Biersteker, Peter J.

Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

Peter Biersteker is trial lawyer with significant experience, particularly in products liability cases. He also represents clients before the U.S Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and in congressional investigations.

Peter, for example, has represented Mattel, since 2007, in connection with the adoption and implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), other legislative and regulatory reform efforts around the world, and in litigation arising out of the company's 2007 recalls. Peter also has long been lead trial counsel for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in significant cases, including United States v. Philip Morris, Inc., et al., the civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act claim brought by the United States against the tobacco industry; class actions; and individual tobacco products liability cases. Peter, for years, has counseled clients in matters before the CPSC or Congress.

Areas of Practice

• Product Liability & Tort Litigation
• Trial Practice
• Product Response Team
• Class Action and Multidistrict Product Liability Litigation
• Consumer Goods Product Liability Litigation
• Coordination of Product Liability Litigation
• Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Other Health Care Product Liability Litigati
• Trial Experience in Product Liability Cases
• Alternative Dispute Resolution & Mediation

Representative Cases

• Angolan wins U.S. asylum based on political opinion imputed to him by the Angolan government , (2009)
• Constellation Power defends against putative class action claiming water, soil and air contamination from coal combustion by-products reclamation site
• Doctors pursue nationwide class action to recover excessive insurance charges
• Dravo recovers over $7 million in multiyear dispute against joint-venture engineer for Navy steam plant construction
• GSM addresses potential U.S. product liability issues
• Mattel settles voluntary toy recall litigation , (2009)
• McCaw Cellular Communications resolves shareholder litigation
• R.J. Reynolds defends Illinois consumer class action alleging fraud in the marketing of "light" cigarettes
• R.J. Reynolds defends massive RICO case brought by U.S. government against tobacco manufacturers
• R.J. Reynolds obtains defense verdict in RICO jury trial
• R.J. Reynolds obtains summary judgment establishing a legal precedent
• R.J. Reynolds settles health-care cost recovery action brought by the state of Minnesota
• R.J. Reynolds wins defense verdict in a wrongful death case in New Jersey Superior Court
• Zeneca's tamoxifen breast cancer drug is subject of Congressional hearings

West Practice Categories

Alcoholic Beverages, Apparel, Asbestos, Bankruptcy Litigation, Chemicals & Cosmetics, Class Actions, Complex Litigation, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Claims Court, Federal Trial Practice, Firearms, Food & Agricultural Products, International Trade Litigation, Litigation & Appeals, Machinery & Tools, Medical Products & Devices, Military & Veterans Appeals, Motor Vehicle Defects, Multidistrict Litigation, Patent Litigation, Pharmaceutical Products, Products Liability Law, Recreational Products, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Tax Litigation, Tobacco, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, US Supreme Court

Bar Admissions

• District of Columbia

Education

• Harvard University
• London School of Economics

Published Works

• Global Trends in Consumer Product Safety Reform, Practice Perspectives: Product Liability & Tort Litigation, 2009
• Getting the Lead Out: What Every Retailer and Manufacturer Should Know About the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, 2009
• "Pass The Toy And Hold The Lead: Implementing The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008," Trends, American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, Vol. No. 40, Issue No. 3, 2008
• "Global Trends In Consumer Product Reform," Practice Perspectives: Product Liability & Tort Litigation, 2008
• "The Art of Direct Examination," Office of the Attorney General of the District of Columbia, 2008
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: What You Need to Know Today—and Tomorrow, Practice Perspectives: Product Liability & Tort Litigation, 2008
• "No Injury" Class Actions for "Economic Loss" Due to Product Defects Under State Consumer-Protection Statutes, Practice Perspectives: Product Liability & Tort Litigation, 2007
• Single-Use Medical Devices: A House Divided? Emerging Drugs & Devices, (Mealey Publications, Inc.) 2000 Potential Claims by the United, 2001

Address

51 Louisiana Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001-2113

Phones

1.202.879.3755 (Business Phone)

Faxes

1.202.626.1700 (Business Fax)

Emails

Contact Us (Business Email)

Websites

http://www.jonesday.com