Nicholas J. Wittner

Nicholas J. Wittner is a Professor in Residence at Michigan State University College of Law, teaching Product Liability Law and Practice, Advanced Civil Procedure, Automated Vehicles and the Law, and Advanced Product Liability seminars. With 20 years as Nissan North America's assistant general counsel and 11 years as General Motors' executive attorney managing nationwide product liability litigation, he brings extensive industry expertise to academia.

Education:

• B.S. (1975, with high honors) from Michigan State University
• J.D. (1979, cum laude) from Wayne State University Law School, member of Wayne Law Review

Professor Wittner specializes in automotive legal frameworks, particularly product liability prevention and regulatory compliance for autonomous vehicles. He is nationally recognized for expertise in advanced transportation technologies, having chaired programs at the Autonomous Vehicle Safety Regulation World Congress and advised engineers globally on safety compliance. His work bridges automotive engineering and legal practice through international teaching engagements.

Professional Leadership:

• Co-chair of ABA Products Liability Committee
• Member of American Law Institute (ALI) and contributor to Restatement Third on Products Liability
• Chair of Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC)
• Faculty Adviser for Law College's Symposium on "The Transformation of Transportation"

He has authored the widely-used textbook "Civil Litigation for Foreign-Educated Lawyers" (4th edition) and taught internationally across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, focusing on civil litigation frameworks for foreign legal professionals.