Selman Breitman has been defending asbestos lawsuits for decades and is one of the leading firms in litigation of these matters.  The firm's clients include numerous product manufacturers, contractors, suppliers, premises owners and public utilities.  We also serve as National Coordinating Counsel for multiple product manufacturers, coordinating their asbestos litigation nationwide.  Our work as national counsel not only provides greater knowledge of defense strategies, plaintiff's firms and industry experts, but has allowed us to form a close-knit network of experienced local counsel in all states where asbestos cases are typically litigated.  We can help our clients not only defend local cases, but develop strategies for coordinating and defending cases throughout the United States.

Selman Breitman has seasoned trial attorneys with a thorough knowledge of the complex science and medical issues involved in asbestos cases.  Trial counsel is supported by a well-trained team of associates and paralegals who ensure a thorough – but cost effective – defense to each and every case.

Our firm has authored numerous articles addressing varied aspects of the defense of asbestos litigation.  Additionally, our lawyers are speakers on multiple seminar panels on toxic tort issues.  As a service to our clients, we will also provide in-house training in the handling and defense of asbestos matters and ensure that they are always up to date on law and regulatory changes that affect their industry. 

Over the years, Selman Breitman has been at the lead of the defense of benzene-related matters in California.  We have long-standing relationships with not only defense firms and experts, but also the typical plaintiffs' firms.  These relationships make what can be a very contentious lawsuit, into a smoothly-run case.

We have vast experience defending against benzene claims involving plaintiffs suffering from multiple Leukemia variants, Multiple Myeloma, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, lung cancer, and other cancers. Due to the variety of diseases claimed in different cases, there are oftentimes little to no scientific or epidemiological studies to support plaintiffs' broad contentions that any amount of benzene exposure can cause any type disease.  Our attorneys' knowledge of the medical and scientific literature allows us to design detailed defense strategies, frequently resulting in the dismissal of the client, or resolution by summary adjudication. 

Most benzene cases do not involve exposure by a plaintiff to pure benzene; rather, they allege exposure to "trace benzene," where benzene may be present at almost imperceptible levels as a minor constituent or contaminant of our clients' products.  In the defense of these cases, our goal is to limit the amount of exposure by a plaintiff to our client's products, search for alternate exposures, utilize experts to attack the causation issues, and ensure that our client has fully complied with all applicable laws regarding warnings.  In doing so, we are able to frequently educate our clients regarding safety and potential safety hazards, thereby avoiding future litigation.

Selman Breitman attorneys have extensive experience handling claims of damages and injury stemming from exposure to chemicals.  We have defended cases involving a wide range of chemicals and injuries including burns, cancer, fear of cancer, multiple chemical sensitivity, respiratory disorders and other acute and chronic disorders.  Our extensive background in the defense of these cases allows us to represent and advise clients concerning any chemical exposure matters, regardless the nature of the claim.

Our understanding of the technical and medical aspects of chemical injury claims, combined with our knowledge of the latest scientific research, allows us to defend the most complex of cases. We provide aggressive, effective defense for our clients by identifying key issues involved in complicated cases and organizing effective defense strategies.

Selman Breitman is experienced in handling large volumes of information and has the ability to customize reporting based on each individual client's needs. This experience allows us to improve efficiency of our defense, thereby reduce costs to our clients.  

"Popcorn Lung," officially known as bronchiolitis obliterans, is a lung disease claimed to result from exposure to Diacetyl, which is frequently used in butter flavoring in microwave popcorn and other food products.   While cases of the disease were originally limited to people working in the manufacture of products with the chemical, recent cases have been filed by individuals who allege the disease from consumption of large quantities of popcorn.

Disease from heavy exposure to Diacetyl usually affects groups of workers, and often leads to multiple lawsuits for injuries.  These cases must be defended in a manner that anticipates multiple claims, working in the client's bests interests in the big picture – as opposed to just resolving each case individually.  As such, providing a knowledgeable defense of these cases is key to minimizing the overall cost of defense, as well as minimizing future claims.  Selman Breitman has the knowledge and experience to protect our clients' present and future interests. 

Our firm has experience in handling litigation claims and insurance coverage issues on behalf of major pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies. The experience ranges from the representation of clients in litigation relating to the birth control medication DES to the current litigation revolving around the weight loss drug combination known as Phen-Fen. The firm's experience also involves claims against pharmacies for alleged errors in dispensing and compounding medications.

Litigating claims on behalf of pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies requires unique knowledge not commonly required in more typical personal injury lawsuits. For example, claims involving pharmaceutical companies must take into consideration federal law as well as Food & Drug Administration regulations. Similarly, claims against pharmacies are affected by provisions of the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA). Our many years of experience in this area have allowed us to develop a solid understanding of the complexity of these cases.

Selman Breitman has a long history in defending lawsuits by individuals claiming personal injury and property damages associated with exposure to mold and bacteria.  The firm has represented building contractors, plumbers, remediation companies and premises owners against claims by individuals claiming harm from mold, bacteria and other water damage. 

Our firm has significant experience trying these cases, and also with using the less expensive method of binding arbitration to resolve these claims to the benefit of our clients. In addition, our firm offers in-house training in the handling and defense of mold matters and ensure that they are always up to date on law and regulation changes that affect their industry.

Our attorneys have a thorough knowledge of the cutting-edge science and medical issues involved in these cases.  We have long-standing relationships with construction experts, industrial hygienists, mycologists, pulmonologists and other experts integral in the defense of these matters.  We are able to handle any claims, including property damage, claims of allergic or irritant response to mold, immunological claims and allegations of mycotoxicosis or other toxic effects alleged from exposure to mold and mycotoxins. 

Selman Breitman's wide-ranging experience in the defense of mass tort and toxic tort cases allows us to represent and counsel clients pertaining to matters involving any number of alternate materials and toxic substances.  Regardless if the claim is for exposure to manganese from welding rods, wood dust, lead paint, or any other harmful or toxic substances, our attorneys' experience, knowledge, training and skill in handling these matters will ensure an effective, efficient, and well-organized defense. 

Inhalation of large amounts of airborne crystalline silica dust by workers led to a stream of cases alleging multiple respiratory diseases, including silicosis (scarring of the lungs), lung cancer and tuberculosis.  Selman Breitman represents product manufacturers, property owners and contractors in the defense of these claims. 

While industrial claims relating to silica exposure have historically come from sandblasting and mining concerns, the claims have expanded to include more commonplace industries such as masonry/sheetrock construction, work on tunnels and bridges, foundry work, grinding machine operation and agriculture. 

As with other mass tort/toxic injury claims, much of the defense of the case relies on counsel's ability to challenge the plaintiffs' experts.  This requires significant experience and knowledge with the subject matter and the experts who testify in such claims.  Based upon our years of experience, our lawyers are part of a nationwide network of lawyers who share information and databases on these matters, and we bring this expertise and experience to help our clients fight the exposure risks presented by these claims. 

Selman Breitman LLP has significant experience in handling the "welding fume" litigation throughout the country. We handle claims involving some of the industry's largest welding rod manufacturers. We have experience with the emerging medical theories of "parkinsonism," "manganism" and "idiopathic parkinsonism" and have deposed many of the scientific and medical experts in this field. We have obtained dismissals without settlement on the eve of trial in numerous cases.  Selman Breitman LLP has a depth of litigators, making the firm able to respond immediately on behalf of welding clients with a knowledgeable litigation team.