Products Liability

Nowadays, questions of when products are defective and to what extent manufacturers are liable for consumer errors are among the most compelling in law and make for extremely colorful cases. What happens when hoverboards or smart phones catch on fire? How should we handle defective antibody tests for COVID-19? Join Prof. Madeira on a fascinating tour to learn how the law determines whether sellers and other commercial transferors of products should be liable for the personal injuries or property damage their products cause. Much of the course will focus on strict products liability, but other claims such as negligence, warranty, and misrepresentation will also be covered. Special attention will be paid to medical device litigation and inherently dangerous products. Student grades are determined by performance on writing assignments, which will consist of either a series of shorter papers or one longer paper.