Five-point checklist
A good fit for a defective product case checks five boxes:
- The firm takes your type of product case.
- The fee is in a written agreement you sign.
- The agreement says how expenses are handled.
- You know who will work on your case and who your contact is.
- The firm tells you your state’s filing deadline.
The rest of this guide explains each point. The firm list below names five firms and what each publishes about how it charges. For a wider list, see product liability law firms in the U.S..
Questions to ask a defective product lawyer
Ask every firm the same questions. Then compare the answers side by side.
| Question |
Why it matters |
| Do you take cases about my product? |
Some firms take only certain products. Check the comparison grid. |
| Who will handle my case day to day? |
You want a named lawyer or case manager, not just a phone line. |
| Will my case stay with your firm or go to another firm? |
Referral and co-counsel deals are common in mass torts. |
| What is your fee at settlement, at trial and on appeal? |
The agreement should state each rate, and they may differ. |
| Are expenses taken out before or after your fee? |
This changes your take-home amount. |
| Do I owe expenses if we lose? |
Some firms say you owe nothing; others may differ. |
| Is my case part of an MDL or a class settlement? |
That decides where it is filed and how it is resolved. |
| What is the deadline in my state? |
Missing it can end your claim. |
| How often will you update me? |
Mass torts can take years. |
You can also ask what kind of defect the firm sees in your case. The law recognizes three kinds: a design defect, a manufacturing defect, and a failure to warn. Most product claims are strict liability claims. You must prove the product was defective and caused your injury, but not that the maker was careless.
The math behind a contingency fee
Most defective product lawyers work on contingency. The lawyer takes a share of what you recover. If you lose, you generally owe no fee for the lawyer’s work, according to the American Bar Association.
In most personal injury cases the fee is 33% to 40% of the recovery. One-third is most common, according to Nolo.
ABA Model Rule 1.5(c) says a contingency agreement should be in writing and signed by the client. It should state:
- the percentage at settlement, trial and appeal;
- which expenses will be deducted; and
- whether expenses come off before or after the lawyer’s percentage.
Here is why that last point matters. The numbers below are a made-up example, not a real case.
| Example: $100,000 recovery, $10,000 in expenses, one-third fee |
Fee figured before expenses |
Fee figured after expenses |
| Lawyer’s fee |
$33,333 |
$30,000 |
| Expenses repaid |
$10,000 |
$10,000 |
| You receive |
$56,667 |
$60,000 |
The percentage is the same in both columns. The order of the math changes your share by more than $3,000. Ask every firm which method it uses, and get it in writing.
Referral and co-counsel arrangements
Mass torts often involve more than one firm. The firm you call may refer your case to another firm, or bring in co-counsel to work on it together. One firm may handle intake and client contact while another files and tries cases.
This is a normal part of how large product cases run. But you should know who is doing what. Ask:
- Which firm will file my case?
- Who will be my main contact?
- Does the total fee I pay change because more than one firm is involved?
- Will you explain the arrangement in writing before I sign?
Leadership roles are a separate question. In a federal MDL, a judge appoints a small group of lawyers to run the shared work for every plaintiff. Your own lawyer does not need one of those seats to file your case in the MDL.
Red flags when hiring a product liability lawyer
Watch for these warning signs with any firm:
- No written fee agreement. The ABA rule calls for one. Do not rely on a verbal promise.
- Vague answers on expenses. You should know what costs will be charged and when.
- A promised dollar amount. No lawyer can promise what a case will pay. Past results do not predict yours.
- Pressure to sign today. A careful firm gives you time to read the agreement.
- No one can say who will handle your case. You deserve a named contact.
- No answer on your deadline. A lawyer should be able to tell you how long you have.
Know your filing deadline
Each state sets a statute of limitations for injury claims. Here are four examples.
| State |
Deadline for injury claims |
Notes |
| California |
2 years |
For injury caused by another’s wrongful act or neglect |
| Texas |
2 years |
Plus a 15-year statute of repose for product cases, with an exception for latent disease |
| Florida |
4 years |
For injury from the design, manufacture or sale of a product |
| New York |
3 years |
For exposure to a substance, the clock can start when the injury was found |
Rules differ by state and by type of claim. Ask a lawyer soon which deadline applies in your state.
What to bring to your first call
Have these ready when you call a firm:
- The product, its packaging, and any receipts or order emails. Do not throw anything away.
- The dates you used the product and when your injury or symptoms began.
- Names of your doctors and hospitals.
- Any recall notices or letters from the maker.
Why these five firms
The firm list below is a short list, not a full ranking. The order reflects our editorial view of fit for the questions in this guide. Beasley Allen, Motley Rice, Morgan & Morgan and Johnson // Becker state their fee basis on their own websites. Schmidt & Clark offers a free case review at any hour; ask it, like any firm, for its fee terms in writing. Between them, they take all four product case types we cover. For Roundup and hair relaxer cases, see our Roundup firms and hair relaxer firms pages.
The firms, one by one
Former Lt. Gov. Jere Beasley founded Beasley Allen, an Alabama plaintiffs' firm, in 1979. It has a long record in auto-defect cases. Today it co-leads the ARC airbag MDL and holds a seat on the executive committee of the hair relaxer MDL.
