Gerald P. Schneeweis

    Partner
    Morris Polich & Purdy LLP
    San Diego
    Direct: 619.819.2414
    Main: 619.557.0404

    Practice & Industry Focus Biographies:

    Mr. Schneeweis has 30 years of experience in the representation of a variety of manufacturers in state and federal trial and appellate courts. He has defended domestic and foreign manufacturers and research entities in litigation involving prescription and over-the-counter medical products, industrial machinery, cosmetic and agricultural products. He recently served as national coordinating counsel for a prescription dermal filler manufacturer/clinical trial sponsor in a statewide product liability litigation involving dozens of plaintiffs from several other states and countries. His medical products experience also includes the defense of manufacturers and research institutes engaged in the development, testing and/or manufacturing of corticosteroids, antibiotics, anti-depressants, birth control, muscle relaxants and anti-seizure medication, surgical adhesive, infusion pumps, emergency medical equipment and spinal stabilization devices.

    In addition, Mr. Schneeweis has successfully defended manufacturers of industrial equipment such as plastic injection molding systems, custom water filter manufacturing systems, plastic sheet shredders, ingredient mixer systems and material transport equipment, as well as herbicides, pesticides, bulk chemicals and agricultural products. He was also regional counsel for the largest U.S. manufacturer of washing machines in property damage litigation arising from claims of a defective material used in the water inlet hose assembly. In one of those cases, involving 38 separate underlying claims, he obtained a complete defense verdict for his clients after a jury trial, despite the court’s earlier summary adjudication that the product at issue was "defective." He has tried numerous other cases to a successful verdict in both jury and court trials.

    He also counsels manufacturers and their insurers on various product liability and risk management issues, including adequacy of warnings and product use instructions, marketing, complaint reporting and FDA rules on promotion of off-label use.

    Mr. Schneeweis manages Morris Polich & Purdy’s San Diego office and chairs the firm's Commercial Law Practice Group.

    View on Website:  Products Liability

    Education

    • J.D., Southwestern University School of Law, 1981
    • B.A., St. Mary's College, 1976

    Court Admissions

    • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • United States District Court for the Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California

    Bar Admissions

    • California, 1981
    • Massachusetts, 2008

    Professional Memberships and Activities

    • Association of Business Trial Lawyers
    • Defense Research Institute, Drugs and Devices Section
    • San Diego County Bar Association
    • American Bar Association - Litigation and IP Sections

    Distinctions

    • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated - Martindale-Hubbell

    Speeches, Publications and Email Alerts

    • "Federal Preemption" and "Off-Label Promotion," online courses on FDA regulations of life sciences companies, San Diego State University Masters' program in Regulatory Affairs, May, 2012 
    • "Justices Limit Exposure of Foreign Businesses to US Litigation," Los Angeles Daily Journal, July 7, 2011
    • Webinar: "Best Practices to Avoid & Minimize Product Liability Litigation: a US and EU Perspective," guest speaker for life sciences industry insurer, May 25, 2011
    • Seminar: "Marketing and Protection of Design Professional Services on the Internet," November, 2008
    • Seminar: "Business Promotion on the Internet," April, 2008
    • "Working With The Physician’s Counsel in Defending 'Off-Label Use' Litigation," Defense Research Institute - Rx for the Defense, October, 2007
    • "Advertising and Business Promotion," Lorman Education Services, Pasadena, California, October, 2002
    • "Working With The Physician in Defending Failure to Warn Cases," Defense Research Institute - Rx for the Defense, May 15, 2002
    • International BIO Conference, New York City, 1998 – Presentation on FDA Compliance
    • International BIO Conference, Seattle, 1999 – Presentation on Biotech Product Liability Issues