William Hanssen

William A. Hanssen is a partner in the Products Liability and Mass Tort Practice Group.  He concentrates his practice on defending the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.  His practice also includes pharmaceutical and medical device product liability, toxic tort litigation, commercial litigation and general product liability as well as premises liability and pharmacy malpractice for a regional pharmacy chain.  William has defended a variety of product liability cases involving over-the-counter medications, food products, pesticides, pediculicides, hospital equipment and industrial equipment.

Mass Tort Litigation. William has also been involved in mass tort litigation involving products such as DES, hip prostheses, TMJ implants and breast implants.  He has served in the role of both national coordinating counsel and local counsel in mass tort litigation and has tried product liability and pharmaceutical cases, including the California DES Market Share Litigation trials conducted in San Francisco Superior Court.

Complex Litigation/Class Actions. William has successfully defended companies in consumer class actions involving claims of false advertising, unfair business practices and unfair competition.  He has defeated motions for class certification in consumer class actions and participated in the successful defense of a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in the trial of a case alleging violations of the California Unfair Practices Act.  His commercial litigation experience includes representing companies in contract and licensing disputes involving intellectual property and insurance carriers in insurance coverage litigation.  William has also represented clients in employment litigation including wrongful termination and disability discrimination.

In General. William received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara and his J.D from the University of San Diego.  He is the regional partner in charge of the Los Angeles office and is an active member of the Defense Research Institute (Drug & Device Section) and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.