Mortimer H. Hartwell

Partner

Mort Hartwell is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice, resident in the San Francisco office. His practice focuses on the management, litigation, and trial of complex products liability, toxic tort, and environmental cases, as well as class action cases. He has served as national coordinating counsel for a variety of companies in the products liability and mass tort fields. The areas in which Mr. Hartwell has served in a national counsel role include, asbestos, medical devices, automotive parts and food contamination. Mr. Hartwell has also handled several product recalls for manufacturers in various industries.

Key representations include:

- Significant jury trial experience in asbestos litigation for manufacturing clients. Trials of several large groups of plaintiffs with punitive damages exposure. Assisted in the development of punitive damages defense and coordination of thousands of cases in the western United States.

- National counsel for beverage manufacturer in mass food contamination cases, based on exposure to the e coli bacteria. Developed all percipient and expert witnesses for defense of cases, and coordinated the litigation of hundreds of cases brought primarily in the western United States. Handled product recall and investigation by U.S. FDA. Defeated class certification in U. S. District Court, Western District of Washington. Assisted in successfully crafting punitive damages defense, which led to ultimate resolution of all liabilities.

- National counsel for manufacturer of medical devices in many high profile wrongful death/personal injury actions. Developed defense strategy, drafted key dispositive motions and coordinated all discovery. Majority of cases dismissed summarily.

- National counsel for motorcycle parts manufacturer in various jurisdictions throughout the United States. Handled two product recalls, coordinated litigation of all products liability cases for the company, Successfully resolved major cases through mediation.

- Product liability counseling for technology and medical device companies.

Mr. Hartwell is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, and has spoken to a variety of clients on products liability issues.

Mr. Hartwell is admitted to practice in California.