Clark Hill attorneys have extensive experience and expertise in representing major food and beverage processors and manufacturers. We have been Michigan counsel for the Food Processors Institute (formerly National Association of Food Processors (NFPA)) and its members for over 40 years. NFPA members include such industry giants as Campbell Soup Company, Heinz, Ore-Ida, Bumble Bee Tuna, StarKist, Birds Eye, Gerber, Dole and Del Monte. Most of the services provided to NFPA members involve defending against claims for personal injuries resulting from food contamination or container failures, such as malfunctioning jars and bottles.
Some of our attorneys have developed unique specialties to better serve our food industry clients. For example, we have defended one of the nation's leading food manufacturers in several states against claims for illness and death allegedly resulting from E. coli 0157:H7 bacterial contamination. This involves an in-depth understanding of the science of contamination as well as the possible medical aspects of foodborne illness.
We also represent clients in the restaurant branch of the food industry, including Yum! Brands (Taco Bell and Pizza Hut) and Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and Bahama Breeze). Our work for these clients ranges from defense of premises liability claims to assistance with zoning and regulatory issues such as compliance with handicap access ordinances.
One of our attorneys is a founding member and director of the Coalition of Food Industry Counsel, a national organization dedicated to educating attorneys and risk managers about the unique needs and desires of food industry clients. Another is an active member of the Women's Foodservice Forum.
Other specialties which have benefited our food industry clients include expertise in such areas as product recalls, construction litigation, governmental compliance (content labeling and warnings), anti-trust (including price fixing and indirect purchaser claims) and defending against class actions.
We have also represented our food industry clients in a variety of commercial litigation, bankruptcy, real estate and corporate matters.
Our attorneys regularly speak at various food industry conferences sponsored by the Food Processors Institute, the NFPA, and the Food and Drug Law Institute.