Exam 7: Strict Liability and Product Liability

Fleet Feet Corporation makes athletic shoes. Gloria, a marathoner, files a product liability suit against Fleet Feet, alleging a design defect. In deciding whether to hold Fleet Feet liable, the court may consider an alternative design's​

The doctrine of strict liability can be applied to sellers of goods, but not distributors.​

Sail-Away Corporation makes sailboards, which are bought and distributed by Tropic Company to UV Sports Stores, Inc., which sells them to consumers. Wen is injured while using a Sail-Away board that he bought from UV Sports. In a product liability suit based on strict liability, Wen may recover from​

The brakes on Ned's Overland truck malfunction, but he continues to drive it. Unable to slow down, he crashes through a guardrail and careens off the road. In Ned's suit against Overland, the truck maker can raise the defense of​

Grass Green Company makes and sells hedge trimmers, which are designed to be safe if used properly. Hazel buys a Grass Green trimmer and lends it to her neighbor Izak. In his garage, Izak is using the trimmer as a prod to dislodge a box from a high shelf when the trimmer suddenly engages. Startled, Izak drops the trimmer, which swings around and cuts his leg. Izak files a product liability suit against Grass Green, on the ground of negligence. On what basis could the manufacturer prevail?​

Some states limit the application of strict product liability to situations involving personal injuries.​

Sea & Sail Corporation makes boats and boating supplies. Theresa files a product liability suit against Sea & Sail, alleging a design defect. In deciding whether to hold the boat maker liable, the court may consider an available alternative design based on the design's​

City Slick, Inc. makes cosmetics. City Slick intentionally mislabels its packaged products to conceal a defect. Trusting and relying on the mislabeling, Dora buys a City Slick product and suffers an injury. City Slick is most likely liable for​

Level Grade Engineering, Inc., sometimes uses explosives to prepare land for construction projects. Strict liability is imposed on this activity because​

Global Insulation Company makes and sells fire-retardant building materials. To determine whether the risk of harm from the products as designed outweigh their utility to the users and the public, most courts would engage in​

One defense to product liability is to show that there is no basis for the plaintiff's claim.​

Brandname Parts, Inc., makes and sells parts for the repair of major appliances. Clarice suffers a loss when a defective Brandname part in her freezer fails to keep the contents fresh. A statute restricts the time within which Clarice may file a product liability suit once she has discovered or should have discovered the damage. This is a statute of​