Our Attorneys

Ronald C. Wernette

Biography

An experienced Michigan and Ohio trial and appellate lawyer, Ron Wernette has a special proficiency in complex civil litigation.  He is focused on the defense of product liability, trucking, vehicular accident, toxic exposure, and consumer claims.  Ron defends claims for a variety of clients, including Ecolab, Honda, Kia, Porsche, Hamilton Beach Brands, ACE-Excess, Estes Express, UPS Freight, and Waste Management. In addition to his litigation practice, Ron provides counsel concerning product liability prevention and risk management.

Ron is a frequent speaker and author, most recently on the topic of toxic exposure and nanotechnology, trucking litigation defense, motor vehicle consumer litigation, open and obvious danger and related product liability defenses, and hedonic damages in personal injury and death cases.   Ron has been recognized as a Super Lawyer® in 2006-2011 by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine.

Prior to joining the firm, Ron clerked for the Honorable Cornelia G. Kennedy of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He was also a logistics and planning manager at General Motors from 1983-1986.

Follow Ron's blog at www.nanotortlaw.com

Education

  • The University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1990
    magna cum laude
    Order of the Coif; First Place, Campbell Moot Court Competition, 1990
    Michigan Law Review, Editor, 1988 - 1990
  • University of Michigan, M.B.A., 1990
    with distinction
  • General Motors Institute, B.I.A., 1983
    cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Michigan, 1991
  • Ohio, 1999

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1991
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1997
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1991
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1997
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 1998
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2009
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1997

Memberships and Affiliations

Defense Research Institute
    Trucking Law Committee
    Commercial Litigation Committee
    Product Liability Committee
    E-Discovery Committee


Michigan Defense Trial Counsel

Trucking Industry Defense Association

Transportation Lawyers Association

American Bar Association

American Chemical Society

Distinctions

Super Lawyer®, 2006-2011
    Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
 

Classes and Seminars Taught

"Ensuring Compliance with the Evolving Federal and State Regulatory Paradigms: A Focus on CSA, Driver Safety Initiatives, FMCSA, DOT, Carrier Ratings and New and Emerging State Regulations," ACI's 2nd National Forum on Defending and Managing Trucking Litigation, December 2011

"Product Liability," SAE International, September 2011

"Nanotechnology Implications in Chemical and Consumer Products Liability," ACI Chemical Products Liability & Environmental Litigation Conference, April 2011

"Timely Handling of Evidence and Rapid Response in Trucking Accidents," ACI Trucking Litigation Conference, March 2011

"Nanotechnology Risk Mitigation in 2010," 22nd Annual Product Liability Conference, September 2010

"Nanotechnology: Insurer's Guide to Risk Mitigation in 2009," Erie Insurance, September 2009

"Nanotechnology: A Practical Guide to Reduce Liability Risk," 2009 Product Safety & Liability Conference, July 2009

"Global Automotive Regulation & Compliance," Bowman and Brooke Hot Topics Client Seminar, September 2008

"Caveo Lex: Discovery Dangers for Inside and Outside Counsel," Bowman and Brooke Hot Topics Client Seminar, September 2008

"Nanotechnology - The Insurer's Perspective", ACE Insurance, April 2008

"American Product Liability Litigation," Injuries, Anatomy, Biomechanics & Federal Regulation, SAE International, November 2006

"When Old is New Again - Same Claims, New Theories," Bowman and Brooke Hot Topics Client Seminar, September 2006

"Entering Into Litigation," Product Safety and Liability Prevention Seminar, November 2005

"Automotive Consumer Litigation," Bowman and Brooke Hot Topics Client Seminar, September 2005

"American Product Liability Litigation," SAE Injuries, Anatomy, Biomechanics and Federal Regulation Seminar, September 2005

"Claims and Defenses in Stationary Vehicle Fire Cases," Bowman and Brooke Hot Topics Client Seminar, September 2004

"American Product Liability Litigation," SAE Injuries, Anatomy, Biomechanics and Federal Regulation Seminar, August 2004

"Human Factors of Motor Vehicle Operation and Accidents," ACE-USA Transportation Claims Seminar, April 2004

"FAQs of E-Discovery," Bowman and Brooke Hot Topics Client Seminar, September 2007

