William A. Hanssen defends clients in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. His practice includes pharmaceutical and medical device product liability, and consumer class actions. Bill also has extensive experience with mass tort and class action cases.
In addition, Bill has defended a variety of product liability cases involving over-the-counter medications, food products, pesticides, pediculicides, hospital equipment and industrial equipment. Bill has been involved in mass tort litigation involving products such as, TMJ implants, breast implants, IBS medications, antidepressants and antipsychotics.
He has served in the role of both national coordinating counsel and local counsel in mass tort litigation and has tried product liability and pharmaceutical cases. He has successfully defended companies in consumer class actions involving claims of false advertising, unfair business practices and unfair competition.
Bill has defeated motions for class certification in consumer class actions and participated in the successful defense of a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in the trial of a case alleging violations of the California Unfair Business Practices Act.
His commercial litigation experience includes representing companies in contract and licensing disputes involving intellectual property and insurance carriers in insurance coverage litigation.
Bill has also successfully defended clients in employment litigation including wrongful termination and disability discrimination.
Experience :
Bill has years of experience representing pharmaceutical and medical device companies on national counsel teams in various roles including coordinating counsel and local counsel. He has participated in all aspects of defense including as trial counsel, expert witness preparation and coordinating factual discovery for various pharmaceutical products and medical devices such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, IBS medication, cold remedy products and breast and hip implants.
Bill has defended consumer class actions involving weight loss products, pain relievers (Aleve), dietary supplements (glucosamine), and homeopathic cold remedy products (Zicam). The success trial defense for Aleve was upheld in Lavie v Procter & Gamble, Co. 105 Cal. App. 4th 496 (2003).
Education :
- University of San Diego School of Law, J.D., 1983
- University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A., 1978, summa cum laude
Bar Admissions : California
Court Admissions :
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Cost
Rate : $$$