Ronald L. Hack, Attorney

Mr. Hack concentrates his practice in the areas of products liability, toxic tort, pharmaceutical, environmental and commercial litigation, with trial experience in each of these areas.  He also counsels mid-size companies on litigation avoidance and other commercial matters.

Commercial Litigation

Mr. Hack's commercial litigation experience encompasses the gamut of business and contract disputes including cable television franchise litigation, product distributor disputes, raw mineral disputes, petroleum franchise litigation, insurance broker disputes, and breaches of product manufacturing contracts.  He has both successfully prosecuted and defended such actions for his clients at trial and at arbitration hearings.

Products Liability Litigation

Mr. Hack's experience in products liability litigation includes representation of insured and self-insured clients in various state and federal courts.  Mr. Hack has defended cases involving welding rods, acrylic nail products, prescription pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electrical equipment, concrete saws, hand-held saws, bicycles, personal consumer products, and exercise equipment. In these various cases involving industrial and personal consumer products in which he has defended against both personal injury and wrongful death claims.  He successfully handled settlements of multi-million dollar drug products liability case after mediation.  He has published two product liability articles in the Journal of the Missouri Bar and lectured on various issues in toxic tort litigation, including mold-related lawsuits and served as a reviewer on the Missouri CLE Evidence Handbook.

Toxic Tort Litigation

Mr. Hack has defended manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and landowners for over 20 years in complex toxic tort cases involving such substances as asbestos, acrylic compounds, benzene, mold contamination, welding rods, lead paint, hazardous chemicals, and industrial furnace emissions. He has acted as regional counsel for a Fortune 100 company for asbestos and other toxic tort cases.  He convinced a plaintiffs' attorney to voluntarily dismiss and not refile a large toxic tort case after filing an early motion for summary judgment.  He has also spoken on the topic of prevention of asbestos and other environmental hazards to trade groups.

Environmental Litigation

Mr. Hack has acted as trial counsel both for and against landowners, adjoining neighbors and purchasers who have claimed damages because of pollution from various substances, such as mold, petroleum, agricultural chemicals, and asbestos.  He has also defended companies facing claims of groundwater contamination.

Mr. Hack is admitted to practice and has appeared before the Missouri and Illinois state courts, the United States District courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, the Central District of Illinois, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.