Fire & Life Safety

Defending & Counseling Fire Protection Contractors Across the Country

The Fire and Life Safety Practice at MSZ&W has extensive experience counseling  and defending fire sprinkler contractors and fire protection companies across the nation.  Our attorneys harness a strong understanding of fire and life safety equipment, operations and standards to provide effective advice and defense to the companies that design, install and service fire protection, detection, and suppression systems.  We know that liability claims and litigation can be disruptive and intrusive and we strive to provide counsel that helps our clients reduce the risk of such claims and, when they do arise, to find solutions that bring matters to a fair and rapid conclusion. 

The attorneys in our practice have over 50 years of experience representing members of the fire protection industry, which includes Fire Sprinkler Contractors, Fire Suppression and Alarm companies and Manufacturers.   Several members of the practice are active members of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). IN addition, members have participated in the technical committee meetings for the revision to the 2017 edition of NFPA 25, the nationally recognized standard for inspection of water-based fire sprinkler systems.    Attorneys in this practice group  are closely linked to the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) and the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) and include regular speakers at the national and local conferences for both organizations.

The majority of the pratice’s litigation centers on defending industry clients against two types of claims:  property damage associated with unintended discharges of fire suppression systems and the failure of life safety systems to operate when needed.  We also litigate construction defect claims that may arise in connection with the design and/or installation of life safety systems, both in renovations or re-designs and new contruction. 

When a client is notified of an event or potential claim, our attorneys engage immediately to develop a powerful plan of defense.  We launch a comprehensive investigation, joining with industry experts to participate in on-scene examinations and evidence review and/or retrieval.  Our team works hands-on with these professionals to identify and analyze evidence so that we can establish the strongest available defense. By working with people who have the right knowledge and experience at the earliest stage of the investigation, we are often able to bring these claims to a swift conclusion, often avoiding litigation entirely.

But more than just defending against claims, the attorneys in this practice provide proactive guidance to clients in order to help them minimize the risk presented by such claims by assisting with preparation and review of contracts and related business activity forms.  Our attorneys also offer advice on issues related to documentation of operations. Properly drafted documents and complete, accurate business records are often the best protection our clients have once an incident occurs and our attorneys have decades of experience in assuring that contracts and forms maximize protections available under the applicable law.

Includes: Fire Sprinkler, Fire Alarm, Fire Suppression