- Based in
- Montgomery, Alabama
- Founded
- 1979
- Fee arrangement
- Contingency ("No Win, No Fee or Case Costs")
- Case types it advertises
- hair relaxer, Roundup, airbags (ARC and ZF-TRW)
Court leadership roles
- In March 2023, Demet Basar was named co-lead counsel in MDL 3051, the ARC airbag inflator MDL in the N.D. Ga. Cited source
- Navan Ward holds a seat on the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in MDL 3060, the hair relaxer MDL. Cited source
- Dee Miles was named to the plaintiffs' steering committee in the ZF-TRW airbag control unit MDL in the C.D. Cal. Cited source
Results it has published
- The firm reports a $162 million settlement tied to a 2021 van crash in which the tires had the wrong load range. Cited source
Things to ask
- In March 2026, Beasley Allen said it was reviewing new Roundup cases. Confirm it is still taking them.
Visit site: beasleyallen.com
Schmidt & Clark is a plaintiffs' firm that represents injured people from every part of the United States. Its work centers on mass torts: defective products, medical devices, dangerous drugs and toxic exposure.
Schmidt & Clark takes Roundup, hair relaxer, airbag, pressure cooker and other defective-product cases. Ask it the same questions on this page, including whether your case would stay with the firm or go to co-counsel.
- Based in
- Washington, DC
- Founded
- 2005
- Fee arrangement
- Free case review; phone line open 24/7
- Case types it advertises
- Roundup, hair relaxer, airbags, pressure cookers, other defective products
Recognition
- The firm says Best Lawyers put it on the "Best Law Firms" list for 2026. Cited source
- C.L. Mike Schmidt, a partner, is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in both Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law. The National Board of Trial Advocacy also certifies him in Civil Trial. Cited source
- The firm says Super Lawyers has picked it for 19 straight years. Cited source
Things to ask
- Its website lists no individual verdict or settlement amounts. Ask the firm about outcomes in cases that look like yours.
- Ask if your case would remain with the firm or go to co-counsel. Mass torts often work that way.
Visit site: schmidtandclark.com
Ron Motley and Joseph F. Rice started Motley Rice in South Carolina in 2003, and it handles mass torts. One of its partners co-leads the hair relaxer MDL. The firm also reports co-lead roles in the ARC airbag, GLP-1, social media and opioid MDLs.
- Based in
- Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Founded
- 2003
- Fee arrangement
- Contingent fee for most cases
- Case types it advertises
- hair relaxer, Roundup, paraquat, ARC airbags
Court leadership roles
- In March 2023, Fidelma Fitzpatrick was named a plaintiffs' co-lead counsel in MDL 3060, the hair relaxer MDL. Cited source
- Motley Rice states that a court appointed it as one of the co-lead counsel in MDL 3051, the ARC airbag MDL. Cited source
- Motley Rice lists a co-lead counsel role in the 2024 GLP-1 MDL. Cited source
Results it has published
- The firm reports a 2019 settlement of $305 million for 10 California jurisdictions over lead-paint pigment. Cited source
Things to ask
- Joe Rice, a co-founder, died in September 2026. The firm still holds its MDL roles.
Visit site: motleyrice.com
Founded in 1988 and based in Orlando, Morgan & Morgan is a national personal-injury firm. It reports more than 1,100 attorneys and about 140 offices.
- Based in
- Orlando, Florida
- Founded
- 1988
- Fee arrangement
- Contingency ("The Fee Is Free Unless You Win")
- Case types it advertises
- Roundup, hair relaxer, airbags, general defective products
Court leadership roles
- Rene F. Rocha was named to the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in MDL 3060, the hair relaxer MDL. Cited source
Results it has published
- In June 2026, a Florida jury awarded $603 million to the family of a woman who died when a counterfeit airbag inflator exploded. The defendant skipped the trial. Cited source
- A $20 million verdict over motorcycle brakes in Winckler v. Suzuki, upheld on appeal in April 2026. Cited source
Things to ask
- The firm has about 140 offices. Find out which lawyer, and which office, would handle your file day to day.
Visit site: forthepeople.com
Johnson // Becker is a product-liability firm in St. Paul. It represents plaintiffs in most federal pressure cooker injury suits. It also holds leadership roles in the hair relaxer, Suboxone and infant formula MDLs.
- Based in
- St. Paul, Minnesota
- Fee arrangement
- Contingency (no fees or costs unless the firm recovers money)
- Case types it advertises
- pressure cookers, hair relaxer, general product liability
Court leadership roles
- Timothy J. Becker holds a seat on the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in MDL 3060, the hair relaxer MDL. Cited source
- In March 2024, Timothy J. Becker was named one of four co-lead counsel in MDL 3092, the Suboxone film MDL in the N.D. Ohio. Cited source
Results it has published
- A Law Street Media analysis found it represented plaintiffs in 61% of the 292 federal pressure cooker suits filed between 2019 and January 2024. Cited source
Things to ask
- It lists no pressure cooker verdict amounts. Most of its cases end in settlements that stay confidential.
Visit site: johnsonbecker.com
Each result above comes from the firm's own published record or from court filings. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.