Craig L. Winterman has successfully defended cases against some of the most renowned plaintiffs’ counsel in the United States. The majority of his trials have involved complex legal and factual issues ranging from jurisdiction to federal preemption. He has successfully tried product liability cases involving catastrophic injuries including severe burns, quadriplegia, paraplegia, brain injury and death to minors and adults. A number of his cases have been before the United States Supreme Court as well as state appellate courts.
Mr. Winterman has successfully defended a manufacturer in hundreds of asbestos cases. All of the asbestos cases were either successfully tried or dismissed for a waiver of costs, except for a handful which were settled for nominal sums.
Mr. Winterman has also represented clients involved in major commercial litigation including breach of contract, unfair business practices, breach of warranty, sexual harassment, fraud, director and officers, antitrust violations, class actions, patent infringement and other business disputes. In addition, Mr. Winterman has represented manufacturers before administrative agencies including the California New Motor Vehicle Board.
Mr. Winterman has had the privilege of representing some of the world’s best known corporations including, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Fiat, Ferrari, Bugatti, Sterling, Bentley, Ducati and Park Place Entertainment, Inc. He has also been retained by insurance companies to supervise local counsel who were defending matters involving products and issues such as off-road bicycles, premises liability, automobile accidents, slander, assault and battery, scuba diving accident and exercise equipment.
Mr. Winterman is a graduate of the University of Oregon and Southwestern University School of Law. He joined Herzfeld & Rubin LLP in 1977 and has been Director of its Tort and Product Liability Practice group since 1986 and its Business Litigation group since 1999. Mr. Winterman is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, ABOTA, DRI, Product Liability Advisory Council and ASCDC. His interests include among others the “3 S’s,” skydiving, scuba diving and skiing, as well as the creation of exotic ice cream.