Patrick Seyferth

Practice Areas

Product Liability

Advanced Technologies

Business and Commercial

Class Actions

Securities / Finance

Career

Patrick Seyferth is a co-founder of Bush Seyferth PLLC and a member of BSP’s executive committee. In 2022, Patrick was appointed by Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton to the Advisory Committee on Rules for the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. He also serves as an Executive Board member for the Federal Bar Association (ED of Michigan); a Sustaining Member to the Product Liability Advisory Council; and on the 6th Circuit Life Member Committee. Patrick was recognized in 2019 by Best Lawyers as Troy, Michigan’s Product Liability Lawyer of the Year and was featured in Leading Lawyers Magazine – Michigan Edition 2020.

Patrick has handled catastrophic product liability and commercial cases in 23 states. During the past 25 years, he has gained extensive trial experience, which includes first-chairing complex trials through jury verdict in AZ, MI, OH and TN. Patrick has proudly represented some of America’s best-known companies — such as GM LLC, Ford Motor Company, Pulte, VWGoA, Textile Management, Nissan, and Hyundai — as well as several individuals. He has been recognized for his accomplishments as a federal mediator, lectured nationally on trial advocacy issues and managed BSP’s $1,000,000 plus charitable foundation since 2003.

Professional Memberships

Life Member Committee – U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (Appointed Member)

Advisory Committee on Rules – U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (Appointed Member)

Life Member – U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Bar Association Eastern District of Michigan, Executive Board Member, Sustaining Member

Product Liability Advisory Council, Sustaining Member

Leading Lawyers, Advisory Board Member, 2018 – present

Oakland County Bar Foundation, Fellow

Eastern District of Michigan, Appointed Member e-Filing Rules Committee

Oakland County Bar Association, Member

American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow

Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, Member

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

Personal

Patrick heads the BSP Charitable Foundation which, to date, has raised nearly $1 million for various charities. He also serves on the Advisory Board for New Day Foundation for Families, a MI non-profit that provides resources to families afflicted by cancer. In 2018, Patrick received the New Day Foundation for Families Matt Kell and Cathy Spehn Legacy Award. In 2022, the New Day Foundation for Families honored Patrick for his steadfast commitment to the organization with the Jack Aronson Champion Award. This award recognizes those who demonstrate a champion’s spirit of humility, courage, strength, and perseverance in the effort to bring hope to families fighting cancer.

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 2 young girls deal with a child sexual abuse matter that made a “lasting impact” on their lives.

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 charity work and serves as the Controller for Annox Company – have 5 children and reside in Rochester, Michigan. Spending time with his family is Patrick’s favorite hobby.

Work Highlights

Product Liability

As lead counsel obtained a full defense verdict in South Bend, Indiana on multiple automotive product liability claims including defective and unreasonably dangerous design, failure to warn, and failure to instruct and a punitive damage claim against a major automotive OEM.

Successfully handled automotive diagnostic sensor defect claim in CT re GM LLC truck brought on behalf of quadriplegic driver

First-chaired AZ jury trial on behalf of automotive manufacturer of a truck involving severe injuries and claim of electronic sensing defect: No cause

Argued Sixth Circuit appeal in support of District Court’s dismissal in a high-exposure fire case: 3-0 affirmed

First-chaired TN jury trial on behalf of automotive manufacturer involving TBI injuries 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 AZ 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 MI jury trial in product liability involving the death of 7-year-old child: No cause

Represented injured Plaintiff in MI jury trial that involved near-drowning: $700,000 jury verdict

Assisted in NY federal jury trial in case involving child death and claim of product defect: Judgment as a matter of law (Published)

Commercial / Class Actions

First-chaired OH jury trial on behalf of major finance company on contract and a $1B punitive damage claim: defense verdict

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

First-chaired arbitration on behalf of national homebuilder involving former high-ranking executive

Successfully defended closely-held corporation in $110M federal ‘alter-ego’ action that attempted to pierce the corporate veil

Obtained favorable outcome in contractual indemnification case regarding underlying TX product liability fatality claim

Obtained permanent injunction in National business defamation and trademark case

Successfully represented MI Legislature in Covid-19 cases re: Governor’s Executive Orders and voter ID requirements (Published)

Defeated AZ class certification claims on behalf of national home builder – obtained dismissal of claims and significant fee award

Mediations/ADR

Served as court appointed facilitator in over 70 U.S. District Court cases

Awarded Certificate of Recognition by U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan for facilitation of multiple complex cases

Selected as a mediator in multiple Circuit Court business cases

Served as arbitrator in multi-million-dollar breach of contract case

Appointed as a Special Master in U.S. District Court cases involving RICO, attorney client privilege, Qui Tam and complex discovery issue

Education

Awards