“One of my greatest strengths is the ability to develop and implement a unique, often nuanced, strategy for each case and client with the goal of reaching the most favorable resolution at the earliest opportunity. And when that resolution requires a trial, my clients know they will get 110% from me and my trial team every time.”
Craig is a nationally recognized product liability trial lawyer who represents domestic and international manufacturers and distributors in matters throughout the country. Craig is a long-standing Sustaining Member of the Product Liability Advisory Council and has, for over two decades, served as national coordinating counsel and national trial counsel for a number of manufacturers and distributors. Craig has appeared in more than 20 states for clients as local, regional or national counsel. He also works closely with clients on risk management strategies, including issues surrounding product warnings and instructions. Craig has tried many high-exposure cases to verdict in both state and federal courts involving a wide-range of products. He is an authority on firearms litigation and is frequently called upon to brief and argue the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in state and federal courts. He is also an authority on California's Prop 65 and works closely with manufacturers and distributors in defense of those claims. Craig is regularly a featured speaker for defense lawyer groups on such issues as product liability defense strategies, catastrophic injury and wrongful death and trial tactics. Craig is a 5.0 (A-V Preeminent) rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected as a Northern California Super Lawyer since 2007.
Publications
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Strategies for Successfully Moving to Change Venue Based on Inconvenience (Co-Author Crystal L. Van Der Putten), ADC Defense Comment, Summer 2017
Finding Fault with Ault: Why The Exclusion of Subsequent Design Change Evidence In Product Liability Cases Makes Sense, Even In California, IADC Defense Counsel Journal, July 2011
Lessons From Jury Research: The Mythical “Safe Company” Standard And How Product Liability Defendants Can Measure Up, IADC Product Liability Committee Newsletter, 2003
Defending America’s Manufacturers: Challenges, Rewards and Successful Strategies, Inside the Minds: Leading Product Liability Lawyers – Industry Insiders on the Art & Science Behind A Successful Product Liability Practice, Aspatore Books, 2003 (contributing author)
Firearms Litigation in 2002 and Beyond, VerdictSearch Products Liability Report, 2003
National Coordinating Counsel: Controlling Product Liability Exposure and Defense Costs, For the Defense, Defense Research Institute, 2001 (Recipient of the 2002 G. Duffield Smith Outstanding Publication Award from DRI)
Admissibility of Evidence of the Absence of Prior Similar Accidents in Product Liability Cases, CEB Program Handbook, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 2000
Speaking Engagements
The “Safe Company” Trial Theme, Product Liability Advisory Council Fall Conference, 2015
Effective Use of CACI Product Liability Instructions: Using Lemons to Make Lemonade, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada Annual Meeting, 2013
California Update: Product Liability Law, National Business Institute, 2012
Preparing and Trying the Personal Injury Case, National Business Institute, 2009
Effective In-House Witness Preparation: Understanding, Promoting and Implementing Meaningful Corporate “Buy-In,” Product Liability Advisory Council Fall Conference, 2007
Personal Injury Case Management for Seasoned Litigators, National Business Institute, 2007
The Psychology of In-house Expert Witness Preparation and Testimony and The “Safe Company” Theme, Product Liability Advisory Council Spring Conference, 2006
Published Options
Adames v. Sheahan (2007) 378 Ill.App.3d 502.
Adames v. Sheahan (2009) 233 Ill.2d 276 cert. denied sub nom. Adames v. Beretta U.S.A. Corp. (2009) 175 L.Ed. 634.
Delana v. CED Sales, Inc. d/b/a Odessa Gun & Pawn (2016) 486 S.W.3d 316 (Missouri Supreme Court).
Professional Associations
Product Liability Advisory Council, Sustaining Member
International Association of Defense Counsel
Defense Research Institute
State Bar of California
Contra Costa County Bar Association
Professional Activities
Settlement Mentor, Contra Costa Superior Court
Consultant to the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute.
Bar Admissions
United States Supreme Court - 2009
State Bar of California - 1990
U.S Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit - 1990
U.S. District Courts Northern District CA - 1990 Eastern District CA - 1994 Central District CA - 1999 Southern District CA - 2008
Personal
A Bay Area native, Craig spent five years in municipal law enforcement before attending law school. He is passionate about his cooking (he makes a fantastic porcini mushroom risotto and truly authentic seafood gumbo), vegetable gardening and wine making (with the attendant wine consumption), and he enjoys traveling, hiking and golf (though his index does not reflect it).
Education
University of San Francisco School of Law Juris Doctor • May 1990
University of California Santa Barbara Bachelor of Arts Law and Society • June 1982
