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Practice Tip: Arguing Design 'Defect' Under Strict Liability or Warranty

Defect" in product liability law has two roots: from breach of warranty actions under contract law and from negligence under tort law. In early products liability cases, courts relied upon an implied warranty to permit recovery for personal injuries arising from defective goods. However, that cause of action required privity between the seller and the injured consumer, which could not always be satisfied. This led to the development of the strict liability doctrine in tort law, where privity was not required. Strict liability in tort remedies no longer needs to rely on a contractually based breach of implied warranty to compensate injured plaintiffs.

9 minute read March 31, 2004 at 01:23 PM
By
Lawrence Goldhirsch
Practice Tip: Arguing Design 'Defect' Under Strict Liability or Warranty

“Defect” in product liability law has two roots: from breach of warranty actions under contract law and from negligence under tort law. In early products liability cases, courts relied upon an implied warranty to permit recovery for personal injuries arising from defective goods.

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