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Torts law
A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
Design Defect
If the actual design of a product makes it unreasonably dangerous, then every product with that design is defective. For example, the poor design of the Ford Pinto is what made it defective, and because the design was common to all Pintos, they were all defective in design.
State of the Art
At the time of manufacture, your product was produced using the highest level of scientific and technical knowledge available.
Summary Judgment
In a civil action, any party may make this procedural motion, after the Discovery phase, to dispose of the suit before trial has begun.
Civil Liability
In a civil lawsuit, if a party is found to be at fault, that party is liable. This is equivalent to a guilty verdict in the criminal system, except that civil liability usually means that the party at fault pays money damages to the other party, whereas the guilty party in a criminal suit may have to go to prison.
Manufacturing Defect
When one particular product out of many like products has a flaw that makes it unreasonably dangerous, it is said to have a manufacturing defect.
Punitive Damages
This term refers to damages awarded to a plaintiff over and above compensatory damages, designed to punish the defendant for particularly outrageous and malicious conduct, and to serve as a deterrent to others.
Assumption of Risk
This means that you knew of the risks in using the product, but you decided to use the product anyway.
Secret warranties
In dealing with defects in autos & new car parts sometimes free repairs are not publicized, they are called "secret warranties." Some states have passed laws requiring vehicle owners be notified of secret warranties.
Product Liability Fairness Act
Allows unimpaired victims of asbestos exposure to be reimbursed for some medical monitoring costs
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