Jane Sigda concentrates her practice on product liability, commercial, insurance and reinsurance litigation. With a focus on defending manufacturers and service providers in aviation and other industries in product liability and contract-related matters, in addition to insurers in complex liability coverage issues, clients turn to Jane when facing a safety, regulatory or contractual issue.
With a strong emphasis on accurately assessing risk and developing effective risk management techniques, Jane advises manufacturers and component manufactures on all issues relating to product defects as well as strategies to reduce risk exposure, including risk-allocation provisions in contracts, appropriate warnings, manuals, and other compliance with regulatory regimes. For more than 15 years Jane has represented major, multi-national manufacturing clients in developing proactive measures such as product integrity programs, in addition to counseling on the appropriate rapid responses to a crisis. From her work guiding clients through a serious crisis, Jane understands the importance of anticipating possible problems and proactively laying the foundation for appropriate protocols if similar situations should arise.
Jane has significant experience with litigations, investigations and arbitrations. She has represented clients in investigations with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and its foreign counterparts, and she has litigated disputes both domestically in state and federal courts and in foreign jurisdictions. Jane has been lead counsel representing a major airframe manufacturer in domestic and international accident litigation and investigations, including those following the second worst aviation disaster in Brazil history. She also has significant experience representing major insurance companies and markets in multi-million dollar coverage disputes.
With a depth of experience advising clients on risk management, Jane counsels clients within the aviation manufacturing industry on risk management by promoting product integrity best practices such as advising her clients on operations and maintenance, integrity management, safety management systems (SMS), and related requirements including AS9100 certification and ISO 9001:2015 standards.
As a frequent author and speaker, Jane presents seminars and workshops on diverse aviation-related issues, focusing on risk prevention through product safety and contractual risk allocation, including remedies and warranty basics in the field of product liability. These programs use real-life scenarios to educate engineers, field representatives and technicians in addition to legal departments to mitigate exposure to risks and guide her clients towards the best possible business decisions.
Newsletters and Bulletins
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Two Years Later: An SMS Update
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The Third Circuit Court of Appeals Limits Preemption in Sikkelee v. Precision Airmotive Corp.
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FAA Releases Final Safety Management System Rule
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Forum Non Conveniens Dismissal of Actions Arising out of Brazilian Mid-Air Collision
Published Works and Presentations
“The 39th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization: Regulation (from 2020) of Aviation Emissions – Part II: The ICAO Decision.” Editor, Aviation and Climate Change – Law & Policy. Newsletter published jointly by Condon & Forsyth LLP and Hodgkinson.Johnston Pty Ltd. (November 2016).
“The 39th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization: Regulation (from 2020) of Aviation Emissions.” Editor, Aviation and Climate Change – Law & Policy. Newsletter published jointly by Condon & Forsyth LLP and Hodgkinson.Johnston Pty Ltd. (September 2016).
“Expansion of Preemption and Congress’s Intent to Occupy Entire Field of Air Safety,” ABA Section of Litigation (February 24, 2016) (available at https://apps.americanbar.org/litigation/committees/masstorts/practice.html).
“Airlines and Climate Change: The Aviation Industry’s Emissions Problem.” Editor, Aviation and Climate Change – Law & Policy. Newsletter published jointly by Condon & Forsyth LLP and Hodgkinson.Johnston Pty Ltd. (November 2015).
“Airlines and Climate Change: The Aviation Emissions Problem.” Editor, Aviation and Climate Change – Law & Policy. Newsletter published jointly by Condon & Forsyth LLP and Hodgkinson.Johnston Pty Ltd. (December 2014).
Speaker, The Times They are a Changin’ – and so is your Aviation Insurance Coverage. Aviation Law & Insurance Symposium (Florida, January 23-25, 2013)