Key Strategies for Mitigating Recall Litigation Risk:
From First Response to Final Resolution

Overview:
 
Product recalls often trigger litigation — even when consumer harm is limited or well managed. In today’s environment, recall announcements, remedy decisions and regulator interactions can quickly become the foundation for class actions and other claims.
 
Watch back our 30‑minute webinar exploring how to defend against product recall litigation in practice — from first response through to resolution. Our product recall and legal experts examine why recalls have become such a common catalyst for litigation, and share practical guidance to help you reduce exposure before, during, and after an event.
 
Within this session and accompanying insights guide, you'll discover:
  • Why recalls lead to litigation: How and why claims arise even where injuries are limited or non-existent—and how recall litigation has evolved over the past 5–10 years.
  • Pre‑recall conduct: How plaintiffs’ attorneys assess pre‑incident practices, records and decisions, and when involving counsel can meaningfully change the risk profile.
  • How recall communications are used in claims: How press releases, notices, microsites, call centre scripts and consumer messaging can be leveraged — and what to do to avoid common missteps.
  • Balancing transparency with defensibility: Practical approaches for staying clear and empathetic without conceding fault or creating inconsistencies across audiences and channels.
  • Where recall insurance and reimbursement fit: How recovery strategies can intersect with litigation defence and cost management during high‑stakes incidents.


Whether you’re strengthening your recall preparedness, reviewing how legal, quality and regulatory teams work together, or preparing for the possibility of claims after a recent event, this session will share practical guidance to help you reduce exposure, protect defensibility, and maintain momentum during high‑stakes incidents.

Chris Harvey

Chris Harvey

Senior Vice President, Sedgwick
Chris is recognized as an expert in the recall industry and routinely speaks on best practices at trade shows, conventions, and conferences. Throughout his career, he has managed more than 1,200 recall and in-market remediations, including hundreds for the nation’s largest brands.
Erik Swanholt

Erik Swanholt

Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
Erik has 25+ years’ experience advising and defending manufacturers, distributors and retailers on product recalls, remediation and recall‑driven litigation. He works with regulators and testing bodies (including the CPSC, FDA and FTC) and defends clients in class actions, mass torts and regulatory investigations.
Kristin McGaver Sikora

Kristin McGaver Sikora

Senior Counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP
Kristin is an experienced adviser and litigator who counsels manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers on product safety, compliance and recall execution. She supports organizations through recalls, remediation planning, consumer protection claims, regulatory investigations and recall‑related litigation.

About Sedgwick Brand Protection

Trusted by the world’s leading brands and most relied on businesses, Sedgwick brand protection is the market-leading provider of best practice product recall and remediation solutions.

With a 30-year track record of successfully protecting businesses, their customers and our environment, we’ve managed more than 8,000 of the most sensitive and time critical product recall programs, spanning 150+ countries and 50+ languages.