A defective product lawsuit is rarely an open-and-shut case. It starts with a demand letter filed by your attorney. Then it may move into mediation, where both parties negotiate a possible out-of-court settlement. If the case moves to court, expect the process to take at least two years. Consumer product companies do not want to admit that they released a product that hurt customers — it’s very bad for their image and may cause people to stop buying their products. Therefore, they fight very hard against admitting fault. Your lawyer may need to bring in expert witnesses and prove every element of your case, and the other party will probably contest each step. This takes time and resources. Once the case concludes, you may not get your settlement award right away, either. It will probably be paid by the consumer product maker’s insurance company, which will go over the settlement with a fine-toothed comb, especially if you’re awarded punitive damages or the award is more than $2 million.