|
Chuck Preuss is a managing partner of the firm, head of the firm's San Francisco office and a partner in the Products Liability and Mass Tort Practice Group. Chuck is the founding partner of the litigation boutique Preuss Shanagher Zvoleff & Zimmer LLP, which merged with Drinker Biddle in January 2002.
Chuck concentrates his practice on the defense of medical and pharmaceutical products and toxic substances litigation. He also advises companies on preventive products liability measures, labeling issues and coordinated litigation strategy.
Chuck began his legal career at Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon in 1969. In his early years, he worked in all areas of Bronson's varied litigation practice. Later, he worked extensively in the areas of professional negligence (accountants and attorneys) and commercial litigation. For more than 20 years, his involvement and interest have been directed toward medical and toxic substances litigation and counseling. This area now occupies his time almost exclusively. At Bronson, Chuck served as chairman of Bronson's Product Liability, Toxic Substances and Environmental Litigation Department. In 1993, Chuck left Bronson to form Preuss Shanagher.
Representative Engagements. Chuck has extensive experience in the defense of complex litigation in the areas of medical device and pharmaceutical products liability. He has defended:
Numerous medical device cases, including Lippes Loop IUD, intraocular lens, cardiac pacemakers, breast implants, tampons, sutures, hip prostheses and cardiac blood pumps.
Numerous prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, including oral contraceptives, vaccines, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, phentermine, diethylstilbestrol, gastrointestinal motility agents, acetaminophen and phenylpropanolamine.
Toxic substance cases including ethylene oxide, talc, PCBs, asbestos and lead.
In General. Chuck is a member of the American Bar Association, TIPS Section, American Board of Trial Advocates, Managing Counsel Group, and Product Liability Advisory Council. He served on the board of directors of the Defense Research Institute from 1996-1999. He is the past president of the International Association of Defense Counsel, where he also served on the executive committee from 1993-1999 and as chair of the Products Liability Committee. He also served on the board of directors of Lawyers for Civil Justice from 1996-1999. | 