A proliferation of lawsuits involving sport utility vehicles, defective tires, medical devices and drugs, and asbestos abounds. Public attention to products liability cases is at an all-time high, and awards routinely run into the millions of dollars. When developing a strategy in this high stakes world, attorneys can't afford to have anything other than the best information and insight into this evolving area of law. Lawyers need practical tools to assess a products liability case's potential and build their approach, and Shapo on the Law of Products Liability provides the tools to give you the winning edge. Through a holistic analysis of the law and its principal developments as witnessed in hundreds of cases, this treatise gives litigators a wide variety of perspectives on potential strategies, and the tools to support those strategies with persuasive arguments. This authoritative two-volume work will enable you to: Assess products liability case potential and build sound litigation strategies Dig deep into products liability law to build creative approaches to litigation Craft a winning case and reap the greatest reward for your clients Find the tools and information to support strategies with persuasive arguments Both federal and state courts contribute a rich mix of decisions to products liability law, which covers both consumer products and occupational hazards. This indispensable resource for the products liability practitioner helps you prepare your case. Is the product defective? Who is liable? What is the manufacturer's responsibility? Who can be sued? What kind of awards may be realized? How might this be defended? Shapo on the Law of Products Liability also includes coverage of: Asbestos litigation Chinese drywall Food and drug Medical devices Design/manufacturing defects claims Punitive damages Discovery rule Up to date analysis and commentary History and background on products liability law Damages Advertising material Packaging Marshall S. Shapo, the Frederic P. Vose Professor at Northwestern University School of Law, is a nationally recognized authority on torts and products liability law.

An authoritative, in-depth study of issues in products liability litigation, this comprehensive treatise traces the law of products liability from its roots in contract and tort to its development into the challenging, complex modern law of the subject. Practically organized and clearly written, the treatise provides detailed descriptions of case law governing: - what constitutes a product - a general definition of products, followed by an in-depth examination of various types of product defects - firms in the chain of distribution that can be liable for a product defect - who in the consumer chain can make a claim for damages - defenses involving consumer conduct - general principles of proof and causation applicable to this area of law - punitive damages - the procedural and remedial concepts that surround the substantive law. Trial lawyers in products liability cases, corporate counsel for firms that manufacture or sell products, and casualty insurance firms will find this treatise a crucial resource in formulating litigation strategies. Its clear and fact-based approach makes it a valuable addition to court libraries, law school libraries, and courses in torts and products liability.

This book does what it 'says on the tin' - stating the corpus of tort law as a body of principles. Undertaken for the first time in English tort law, this book describes the law of tort concisely, accessibly, and accurately, and with both depth and detail.

An authoritative, in-depth study of issues in products liability litigation, this comprehensive treatise traces the law of products liability from its roots in contract and tort to its development into the challenging, complex modern law of the subject. Practically organized and clearly written, the treatise provides detailed descriptions of case law governing: what constitutes a product; a general definition of products, followed by an in-depth examination of various types of product defects; firms in the chain of distribution that can be liable for a product defect; who in the consumer chain can make a claim for damages; defenses involving consumer conduct; general principles of proof and causation applicable to this area of law; punitive damages; the procedural and remedial concepts that surround the substantive law. Trial lawyers in products liability cases, corporate counsel for firms that manufacture or sell products, and casualty insurance firms will find this treatise a crucial resource in formulating litigation strategies. Its clear and fact-based approach makes it a valuable addition to court libraries, law school libraries, and courses in torts and products liability.--

To view or download the 2018 Supplement to this book, click here. This casebook emphasizes important circuit court decisions together with relevant Supreme Court case law. This enables students to see how principles articulated in Supreme Court decisions are implemented by lower courts. Constitutional Torts also addresses affirmative duties, constitutional tort actions in state courts, and attorney's fees. Further, this book is organized around the statutory language of section 1983, thereby driving home the crucial distinction between prima facie cases and constitutional tort immunities and defenses. The fourth edition covers Supreme Court decisions from the past several years, including Minneci v. Pollard (chapter 1), Lane v. Franks and Plumhoff v. Rickard (chapter 3), Connick v. Thompson (chapter 5), Rehberg v. Paulk (chapter 7), Carroll v. Carman, Reichle v. Howards, Ashcroft v. Al-Kidd, Camreta v. Greene, Tolan v. Cotton, Ortiz v. Johnson and Filarsky v. Delia (chapter 8), Lefemine v. Wideman and Perdue v. Kenny A. (chapter 12). The circuit courts have been active over the past few years. We have extensively revised the notes to take account of the recent developments. This edition also welcomes Fred Smith as a coauthor. Constitutional Torts studies circuit and district court decisions as crucial to understanding the developing law of Section 1983, because (a) they show how general principles of law pronounced by the Supreme Court are actually applied; (b) the Supreme Court rarely visits some important aspects of the doctrine; and (c) in this dynamic area of the law, the lower courts are the first to identify new issues and new ways of approaching old problems. At the same time, the materials continue to emphasize the "tort" aspects of Section 1983 litigation, especially with regard to affirmative duties, causation, official immunity, and damages. These materials illuminate both the similarities and differences between constitutional torts and analogous principles developed in the common law tort setting. By studying both tort and constitutional principles, students learn how to argue for and against the application of common law tort principles to constitutional tort issues, and will come to understand both the theoretical and practical consequences of the constitutional underpinnings of the litigation. Constitutional Torts provides a thorough treatment of compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys' fees. These materials not only explain the basic doctrine, but explore their strategic implications on the conduct of litigation. A Teacher's Manual is available to professors. This book also is available in a three-hole punched, alternative loose-leaf version printed on 8.5 x 11 inch paper with wider margins and with the same pagination as the hardbound book.

European Union citizens are injured each year while using products. Product liability law can contribute to preventing such damage by the way in which liability requirements in the context of warnings are framed and applied. Underlying these warning issues are a number of legal presumptions about how humans behave and interact with products and with their warnings. Primarily, liability law presumes that warnings can be effective in modifying user behavior. Relative to this is the manner in which courts or litigants evaluate product warnings in European product liability law. To rule more consistently and effectively in warning issues, a solution resides in the use of guidelines in European product liability laws that are based on empirical evidence on how humans interact with warnings. This book undertakes a behavioral approach towards the topic of warnings and product liability. Insights from cognitive psychology and ergonomics are essential for a thorough legal analysis of warnings, as they can shed light on people's abilities and limitations with regard to processing warning information, as well as on how the design of products can contribute to preventing accidents. (Series: Civilology - No. 2)