The Product Liability and Consumer Fraud team, led by Rob Shelquist and Rebecca Peterson have litigated scores of products liability and consumer fraud cases in state and federal district and appellate courts across the country. Both are experienced in all aspects of litigation, trial and settlement and dedicate their practice to helping individuals who have been harmed by defective products and fraud against consumers.
Our work encompasses claims directed at a diverse range of products, including construction products and appliances, automobile products and farm chemicals. Our team also works on consumer fraud and labeling issues related to pet food, baby food, infant formula and prenatal vitamins.
Rob Shelquist and his team have represented homeowners, condominium owners, townhome owners, and commercial interests in litigation concerning defective construction products and issues related to warranties and consumer protection. Rob Shelquist has been appointed to leadership positions in Multidistrict Litigation directed to shingles, siding, windows, trim, decking, and weatherproofing materials for wood and concrete. Over the course of his career, these cases have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for building owners across America and, in several of the cases, were coordinated with litigation in Canada.
Rob Shelquist and his team have represented farmers in numerous cases regarding GMO seed traits, pricing of herbicide and insecticide products, the impact of the release of seeds without government approval and other issues generally impacting farm land. For almost two decades, Mr. Shelquist has had a track record of success involved in both leadership and non-leadership positions obtaining hundreds of millions of dollars of recovery on behalf of farmers by way of trial verdicts and settlements. The first case he handled involved a genetically modified seed which had been approved for ethanol and feed use, but found its way into the food chain. The case resolved for over $100 million on behalf of thousands of farmers. Rob Shelquist and his team also represented farmers in pricing cases involving an after-the-fact inclusion of a technology fee for GMO seeds and for the price discrepancy between two herbicides which had been labeled for the exact same uses. More recently, Mr. Shelquist was appointed to leadership positions in both the federal Multidistrict Litigation and the Minnesota state court consolidated proceedings regarding a corn seed which was released without the approval of a key market. Rebecca Peterson was appointed Co-Lead Counsel representing farmers in an antitrust matter regarding distribution and sales process for crop herbicides and pesticides.
Pet Food Labeling and Health – Rob Shelquist and Rebecca Peterson and the product liability team are involved in lawsuits regarding the labeling of pet food products and the health of pets who are exposed to contaminates. Cases on file and being investigated include: wet dog food, dry dog food, dog treats, wet cat food, dry cat food, and cat treats. Additionally, Ms. Peterson has been very active in the animal rescue community and consults on issues related to rescue adoption and fostering, animal cruelty, and advocating for saving animals in shelters.
Heavy Metals and Contaminants – Rob Shelquist and Rebecca Peterson and the product liability team are involved in lawsuits regarding the labeling of baby food products, infant formula and prenatal vitamins with regard to the exposure to heavy metals and contaminants. Cases on file include varieties of baby food, infant formula and prenatal vitamins.
In re FCA US LLC Monostable Electronic Gearshift Litigation, Case No. 16-md-02744 (E.D. Mich.) A class action suit alleging a defective design in the gear shifter that allows the car to move even when the gear shifter is in park. [link to complaint]
Orshan et al v. Apple Inc.. Case No. 5:14-cv-05659-EJD (N.D. Calif.) A class action suit alleging misrepresentations and omissions relating to the use of Apple’s iOS 8 operating systems. [link to complaint]
In re Toll Bridges Litigation, Case No. CGC-17-562613 (Superior Court of Calif.; County of San Francisco) A class action suit alleging violation of class member’s right to privacy and protection of personally identifiable information. [link to complaint]
Zarinebaf et al v. Champion Petfoods USA, Inc. et al, Court File No. 1:18-cv-06951 (N.D. Ill.). A class action suit alleging misrepresentation and failure to disclose the presence and/or risk of inclusion of heavy metals in the labels, packaging, and advertisements of their varieties of dog foods. [link to complaint]
Jones et al v. Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc. et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-00511-JPC. A class action suit against Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc. alleging defective FlowGuard plumbing systems. [link to complaint]
