Consumers should be able to trust that products for sale are reasonably safe. Unfortunately, countless defective products make it to the marketplace every year. Some of them cause serious injuries or substantial property damage.
The people affected by defective products might choose to take legal action. Product defect litigation can result in compensation for medical expenses, property damage losses and income consequences of a product suddenly failing. Plaintiffs preparing for product defect litigation may need to prepare for a lengthy process ahead, as the Oklahoma civil courts may identify their lawsuit as complex litigation.
What is complex litigation?
Many civil cases are straightforward legal matters that require the analysis of a single claim and a handful of supporting documents. Complex litigation may involve a vast collection of evidence that may require days or weeks to accurately review. Class actions where multiple people participate tend to be complex.
Complex lawsuits may involve novel legal ideas, although that is not especially common in product defect scenarios. Instead, the case may be complex due to the amount of evidence and the need to coordinate multiple plaintiffs affected by the same defective product.
Interstate jurisdiction can also make a lawsuit complex. If the location where the plaintiff consumer sustained injuries is in Oklahoma but the manufacturer operates in another state, the matter may be complex from a legal standpoint.
Complex litigation requires special procedures and civil court. Plaintiffs also benefit from partnering with attorneys familiar with the unique challenges of complex litigation cases. Recognizing that a product defect claim may not be a simple lawsuit can help injured parties secure the support they need to hold irresponsible businesses accountable for their unsafe practices.