For the last 15 years, Bullivant Houser Bailey PC has been extensively involved in food liability litigation throughout the U.S. We have represented national restaurant clients, food suppliers, processors, distributors, and manufacturers in some of the most significant outbreak cases to date, including several food-related, class-action cases.

We have a team dedicated to serving both self-insured entities and insurance professionals who are responding to — and controlling the impact — of contamination, outbreak, and food integrity crises. Attorneys throughout our six West Coast offices have handled more than 1,500 foodborne illness cases involving E.Coli 0157:H7, Hepatitis A, salmonella, listeria, and numerous other food-borne pathogens.

We know that the issues facing a company involved in an outbreak go well beyond actual or threatened litigation. The most significant issue is to limit disruption to our client's business. As a result, we have developed a team approach in responding to all of the issues associated with an outbreak. We have relationships and are experienced in working with networks of professionals associated with outbreak response:

• Media specialists
• Epidemiologists
• Insurance professionals
• State and local agencies involved in food safety (e.g. FDA, USDA, and the CDC)

We understand the tactics of the national plaintiffs' firms who specialize in food litigation and we are prepared to quickly respond to allegations of food contamination. Additionally, we are able to advise on risk management strategies and systems that will help our clients avoid litigation altogether. Companies in or associated with the food industry should make sure that they have answered the following questions:

• Do you have someone on staff whose responsibility is to stay in touch with food safety and regulatory agencies?
• Is your senior management educated about the importance food safety to the continuation of the business?
• Do you work with media professionals who have a strategy in place to respond to food outbreaks?
• Do you have systems in place (such as internal written policies, information management systems, media policies) to anticipate litigation in this area?