Automotive Litigation

Headquartered in the birthplace of the global automotive industry, Miller Canfield represents companies active in all segments of the automotive industry in legal disputes. Miller Canfield’s litigators enforce and defend claims involving supply contracts, sales representative and distributor contracts, warranties, antitrust issues, patents, copyrights, trade secrets and non-compete agreements.

We resolve disputes with suppliers, customers, dealers, distributors, sales representatives, competitors, customers, former officers and investors. We work closely with industry, technical and financial experts, as needed. Our attorneys also regularly advise clients on compliance with antitrust, dealer, and sales representative laws, with an eye toward avoiding disputes. Miller Canfield litigators often speak and write from our experience on issues affecting the auto industry – and trade groups look to us for timely information and guidance.

Product Warranty Claims  
Suits seeking to recover warranty costs for allegedly defective components or assemblies – installed in many thousands of vehicles – have become a fact of doing business in the industry. These high stakes cases involve complex technical and engineering issues, and difficult legal, contract and damages issues. We have many years of experience handling these claims in litigation, arbitration, and mediation.

Suppliers  
The down economy and material cost increases have prompted supplier demands for price increases and other disputes over supply agreements. We have extensive experience handling claims for injunctions to avoid interruption of production and claims for return of tooling. And we work closely with our clients’ business people to win the end game.

Dealers and Sales Representatives
Many states have adopted statutes protecting dealers, distributors and sales representatives. Our litigators help our clients comply with these complex and varying statutes, and defend against claims for compensation or reinstatement.

Trade Secrets
The automotive industry has gone high-tech. Many companies protect valuable design, manufacturing and product technology through agreements prohibiting vendors, customers and employees from disclosing trade secrets. Our litigators have extensive experience prosecuting and defending claims of trade secret misappropriation. We also counsel our clients on best practices for protecting their competitive advantage through trade secret protection.

Patents and Trademarks
We assist clients in brand selection--with domestic and foreign trademark clearance and registration--and advise them on best practices for protecting and maximizing the value of their brand. With a portfolio of over 1,500 marks registered in the U.S. and over 40 other countries, clients are well-served by our experience and competitive fees. Our intellectual property litigators have handled significant patent and trademark infringement actions representing both plaintiffs and defendants, and regularly assist clients in developing and implementing anti-counterfeiting measures, often working with U.S. Customs and Federal authorities.

Discovery Management
Timely, accurate and complete discovery efforts are essential to ensure that your company is prepared to present your side of the case aggressively. Companies that are frequent litigation targets or encounter major litigation are well-served by adding a discovery management element to their litigation team. Miller Canfield is a national leader in providing this essential service to automotive industry clients. We make your litigation team more efficient and cost-effective.