Product liability is a contentious issue. Proponents argue that American tort law promotes product safety. Manufacturers contend that lawsuits chill new product development. Product Liability and Innovation provides an overview and an engineering perspective on the product liability system. The volume offers studies of selected industries, exploring the effect of product liability on corporate product development decisions and on the creative opportunities and day-to-day work of engineers. The volume addresses the potential liability of the parts or materials supplier and discusses the impact of liability on the availability of insurance. It looks at "junk science" in the courtroom and analyzes opportunities to incorporate into product design what we know about human behavior and risk. The book also looks at current efforts at tort reform and compares U.S. injury claims handling with that of other countries. This volume will be important to policymakers, industrialists, attorneys, product engineers, and individuals concerned about the impact of product liability on the industrial future.

Mark Geistfeld, the author of the leading textbook on products liability, an important text on tort law and dozens of scholarly articles, has class-tested the material in Products Liability Law for more than five years at NYU. He has made the study of products liability an advanced torts class that cements knowledge of fundamental tort principles while developing both specialized expertise and a deeper understanding of the torts process. Illuminating textual discussion follows a wide range of riveting cases. Unlike many casebooks that simply pose the question, Products Liability Law provides the analyses needed to address each challenging problem. Unifying the two competing conceptions of products liability, students become familiar with both approaches and develop a balanced perspective. Features: Stellar authorship: Mark Geistfeld leading textbook on products liability important tort law textbook dozens of scholarly articles. Classroom-tested for five years Makes the study of products liability an advanced tortsclass cements knowledge of fundamental tort principles develops both specialized expertise and a deeper understanding of the torts process Wide range of interesting cases followed by extended textual discussion Provides analysis needed to address challenging questions, missing from most casebooks Unifies the two competing conceptions of products liability

This examination of western-European legal systems demonstrates how tort law has adapted to meet new market conditions.