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Idea Exchange
John F. Kuppens
Partner
Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
john.kuppens@nelsonmullins.com
John Kuppens is a member of the firm's Consumer Product Safety, Risk Prevention and Regulatory Practice Group, and its Consumer & Mechanical Products Litigation Group. He has experience in consumer product risk prevention and regulatory counseling, product liability litigation, commercial litigation, and state procurement matters. He currently serves as president of the 22,000-member DRI –...
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John Kuppens is a member of the firm's Consumer Product Safety, Risk Prevention and Regulatory Practice Group, and its Consumer & Mechanical Products Litigation Group. He has experience in consumer product risk prevention and regulatory counseling, product liability litigation, commercial litigation, and state procurement matters. He currently serves as president of the 22,000-member DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar, the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel.
The Voice of the Defense Bar, the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel.
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Evaluates products to assess compliance with consumer product safety regulations, including products governed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Evaluates corporate product safety risk management systems and counsels regarding regulatory compliance and liability prevention
- Counsels clients regarding product liability risk prevention issues, and evaluates product literature, warnings, labeling, and warranties
- Handles product liability litigation, and has experience with principles of accident reconstruction, metallurgy, design, biomechanics, manufacturing processes, and warnings
- Has defended product liability cases involving a wide range of products, including boilers, lawn and garden products, building products, food products, medical devices, electrical and gas-fired appliances, aerial lifts, and textile machinery
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1989)
- Clemson University, BS, Accounting (1986)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Evaluates products to assess compliance with consumer product safety regulations, including products governed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Evaluates corporate product safety risk management systems and counsels regarding regulatory compliance and liability prevention
- Counsels clients regarding product liability risk prevention issues, and evaluates product literature, warnings, labeling, and warranties
- Handles product liability litigation, and has experience with principles of accident reconstruction, metallurgy, design, biomechanics, manufacturing processes, and warnings
- Has defended product liability cases involving a wide range of products, including boilers, lawn and garden products, building products, food products, medical devices, electrical and gas-fired appliances, aerial lifts, and textile machinery
Articles & Speeches
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney’s inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence (2014-2018)
- Recognized in The Legal 500 United States for his practice in product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (2013)
- South Carolina Super Lawyers (2009 - 2018)
- The Best Lawyers in America® -- Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2009 - 2019)
- The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 Columbia-SC Product Liability Litigation - Defendants "Lawyer of the Year"
- Guide to the World’s Leading Product Liability Lawyers (2008-2016)
- AV® Preeminent™ and Distinguished™ peer review ratings from the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings
Professional Activities
- Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association
- South Carolina Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Leadership
- DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar
- President (2017 - present)
- Past National Director
- Past Chair, Product Liability Committee
- Past Chair, Young Lawyers Committee
- Board of Directors, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association (2009-2014)
- Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
- Faculty Member, Trial Academy (2007)
- Member, Legal Task Force, Sports & Fitness Industry Association
- Member, International Consumer Product Health & Safety Organization
John Kuppens is a member of the firm's Consumer Product Safety, Risk Prevention and Regulatory Practice Group, and its Consumer & Mechanical Products Litigation Group. He has experience in consumer product risk prevention and regulatory counseling, product liability litigation, commercial litigation, and state procurement matters. He currently serves as president of the 22,000-member DRI –... The Voice of the Defense Bar, the leading organization of defense attorneys and in-house counsel.
Experience
Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Evaluates products to assess compliance with consumer product safety regulations, including products governed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Evaluates corporate product safety risk management systems and counsels regarding regulatory compliance and liability prevention
- Counsels clients regarding product liability risk prevention issues, and evaluates product literature, warnings, labeling, and warranties
- Handles product liability litigation, and has experience with principles of accident reconstruction, metallurgy, design, biomechanics, manufacturing processes, and warnings
- Has defended product liability cases involving a wide range of products, including boilers, lawn and garden products, building products, food products, medical devices, electrical and gas-fired appliances, aerial lifts, and textile machinery
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1989)
- Clemson University, BS, Accounting (1986)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
- Consumer Product Safety, Risk Prevention & Regulatory Compliance
- Products Liability - Consumer & Mechanical
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Premises Liability
- Aviation
- Dispute Resolution
- Toxic Torts
Industries
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence (2014-2018)
- Recognized in The Legal 500 United States for his practice in product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (2013)
- South Carolina Super Lawyers (2009 - 2018)
- The Best Lawyers in America® -- Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2009 - 2019)
- The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 Columbia-SC Product Liability Litigation - Defendants "Lawyer of the Year"
- Guide to the World’s Leading Product Liability Lawyers (2008-2016)
- AV® Preeminent™ and Distinguished™ peer review ratings from the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings
- Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association
- South Carolina Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar
- President (2017 - present)
- Past National Director
- Past Chair, Product Liability Committee
- Past Chair, Young Lawyers Committee
- Board of Directors, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association (2009-2014)
- Member, International Association of Defense Counsel
- Faculty Member, Trial Academy (2007)
- Member, Legal Task Force, Sports & Fitness Industry Association
- Member, International Consumer Product Health & Safety Organization
Highlights from the Firm’s Idea Exchange
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Technology, Contracts and Jobsite Safety
March 20, 2019
Raising the Topic of Paid Parental Leave
March / April 2019
Old North State Report – March 22, 2019
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Gold Dome Report - March 22, 2019
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Gold Dome Report - March 21, 2019
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