield, as well as the surrounding areas. Call us at (903) 645-7333 to find out how we can help.

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Case Results

$17 Billion

PART OF THE LARGEST LEGAL SETTLEMENT IN U.S. HISTORY

In 1995, Nelson J. Roach and his former firm, along with four other law firms, was selected by the State of Texas to prosecute the state’s claims against the tobacco industry, seeking to recoup state monies paid to treat smoking-related illnesses.

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$730 Million

FOURTH-LARGEST JURY VERDICT IN THE NATION

In 2021, Nelson J. Roach won $730 million in a case arising from a Texas truck accident, the fourth-largest jury verdict in the U.S. that year. The case was filed by the family of an East Texas woman who was killed in a collision with a truck hauling a propeller for a Navy submarine.

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$554 Million

DEFENDING AN INVENTOR FROM CORPORATE COPYCATS

For over a decade, Nelson J. Roach and his former firm represented DataTreasury Corporation in its efforts to hold the largest banks in the United States accountable for their infringement of the tiny company’s intellectual property. Roach and his associates won $554 million in jury awards and royalties.

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$119 Million

FORCING A MINING COMPANY TO PAY UP

Nelson J. Roach represented roughly 7,000 residents of the town of Blackwell, Oklahoma, in a class action lawsuit accusing defendants Phelps Dodge Corporation and its parent company, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc., of failing to properly address lead, arsenic, and cadmium contamination.

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$90 Million

STANDING UP FOR INJURED STEELWORKERS

Nelson J. Roach represented thousands of steel workers at the Lone Star Steel Mill when they began to suffer from breathing problems and cancer.

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$51.2 Million

FIGHTING ANTICOMPETITIVE PRACTICES IN POULTRY INDUSTRY

Nelson J. Roach and Michael L. Silverman fought for small farms hurt by the corporations that dominate the U.S. chicken-processing industry.

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$47 Million

JUSTICE FOR WORKERS EXPOSED TO INDUSTRIAL TOXINS

Several years after the Lone Star Steel Toxic Tort Litigation began, workers at the Red River Army Depot in the Northeast Texas area began to suffer from diseases caused by exposure to rubber products in the workplace.

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$1.1 Million

WALMART SLIP-AND-FALL CASE

In 2021, Nelson J. Roach won $1.1 million in a slip-and-fall case against retail giant Walmart. It was one of the largest verdicts in a personal injury case in Texarkana history.

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Awards and Recognitions

Awards and Recognitions

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