William E. Steimle (Wes)

Pharmaceutical and Medical Device

• Defending an international pharmaceutical company in coordinated product liability litigation in California involving claims that plaintiffs developed cancer from taking over-the-counter antacid medication.
• Defended an international medical device company in female pelvic mesh litigation.
• Represented a major pharmaceutical company in the defense of claims that an antipsychotic medication causes weight gain, diabetes, and pancreatitis, which are pending in state and federal courts in California.
• Defended a major pharmaceutical company in personal injury cases in state and federal courts in California which involve claims that plaintiffs sustained degeneration of shoulder joint cartilage (chondrolysis) as a result of the post-operative administration of anesthetic to their shoulder joints.
• Successfully defended The Dow Chemical Company in numerous product liability actions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties, in which it was alleged to be the successor to a manufacturer of the Salk polio vaccine. Wes prepared and argued successful pleadings challenges that ultimately led to the statewide dismissal of plaintiffs’ claims.
• Successfully represented SmartHealth Inc. in the defense of the latex glove product liability cases in California.

Toxic Tort

• Represented a major chemical manufacturer in product liability claims based upon alleged exposure to benzene.
• Successfully represented Union Oil Company of California in defense of multiple personal injury claims involving alleged exposure to methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE).
• Represented several defendants in asbestos product liability and premises liability actions throughout California.

Commercial Litigation

• Represented a network solutions provider in defense of commercial litigation relating to the sales of its products abroad.
• Successfully represented a major specialty chemicals company in commercial litigation pending in federal court in the Central District of California.
• Successfully represented Rhodia Inc. in commercial litigation involving contracts covering the provision of uniforms for its employees.

Lead Paint Litigation

• Represented American Cyanamid Company in a lead paint public nuisance lawsuit prosecuted by several cities and counties in California.

Unfair Competition/Antitrust

• Represented a major pharmaceutical company in a California state action by pharmacies alleging a price-fixing conspiracy among manufacturers of brand name drugs in violation of the Cartwright Act and California's Unfair Competition Laws.

Wes Steimle brings over 25 years of litigation experience to the matters he handles. He has briefed and argued a significant number of high-profile cases involving complex medical disputes in pharmaceutical, medical device, and other life science litigation. Wes is widely respected by clients for his briefing and deposition skills and for his work with experts on complicated medical topics. His experience extends across all aspects of civil litigation from pleadings and discovery through motion hearings and trials, including a jury trial that resulted in a defense verdict for the client and another that resulted in dismissal of the case against the client at the close of plaintiff’s evidence. Wes has an encyclopedic knowledge of California law and has successfully briefed and argued matters in state and federal courts throughout California and elsewhere around the country.