Dennis K. Wheeler
Biographical Information
Mr. Wheeler is a Partner in Haight Brown & Bonesteel’s Los Angeles office. He is a member of the Public Entity Litigation, Product Liability & Tort, General Liability and Professional Errors & Omissions Practice Groups. His practice is concentrated in the defense of civil litigation involving liability matters applicable to the healthcare and entertainment industries as well as public entities.
Mr. Wheeler has successfully tried well over 50 cases in his career including complicated multi-party actions. He has extensive experience with a variety of torts claims including claims against pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, health care providers, and public entities.
Representative Experience:
- Defense verdict for American Insulated Wire in a 3 month trial involving the wrongful death of 10 year old twins in a house fire
- Successfully defended Dreamliner in a products liability case involving an explosion in a newly purchased motor home that critically burned two individuals
- Represented Ashland Oil in a products case where a high school teacher used the oil as fuel in a Bunson burner resulting in burns to a student
- Successfully defended Parke Davis in a products liability case alleging that warnings regarding a MAO inhibiter failed to include a warning that the use of the medicine in combination with the consumption of yeast products could cause a hypertensive crisis
- Defense verdict for Hollywood Park Racetrack in a premises liability case where a tennis pro slipped and fell allegedly due to latent defects in the property, fracturing his ankle and ruining his career
- Successfully defended a chemical manufacturer from allegations that exposure to their chemicals at the work site caused a woman to develop pulmonary fibrosis leading to the need for a bilateral lung transplant
- Defense verdict for a podiatrist against allegations that pain due to an unnecessary surgery on a highly successful comedy writer caused him to develop depression so that he was no longer able to pursue his profession
- Successfully defended a casino against allegations that a player was wrongfully arrested after he threatened the life of a dealer after having a run of bad luck
- Obtained a very favorable trial result for the Los Angeles Unified School District in a sexual assault case committed by an outside perpetrator due to the lack of security at the school
- Obtained a favorable result for the Los Angeles Unified School District in a case involving allegations that a female special education student was lured off-campus at Manual Arts High School by a non-student and sexually assaulted
- Management of a team of local and national counsel in the Feldene litigation on behalf of Pfizer, the Marcaine litigation on behalf of Sterling Drug, heart valve litigation on behalf of Shiley, and joint replacement products on behalf of Smith & Nephew. Additionally, Mr. Wheeler has handled a wide variety of claims involving diverse medical products such as dental implants, sutures, pacemakers and chemotherapy implant devices
- Represented New Line Cinema in a wrongful death action wherein it was alleged that the decedent became overly tired from a long day of shooting and fell asleep on his drive home. The legal issues of duty and responsibility were of paramount importance to the industry, and the case was successfully defended on a Motion for Summary Judgment that was ultimately upheld on appeal
- Chief trial counsel for Hollywood Park Racetrack for the last 25 years handling matters involving premises liability, security concerns, and general racetrack liabilities. Chief trial counsel for Hollywood Park Casino handling similar matters
- Represented MGM Grand Hotel in an action brought by entertainer Michael Crawford arising out of an injury he sustained while performing in the musical review EFX! Obtained a favorable resolution on behalf of the client
- Represented North American Health Care in several actions alleging negligence and elder abuse involving skilled nursing and assisted living facilities
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