Published Works

"Immunity, Duty and Non-Parties at Fault," Michigan Defense Quarterly, Vol. 27, No. 4, April 2011 (Co-Author)

"Nanoparticles: New Frontier For Mass-Tort, Class Action Claims," Westlaw Journal Product Liability, March 7, 2011

"Nanoparticles: New Frontier For Mass-Tort, Class Action Claims," Westlaw Journal Expert and Scientific Evidence, February 16, 2011

"Nanoparticles: New Frontier For Mass-Tort, Class Action Claims," Westlaw Journal Medical Devices, January 3, 2011

"Nanoparticles: New Frontier For Mass-Tort, Class Action Claims," Westlaw Journal Toxic Torts, January 1, 2011 

"Nanoparticles: The New Frontier For Product Liability Mass Tort and Class Action Claims," BNA Product Safety & Liability Reporter, Vol. 38, No. 48, Dec 13, 2010

"Nanoparticles: The New Frontier for Product Liability Mass Tort and Class Action Claims," Class Action Litigation Report, Vol. 11, No. 22, Nov 26, 2010

"Automotive Nanotechnology: Big Rewards and Big Risks From the Inconceivably Small," Westlaw Journal - Automotive, Vol. 30, No. 10, Nov 9, 2010

"Nanoparticles: The New Frontier For Product Liability Mass Tort and Class Action Claims," BNA Toxics Law Reporter, November 11, 2010

"Nanoparticles: A New Mass Tort Frontier," Product Liability Law 360, Class Action Law 360, Health Law 360, Environmental Law 360, Technology Law 360, November 8, 2010

"8 Steps to Reducing Nanotorts in Your Nanofuture," Product Liability Law360, July 8, 2010

"8 Steps to Reducing Nanotorts in Your Nanofuture," Environmental Law360, July 8, 2010

"Minor Compromises: 50 State Compendium - Michigan," American Bar Association, July 2010 (Co-Author)

"Reducing the Risk of Nanotechnology Personal Injury," ABA-TIPS Products, General Liability and Consumer Law Committee Newsletter, Summer 2010

"The Pharmaceutical Applications of Nanotechnology - Part 2," Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy, October 2009

"Nanotechnology: Risks and Benefits in Pharmaceutical Applications," Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy, September, 2009

"Nanotechnology Coming to Your Store," www.foodprocessing.com, August 31, 2009

"The Michigan 'Lemon' Law: A 2009 Practice Guide," Michigan Defense Quarterly, July 2009 (Co-Author)

"Comparative/Contributory Negligence and Joint and Several Liability: 50 State Compendium - Michigan," American Bar Association, July, 2009 (Co-Author)

"Third Party Thinking: The Duty to Preserve, Collect, and Produce Electronically Stored Information Held by Third Parties," Inside Counsel, June 22, 2009

"The Dawn of the Age of Nanotorts," Product Safety & Liability Reporter, April, 2009

"The Coming Age of Nanotorts," Product Liability Law & Strategy, March, 2009

"Health Care Nanoscience: Regulation By Litigation," Health Law360, March 23, 2009

"Health Care Nanoscience: Regulation By Litigation," Product Liability Law360, March 23, 2009

"The Dawn of the Age of Nanotorts," BNA Toxics Law Reporter, January 15, 2009

"The Dawn of the Age of Nanotorts," BNA Class Action Litigation Report, January 9, 2009

"The Duty to Preserve, Collect and Produce Electronically Stored Information Held by Third Parties", InsideCounsel, December, 2008

"Nanotechnology in Medical Applications: Hippocratic Oath and Hegelian Recursion," Rx for the Defense, Fall, 2008

"The Legal Risks of Nanotechnologies," For The Defense, November, 2008

"The Duty to Preserve, Collect, and Produce Electronically Stored Information Held by Third Parties," Michigan Defense Quarterly, Volume 25, No. 2, October, 2008

"Be aware of your client's duty to preserve, collect and produce ESI held by third parties," Michigan Lawyers Weekly, September 22, 2008

"Product Liability Cases and the Duty to Warn: A 50 State Compendium - Michigan," Defense Research Institute, January, 2008 (Co-Author)