Hartford Partner and current President of the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association Glenn Coffin recently authored an article titled “Filial Consortium Claims’ Future After Conn. High Court Ruling,” published by Law360.
The article examines a recent case in the Connecticut Supreme Court, L.L., et al. v. Newell Brands Inc., et al. (SC 21005), where the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants were responsible for manufacturing, designing, marketing, or distributing a car seat and stove and that the car seat caught fire when placed near the stove on a counter, resulting in injury to the plaintiff, an infant. The plaintiffs claimed that the manufacturer and seller of both the car seat and electric stove knew or should have known that the products were allegedly defective or unsafe, causing the loss of consortium of their daughter.
The court acknowledged the profound pain experienced by a parent when their child is injured. However, the court clearly distinguished between parental loss of consortium and filial consortium, emphasizing that filial consortium is rooted in emotional distress rather than loss of society. In the article, Coffin explains that this ruling is a significant win for the Connecticut defense bar, especially given the trend of high jury verdicts and settlement values. Despite the ruling, the issue is far from settled as it is likely that legislative efforts by the plaintiffs’ bar are underway to establish a statute addressing this hot button issue.
The Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association, with the direct participation of GRSM lawyers and staff, assisted in the preparation of an amicus brief supporting the defense’s arguments to the Connecticut Supreme Court.
Coffin has practiced in Connecticut for more than twenty years in the defense of a variety of entities and clients in the complex litigation setting. He focuses his practice on the defense of manufacturers of products in toxic tort, products liability, and asbestos litigation. Additionally, he has experience in the defense of complex personal injury, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, fire/explosion loss and property damage claims, municipal litigation, construction litigation, commercial general liability defense, legal malpractice defense, and premises and automobile liability defense.
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