Practice Focus

Litigation

Trent Norris, head of the firm's San Francisco office, litigates complex scientific and technical disputes in the areas of consumer protection, product liability, environmental, and intellectual property law.

Mr. Norris' clients are primarily manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of everyday products. His cases have involved diverse products, technologies, and industries, including hearing aids, dietary supplements, cosmetics, restaurant meals, grilled meat, water meters, dandruff shampoo, power tools, medical devices, soft drinks, crystal glassware, snack foods, vaccines, home electronics, paints, plumbing valves, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals, and batteries, to name a few. He works actively with trade associations and joint defense groups in many of these industries.

A significant portion of Mr. Norris' practice is devoted to advising and defending companies in regards to California's unique toxics and labeling law, Proposition 65, and California's expansive consumer protection laws. He has been a leader in the effort to reform the standing requirements of these laws. Mr. Norris's intellectual property practice involves patent, copyright, trade secret and trademark litigation as well as counseling in relation to resolution and avoidance of disputes.

Mr. Norris served as the top legislative aide to US Senator Wyche Fowler, Jr. (D-GA) on appropriations, environmental, public lands and transportation issues (1987-1989). He was Editor of the Harvard Law Review (1990-1992).

Representative Matters

Consumer Law

• Represented major food manufacturer in regulatory proceedings and litigation brought by California attorney general and citizens groups to require Proposition 65 warnings on snack foods
• Represents 17 manufacturers and retailers of multivitamins in Proposition 65 litigation by the California Attorney General and multiple District Attorneys
• Represents major restaurant system in two nationwide and four state class actions alleging inaccuracies in nutritional information provided on menus
• Represents major manufacturer of yogurt products in purported nationwide class action alleging false advertising regarding the benefits of the products
• Represented nine manufacturers and retailers of red yeast rice dietary supplements regarding allegations that the products require warnings under Proposition 65 and related laws
• Represents six national restaurant systems against claims by animal rights advocacy group that Proposition 65 warnings are required on grilled chicken products
• Represented major manufacturer of Bluetooth wireless headsets in defending multidistrict litigation alleging that warnings are required for noise-induced hearing loss
• Advises numerous dietary supplement manufacturers and retailers concerning allegations of non-compliance with California consumer laws and Proposition 65
• Represented global beverage company regarding allegations that soft drink bottles illegally imported and sold in California by others require a warning under Proposition 65
• Represented 21 manufacturers and retailers of progesterone creams regarding allegations that they require warnings under California consumer laws and Proposition 65, resulting in published decision affirming the reform of California's consumer protection laws
• Represented several manufacturers and retailers of ginseng supplements in defending claims that ingredient lists were inaccurate as a result of change in federal law
• Represented manufacturers and retailers of kava supplements in defending class action claiming that the products require warnings
• Represented manufacturer of vaccines in litigation alleging that preservatives used in childhood vaccines result in autism, resulting in published decision upholding treatment of prescription medications under Proposition 65

Intellectual Property

• Represented a major telephone accessory manufacturer in patent infringement litigation and related proceedings before the International Trade Commission concerning wireless telephone technology
• Represented a security software manufacturer in trademark cancellation proceedings before the US Patent and Trademark Office and in related trademark infringement litigation
• Represents a major cellular telephone accessory manufacturer in anticounterfeiting efforts and related litigation
• Oversees the patent and trademark portfolio and provides strategic IP advice to a global telecommunications equipment manufacturer and a global hearing aid manufacturer
• Represented a major wood products company in establishing precedent providing additional protection to commercial trade secrets submitted to government agencies
• Represented a major cellular telephone accessory manufacturer in breach of contract and design patent infringement litigation
• Represented a pharmaceutical company as plaintiff in trademark infringement action
• Represented a dietary supplemental company as plaintiff in two trademark infringement actions

Product Liability

• Represented PhRMA, the Pharmaceutical Trade Association, in providing testimony to California legislature on direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising legislation
• Represent three pharmaceutical companies in personal injury case alleging inadequate packaging and failure to warn
• Represented a vaccine manufacturer in litigation alleging that preservatives used in childhood vaccines result in autism, resulting in published decision upholding treatment of prescription medications under Proposition 65
• Represented a pharmaceutical company in purported class action alleging that labeling of products resulted in the administration of the wrong medicine to class of patients
• Represented a medical device manufacturer in asbestos litigation
• Represented a pharmaceutical company in defending a wrongful death case involving a labor-inducing drug

Environmental

• Advises manufacturers and retailers concerning compliance with regulations of the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation
• Represents consumer product manufacturers and retailers in enforcement proceedings before the California Air Resources Board
• Advises consumer product trade associations in compliance and regulatory proceedings concerning Proposition 65
• Represented manufacturers of plumbing valves in a successful trial of claims that Proposition 65 prohibits the sale of their products in California (ruling affirmed on appeal)
• Represented a paint manufacturer in a multiparty site cleanup and related cost-recovery litigation