Vetter & White attorneys have represented a number of drug and medical device manufacturers in important cases that have literally helped shape drug and medical device liability law in Rhode Island. For example, we represented a DES manufacturer in a case in which the Rhode Island Supreme Court rejected the “market share” theory of liability.

Our attorneys have also litigated key issues in Rhode Island’s courts on changes in the Restatement from §402A of the Restatement Torts (Second) to the Restatement Torts (Third): Product Liability.

The extent to which Rhode Island courts enforce Daubert standards for the admissibility of expert opinion continues to be a critical issue—one that we follow closely. Our attorneys have written articles and lectured on a variety of drug and medical device topics.

Our experience area has taught us that aggressive pursuit of preliminary and legal defenses often pays off in judgment for the manufacturer, in favorable settlements and, in some cases, in voluntary dismissals.

• When an intra-ocular lens implant was alleged to have permanently damaged a plaintiff’s eye, we obtained a summary judgment on preemption grounds.
• Our attorneys won summary judgment for an anti-diarrhea drug manufacturer which allegedly caused intestinal diverticulae to rupture.
• We successfully defended a DES manufacturer against a claim that the product caused uterine abnormalities.
• We negotiated a nuisance value settlement for a maker of a contrast agent alleged to have caused paraplegia.
• We also obtained dismissal after discovery in a case alleging that a surgical wire had caused sterility.