Products liability cases

• Author: Carolyn S. Koch
• Pages: 191-224

PRODUCTS LIABILITY

CASES

8-1

CHAPTER 8

PRODUCTS LIABILITY CASES

I. GOVERNING PRINCIPLES

A. Not Your Typical Personal Injury Case

§8:01 Competing Biases

§8:02 Little Details Make a Big Difference in the Outcome

§8:02.1 Case Example: Keyboard Repetitive Stress Injuries

§8:02.2 Case Example: Doctor Injured by Hand-Held Laser Device

§8:03 Critical Issues in Every Product Case

B. Six Key Questions for Analyzing a Products Case

§8:04 Question 1: How Obvious is the Risk/Danger/Defect?

§8:05 Question 2: How Careful Does a Person Have to be to Avoid the Danger?

§8:06 Question 3: How Dutiful Was the Manufacturer/Designer/Builder in Detecting the Condition?

§8:07 Question 4: Does It Look Like Defendant Promptly Addressed the Dangers?

§8:08 Question 5: How Will Jurors Divvy Up Fault?

§8:09 Question 6: How Seriously Injured Was the Plaintiff?

C. Applying the Six Key Questions to a Sample Case

§8:10 Case Summary

§8:11 The Six Key Questions

[§8:12 – 8:14 Reserved]

II. CRAFTING VOIR DIRE QUESTIONS

A. Governing Principles

§8:15 Be Aware of Industry-Specif‌ic Issues

§8:16 The Polarizing Case

B. Sample Questions

1. Product Cases in General

§8:17 Initial Questions for Plaintiff

§8:18 Initial Questions for Defendant

§8:19 Questions for Plaintiffs and Defendants

2. Warnings

§8:20 Governing Principles

§8:21 Voir Dire Questions

3. Design Defects

§8:22 Governing Principles

§8:23 Voir Dire Questions

4. When Children are Injured

a. Power Windows

§8:24 Governing Principles

§8:25 Questions for Plaintiff and Defendant

PRODUCTS LIABILITY

CASES

Effective Voir Dire 8-2

§8:26 Questions for Plaintiff

§8:27 Questions for Defendant

b. Toys

§8:28 Example: Toy Guns

§8:29 Questions for Plaintiff and Defendant

§8:30 Questions for Plaintiff

§8:31 Questions for Defendant

[§8:32 – 8:34 Reserved]

5. Treadmills and Home Gym Equipment

§8:35 Governing Principles

§8:36 Voir Dire Questions—All Cases

§8:37 Questions When a Child Is Injured

6. Lawsuits Against Drug Manufacturers

§8:38 Governing Principles

§8:39 Common Fact Scenario

§8:40 Voir Dire Questions - Generally

§8:41 Questions re: Attitudes About the Warnings that Accompany Drugs

§8:42 Questions re: Attitudes About the Pharmaceutical Industry

§8:43 Questions re: “Optional” Drugs

Appendix 8-A Sample Voir Dire Script—Prescription Drug Case

PRODUCTS LIABILITY

CASES

8-3 Products Liability Cases §8:02

I. GOVERNING PRINCIPLES

A. Not Your Typical Personal Injury Case

§8:01 Competing Biases

   



    

 

   

    











  



   

 



§8:02 Little Details Make a Big Difference in the Outcome

    



§8:02.1 Case Example: Keyboard Repetitive Stress Injuries







 

   

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