Patrick G. Seyferth

Product Liability

• First-chaired Arizona jury trial on behalf of automotive manufacturer involving severe injuries to driver of a pickup truck and claim of electronic sensing system defect: No cause
• Argued Sixth Circuit appeal in support of lower Court’s dismissal in a high-exposure fire case: 3-0 Affirmed
• First-chaired Tennessee jury trial on behalf of automotive manufacturer involving injuries to a passenger in an SUV and claim of restraint defect: No cause
• Argued appeal in Michigan Court of Appeals Complex Div. to uphold defense verdict involving child death product liability case: 3-0 Affirmed
• First-chaired Arizona jury trial on behalf of automotive manufacturer involving significant injury in a minivan and claim of air bag defect: No cause
• Assisted in highly publicized Michigan jury trial on behalf of automotive manufacturer involving the death of 7-year-old child: No cause
• Represented Plaintiff in 2-week Michigan jury trial that involved near-drowning: $500,000 verdict
• Assisted in New York federal jury trial in case involving child death and claim of air bag defect: Judgment as a matter of law (Published)

Commercial / Class Actions

• First-chaired Ohio jury trial – obtained defense verdict on behalf of major finance company on all contract and punitive damage claims
• Defeated class certification in national MDL class action involving European automotive manufacturer and claims regarding telematics (Published)
• First-chaired eight high-profile automotive dealer arbitrations
• Successfully represented Michigan Legislature in Covid-19 litigation regarding Governor’s Executive Orders, voter signature requirements and voter ID regulation (Published – all)
• First-chaired arbitration on behalf of national homebuilder involving former high-ranking executive
• Defended closely-held corporation in $110M ‘alter-ego’ action in federal court that attempted to pierce the corporate veil
• Obtained favorable outcome in indemnification case regarding fatality
• Argued for and obtained nationwide permanent injunction in business defamation and trademark case
• Defeated Arizona class certification claims on behalf of home builder class – obtained dismissal of claims and fee award of $670,000

Mediations/ADR

• Served as court appointed facilitator in over 50 U.S. District Court cases
• Selected as a mediator in multiple Circuit Court business cases
• Selected jointly by both parties to serve as sole arbitrator in multi-million-dollar case regarding non-compete issues
• Appointed by Federal Judge as a Special Master in cases involving RICO, Qui Tam and complex discovery cases
• Received a Certificate of Recognition by United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan for facilitation of complex cases

Before co-founding BSP in 2003, Patrick was an equity partner at Feeney Kellett Wienner & Bush. Patrick remains grateful to his many mentors, including his 2 years of service as a federal law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Robert H. Cleland. Before attending law school, Patrick worked as a broker in the food service industry.

Honors & Awards

Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (Troy, MI), 2019

America’s Top 100 Attorneys®, 2018

U.S. News Best Lawyers ®, 2010-present

Michigan Super Lawyers, Top 100, 2011-2017, 2020

Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America©: Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2012 – present), Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions (2021)

U.S.D.C. Eastern District of Michigan, Certificate of Appreciation, Merit Selection Panel, 2011

Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly, Leader In The Law, 2011

Michigan Super Lawyers, 2006-present

DBusiness Top Lawyers, 2008-2018, 2021

Martindale Hubbell ® Peer Review Rating of AV

Professional Activities

U.S. Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference, Life Member

Federal Bar Association Eastern District of Michigan, Executive Board Member

Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC), Sustaining Member

Leading Lawyers, Member, 2014 – present, Advisory Board Member, 2018 – present

Oakland County Bar Foundation, Fellow

U.S.D.C. Eastern District of Michigan, Appointed Member e-Filing Rules Committee

Oakland County Bar Association, Member

Defense Research Institute, Member

American Bar Foundation, Fellow

Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, Member

Presentations

Product Liability Advisory Council (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020)

Network of Trial Law Firms (2018)

Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress (2017)

Defense Research Institute Strictly Automotive (2013, 2015, 2017)

North American International Auto Show – AutoMobili-D (2017)

University of Michigan UMTRI Program (November, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017)

Privacy + Security Forum (2016)

International Assoc. of Privacy Professionals Privacy. Security. Risk. (2016)

Association of Corporate Counsel Michigan Chapter (2015, 2016)

72nd Judicial Conference of the Sixth Circuit (April, 2012)

Crain’s In-House Summit (April 2012)

71st Judicial Conference of the Sixth Circuit (June, 2011)

Federal Bar Association (April, 2010)

Featured speaker at Investiture Ceremony of Federal Judge Raymond Kethledge, Oath Administered by Justice Anthony Kennedy, University of Michigan (September, 2008)

Publications

“Avoiding the Blind Spots: Evidentiary Issues, Exhibits, Experts, and Trial Strategies,” DRI For the Defense, Published Winter 2018

“Privacy, Cybersecurity, and the Connected Car,” DRI In-House Defense Quarterly, Published Spring 2015

“Lawsuits Involving Component Suppliers,” DRI In-House Defense Quarterly, Published Spring 2012

“Trial Strategies: Humanizing the Corporate Defendant,” DRI In-House Defense Quarterly, Published Winter 2010

For the Community

Patrick heads the BSP Charitable Foundation which, to date, has raised in excess of $750,000 for various charities. Patrick also serves on the Advisory Board for New Day Foundation for Families, a local non-profit that provides resources to families affected by cancer. In 2018, Patrick was extremely proud to have received the New Day Foundation for Families Matt Kell and Cathy Spehn Legacy Award.

Patrick leads the firm’s pro bono efforts and has also gained positive results for individuals and families in need. In one pro bono case, Patrick helped two young girls deal with a child sexual abuse matter that made a “lasting impact” on their lives.

Personal

Although a Spartan to the core (he met his wife Sandi in East Lansing), Patrick is proud to have graduated from the University of Michigan Law School. Patrick and his wife Sandi – a CPA who does significant charity work and serves as the Controller for Annox Company — have five children and reside in Rochester, Michigan. Spending time with his family is Patrick’s favorite hobby.