Garner v. Amazon.com, Inc., Case No. 2:21-cv-00750-RSL (W.D. Wash.) A class action suit alleging Amazon’s smart-speaker technology saving permanent recordings of voices without a customer’s knowledge or consent. [link to complaint]
Crop Inputs Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 4:21-cv-02993-SEP (E.D. of Missouri) An antitrust case alleging the existing distribution and sales process for crop inputs maintains supra-competitive prices in part by denying farmers accurate product information, including pricing information. [link to complaint]
In re Plum Baby Food Litigation, Case No. 4:21-cv-00913-YGR (N.D. Cal) A class action suit alleging misrepresentation and failure to fully disclose the presence of heavy metals in baby food.[link to complaint]
Schmucker et al v. Schwabe North America, Inc. et al., Case 2:22-cv-00323-KJM-DB(E.D. Calif.) A class action suit regarding Schwabe North America, Inc.’s alleged failure to disclose heavy metals in their Nature’s Way Prenatal Vitamins and the misrepresentation of the quantity of ingredients in their prenatal vitamins. [link to complaint]
Willoughby et al. v. Abbott Laboratories, Case No. 1:22-cv-01322 (N.D. Ill.) – a class action lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories for allegedly failing to disclose unsanitary conditions and the lack of quality control in manufacturing infant formula and also failing to disclose the presence of heavy metals in its powdered infant formulas. [link to complaint]
In re Nurture Baby Food Litigation, Case No. 1:21-cv-01217-MKV (S.D. NY) – A class action suit alleging misrepresentation and failure to fully disclose the presence of heavy metals in baby food.
In re Syngenta AG MIR162 Corn Litigation, Case No. 2:14-cv-01591 (D. Kan.)
In re Syngenta Litigation, Case No. 27-cv-15-3785 (Minn. State Court, Fourth District)
In re Syngenta Litigation, Case No. 27-cv-15-12625 (Minn. State Court, Fourth District)
A class action case regarding a corn seed which was released without the approval of a key market in both Federal and State Courts, resulting in a $1.51 billion dollar settlement for the class.
In re Kitec Plumbing System Products, Case No. 3:09-cv-02098 (N.D. Tex.)
A class action case regarding defective Kitec Plumbing System and Ipex’s false representations and warranties, resulting in a $125 million dollar settlement for the class.
In re Certainteed Corporation Roofing Shingles Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 2:07-md-01817
A class action case regarding defective singles and Certainteed’s failure to adequately design, formulate and test the shingles before warranting, advertising and selling them as durable and suitable roofing products. This suit has paid out over $151 million dollars to class members.
In re Certainteed Fiber Cement Siding Litigation, Case No. 2:11-cv-02270 (E.D. Pa.)
A class action case regarding damages sustained by the class that were proximately caused by Certainteed’s defective Weatherboard FiberCement exterior siding, resulting in a $103.9 million dollar settlement for the class.
In re IKO Roofing Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 2:09-cv-02104 (C.D. Ill.)
A class action case regarding defective shingles that failed before the time periods advertised, marketed and guaranteed by IKO, resulting in a $30 million dollar settlement for the class.
In re Toll Roads Litigation No. 8:16-cv-00262-ODW-ADS (C.D. Cal).
A class action case regarding excessive tolls and penalties as a result of the conversion to an all-electric cashless system that unfairly penalizes drives who do not have “FasTrak” passes or “ExpressAccounts” resulting in a $216,950,000 million dollar settlement for the class.
Cox et al. v. Zurn Pex, Inc. et al. Case No. 8:md-01958-ADM-RLE (D. Minn.)
A class action matter alleging design, development, advertising, marketing, sales and warranty misconduct in connection with Zurn Pex plumbing systems installed with Zurn’s brass crimp fitting, resulting in a $20 million dollar settlement for the class.
George v. Uponor et al. Case No. 12-cv-249-JRT-SER (D. Minn.)
A class action suit alleging defective F1960 brass fittings resulting in a $21 million dollar settlement for the class.
Peterson, et al. v. BASF Corporation Case No. C2-97-295 (Minn. State Court, Ninth District)
The Lockridge Grindal Nauen Products Liability Team obtained a favorable verdict, after a four week trial, producing a $60 million judgment against a major ag-chemical company in a national consumer fraud action involving agricultural herbicides. That matter was resolved after multiple favorable unanimous opinions from the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Minnesota State Supreme Court.
Robert K. Shelquist
Rebecca A. Peterson
Robert Shelquist rkshelquist@locklaw.com
Rebecca Peterson rapeterson@locklaw.com
